Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets have entered into a definitive merger agreement that will nearly double the collective footprint of the two independent grocery chains in the Northeast. This transaction unites two New York-based grocery chains with deep ties to their local communities. With increased scale across their almost contiguous footprints, the merged companies […]
Category: Independent Store News
Weis Markets Celebrates Grand Opening Of Martinsburg, WV Store
Weis Markets’ new Martinsburg, West Virginia, store opened on Thursday, Feb. 4. The new 66,000-square-foot store, located at 400 Enterprise Circle in Martinsburg, employs more than 170 new full- and part-time associates. The new store has an expansive produce department with a wide selection of organic produce; a beer-wine department; full-service seafood department with lobster tank; a […]
New GreenWise Market Opens In Fort Lauderdale
GreenWise Market opened its newest location Feb. 4, this time in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on the ground floor of The Main Las Olas building on Southeast Third Avenue. GreenWise Market is a division of Publix. “We took all of the things our customers love about GreenWise Market and put them in a centralized downtown location,” […]
Market Profile: Fresh Value Focused On Product Selection, ‘Great Customer Service’
Company has stores throughout state; the ninth opened on Feb. 1 by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Gerry D’Alessandro officially started working for his family’s grocery business at age 14. At the time, his father and uncle – Jerry and Frank D’Alessandro – owned a single store called Fourth Avenue Supermarket in Bessemer, Alabama. When he […]
Market Profile: Piggly Wiggly Alabama Investing Resources In Technology
by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer For Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co., David Bullard said the most challenging part of 2020 was finding a balance between supply chain demands and providing for its retailers. And as the entire industry witnessed when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, balance was hard to come by. “With the tremendously increased […]
New Book Shares 92-Year History Of Brookshire Grocery Co.
Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire Grocery Co. has published a book which shares its more than 92 years of history, titled “From Cotton Picker to Store Keeper.” “I am excited to have our story shared with our partners, customers and communities,” said Brad Brookshire, chairman and CEO for Brookshire Grocery Co., which was founded in 1928. “My grandfather […]
New Year Brings Self-Checkout, Online Shopping To Buche Foods
Family-owned business serves smaller rural towns of South Dakota by Mary Margaret Stewart / staff writer R.F. Buche is the fourth-generation owner of Buche Foods, which was founded in Lake Andes, South Dakota, in 1905 by his great-grandfather, Gus Buche. Today, R.F. Buche owns and operates grocery and convenience stores, a Subway sandwich shop, […]
MarketPlace Foods Keeps Focus On Associates, Their Resilience
Employee owned as of Jan. 1, company celebrating 80th anniversary by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Founded in 1940 in Edinburgh, North Dakota, MarketPlace Foods just celebrated its 80th anniversary. And the company is entering 2021 with strong grocery business on its side. “The sales that we’ve had since the pandemic started are amazing – […]
Scolari’s Food And Drug Owner: ‘We Are Not The Normal Grocery’
One of Scolari’s stores features strong gaming presence by John McCurry / contributing writer Jerry Scolari thinks increased grocery sales, propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue through the first part of 2021. He is co-owner of the two-store chain, Scolari’s Food and Drug, which he said has been up to the challenges presented […]
Independents Nationwide Eye Another Strong Year In 2021
IGA offers initiatives, help to keep pace with the trends by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Phil Blackburn owns four IGA grocery stores in eastern Washington, two of which are general market and the others Hispanic-oriented. In 2021, he expects another good year for independent grocers. “We’re still holding with a lot larger basket size, so […]
NGA To Independent Supermarkets: Tell Your Story, Emphasize Local
Consumers likely will keep associating them with safety by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Greg Ferrara sees 2021 as “the year of opportunity for independents.” Because while 2020 brought disruption to businesses across the nation in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery came out stronger on the other side. “Our industry overall responded incredibly well, […]
C&K Market Becomes Employee Owned Through ESOP Trust
C&K Market, an independent chain of grocery stores in Oregon and California, has completed a transaction to become 100 percent employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) trust. This enables employees to receive retirement benefits linked to the company’s future equity value. The plan was established on Dec. 29, 2020. “At our core, we’re a […]
Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace Opening New Location In North Babylon
Long Island’s leading specialty grocer, Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace, has opened its newest store at 1170 Deer Park Avenue in North Babylon, New York. The grand opening on Jan. 8 marked the company’s seventh store on Long Island and ninth overall. The full-service supermarket, renowned for its high-quality, Italian-themed specialties and food offerings, enjoys a loyal […]
Publix To Open Third Store In Henry County, Georgia
Publix Super Markets will open a new store at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the Shoppes at Ola Crossroads Center in McDonough, Georgia. This will be the company’s third store in Henry County. This 48,300-square-foot store will bring 135 new jobs to the area. Store hours will be 7 a.m.-10 p.m. It will have traditional […]
Dole Teams Up With Bashas’ And Food City To Grant Learning Gardens
Now through Feb. 12, Arizona residents can fill out an application online to nominate their favorite K-5 school in the state (located within a 10-mile distance of a Bashas’ or Food City grocery store) for a chance to receive a learning garden at Bashas’ website or captainplanetfoundation.org/contest/bashas. Two elementary schools will receive a comprehensive Captain Planet Foundation Learning […]
More Florida Publix Pharmacies To Provide COVID-19 Vaccinations
Continuing the collaboration between Publix, Florida and Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state is providing an additional 70,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to select Publix pharmacies. At the same time, the number of Publix Pharmacy locations administering the vaccinations is increasing from 105 to 242. “We are grateful to continue our collaboration with the […]
Cardenas Markets Foundation Accepting Applications For Scholarship
The Cardenas Markets Foundation continues its commitment to supporting the communities it serves by providing $120,000 in scholarship funds to students in the areas where Cardenas Markets operates. In sum, 60 scholarships totaling $2,000 each will be awarded for the 2021-2022 academic year. Recipients will be selected based on their academic qualifications, financial need, leadership […]
Meijer Seeking Midwest-Made Products For Localization Summit
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer will host its first virtual Localization Summit, giving local businesses across the retailer’s six-state footprint the opportunity to showcase their offerings to Meijer merchants. “We are proud to be a Midwestern retailer and want to carry products that highlight our communities,” said Peter Whitsett, Meijer EVP of merchandising and marketing. “Each Meijer […]
Stater Bros. Charities Campaign Raises Over $435,000 To Fill Food Banks
Stater Bros. Charities, along with their customers and family of employees, raised more than $435,000 to address food insecurity in the communities they serve. Funds will provide up to 3.9 million meals to individuals and families in need throughout Southern California. During the months of November and December, customers and employees contributed in-store by donating loose […]
Earth Fare Coming To Shoppes Of St. Johns Parkway In Florida
Earth Fare and commercial real estate owner and developer Sleiman Enterprises have announced the opening of Earth Fare at the Shoppes of St. Johns Parkway in St. Johns, Florida, in the second quarter of 2021. Earth Fare and its current 17 stores along the eastern and southeastern United States are known for making healthy food […]
