Kansas City, Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) has selected RELEX Solutions to optimize distribution center forecasting and replenishment across its network of 3,500 member locations. AWG will implement the RELEX artificial intelligence-driven forecasting and replenishment solution to replace its legacy in-house proprietary systems and manual processes. The platform will deliver scalability and automation to improve forecasting […]
Category: Midwest
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, News, Suppliers
Moo & Oink Celebrates 50th Anniversary In 2026
Chicago-based meat brand Moo & Oink is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 with a yearlong series of special events, new products and retailer celebrations. Shoppers will see a commemorative badge across Moo & Oink packaging, along with in-store sampling events, mascot appearances and displays at participating retailers. “Moo & Oink has always been about […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Meijer Employees Kept Stores Open During Winter Storm Fern
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer is praising employees who braved dangerous conditions to keep stores open and communities stocked during Winter Storm Fern, which swept across the Midwest in January. The historic storm dropped more than a foot of snow in many areas, shutting down roads and halting daily life across the region. In several communities, Meijer […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, News, Supply Chain News
Smithfield Foods Plans $1.3B Processing Facility In Sioux Falls, SD
Smithfield Foods has initiated the approval process to build a packaged meats and fresh pork processing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, representing a preliminary investment estimate of up to $1.3 billion over the next three years. The facility, subject to permitting and regulatory approvals, will be built in Foundation Park, a 1,000-acre heavy industrial […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Independent Store News, Midwest, News, Southeast, Southwest
Second Annual HFG Awards Program Honors 15 Store Managers From 6 States
Houchens Food Group continued its Store Manager Appreciation Awards for the second year, culminating with the announcement of the 2025 HFG Store Manager of the Year. The company recently hosted 15 lunch banquets divided by region and banner. The events included individual recognition of store managers, as well as a selection of other awards. In […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Fresh Thyme, Midwest, News
Fresh Thyme Market Extends Health, Hunger Relief Partnerships Into 2026
Fresh Thyme Market is continuing its partnerships with Vitamin Angels and Feeding America in 2026 while extending its Price Lock initiative, the Downers Grove, Illinois-based grocer announced Feb. 13. The retailer marked a decade-long partnership with Vitamin Angels in 2025, helping provide essential vitamins and minerals to more than 7 million women and children in […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News
Mom’s Organic Market To Enter Chicago With Naperville, Mount Prospect Stores
Mom’s Organic Market will enter the Chicago market with stores in Naperville and Mount Prospect, Illinois, scheduled to open by the end of 2026, marking the organic grocer’s expansion into the Midwest. The Rockville, Maryland-based retailer will open a location at 1163 E. Ogden Ave. in Naperville this fall, with a Mount Prospect store to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Independent Grocers Face Pricing Pressures, Rural Store Closures In ND
Independent grocers across North Dakota face mounting pressure from several directions, according to John “Jiggs” Dyste, president of the North Dakota Grocers Association. “Independent grocers are being squeezed by big-box stores and food manufacturers,” Dyste said. “Unfair pricing is the main problem driving consumers to big-box stores.” The challenges come as North Dakota’s economy undergoes […]