Houchens Food Group Inc. has announced two leadership appointments – Misty Bryant to director of retail operations and Boyd West as senior director of fresh merchandising. Bryant, who joined Houchens Food Group in 2007 as a merchandising assistant, has held a series of progressively senior roles over nearly two decades with the company, including category […]
Category: Independent Store News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Health & Wellness, Midwest, News, SpartanNash
D&W Fresh Market Brings Wellness Activation Into Local Community
D&W Fresh Market in Grand Rapids, Michigan, partnered with a neighboring fitness studio, Spoke Cycle and Strength, for a free community event tied to its Spring Refresh marketing campaign. Located just two doors apart in the same plaza, the partners held free yoga and cycling group workouts that connected healthy routines with a reason to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, West
Town & Country Markets Introduces Limited-Edition Artist Mug Collection
Town & Country Markets is launching a limited-edition collection of insulated mugs created in collaboration with Pacific Northwest artists and inspired by the character, history and landmarks of the communities surrounding the grocer’s six locations. Town & Country partnered with MiiR, a Seattle-based, certified B Corporation committed to transparency, sustainability and giving back, in alignment […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Midwest, News, Schnucks
Schnucks Completes Store Renovations In Ladue, MO
The Schnucks in Ladue, Missouri, will host a customer appreciation event May 1-3 to celebrate the completion of its store remodel. The 59,000-square-foot store at 8867 Ladue Road has served the city of Ladue since 1962 and at the current location since 1993. It employs 156 teammates. Customer appreciation events The festivities begin at noon […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, Northeast, ShopRite
ShopRite Debuts EV Fast Charging Station In Yardley, PA
ShopRite held a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 24 to celebrate the opening of a new Electrify America fast charging station in the parking lot of the store at 1603 Big Oak Road in Yardley, Pennsylvania. The new station features 10 Hyper-Fast chargers, each capable of delivering up to 350kW. The Colalillo family, owners and operators of […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, Northeast, ShopRite, Sustainability News, Wakefern
Wakefern Food Corp. Welcomes Earth Month Challenge
Wakefern Food Corp. is marking Earth Month with the 2026 Greener Stores, Greener Communities Earth Month Challenge, a month-long initiative encouraging family-owned ShopRite stores to highlight eco-friendly practices that reduce environmental impact, engage employees and support their communities. The Earth Month Challenge focuses on practical, everyday actions in stores and communities that engage customers and […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News, SpartanNash
B&R Stores Acquires Family Fare Store From SpartanNash
B&R Stores Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire SpartanNash’s Family Fare store at 1815 Court St. in Beatrice, Nebraska, with the transaction expected to close April 30. Following the acquisition, the store will undergo renovations in the coming months and will be converted to a Russ’s Market. The company will retain the current […]
Posted inSustainability News, Featured News, Independent Store News, National, News
Grocers Mark Earth Day With Operational Shifts, Community Giving
Earth Day 2026 finds major regional grocers investing in sustainability efforts that range from on-site production and waste diversion to associate volunteering and checkout-lane giving campaigns. H-E-B H-E-B is marking Earth Day with its annual reusable bag giveaway, distributing 276,000 free bags featuring Garner State Park along the Frio River – the third and final […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Metcalfe’s, Midwest, News, Sustainability News
Metcalfe’s Market Celebrates Earth Day With Student-Designed Bags
For the 12th consecutive year, Wisconsin-based Metcalfe’s Market will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 with its community tradition of distributing 3,000 reusable shopping bags featuring original artwork from students at 10 local elementary schools. Limited to one per customer, the bags will be available while supplies last at all three Metcalfe’s Market locations. “Every […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, West
Market Of Choice Celebrates 10 Years Of MOJO Program
Market of Choice is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its local incubator program, MOJO, which has helped hundreds of Oregon makers bring thousands of products to market. Addressing historical barriers that small businesses face, MOJO provides product development consulting, distribution support and promotions. Program provides critical path to market Market of Choice has played a […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Foodtown, News, Northeast
ARS Launches Pathmark Daily Small Format Grocery Store
Allegiance Retail Services (ARS) will open a new small format grocery banner, Pathmark Daily, on May 1 at 625 Merrick Ave. in East Meadow, New York. Pathmark Daily aims to deliver convenience, quality and value to shoppers through an assortment of fresh foods and grocery essentials – including produce, meats, seafood and everyday staples. The […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, Natural Grocers, News
Natural Grocers Celebrates Arbor Day In Nebraska With Gifts, Savings
Natural Grocers will host its annual Arbor Day event April 24-26 at its three stores in Nebraska, the state where the holiday originated. Natural Grocers is headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, but the company entered neighboring Nebraska in 2012 with the opening of its first store in Lincoln. The retailer later added two locations in Omaha. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Midwest, News, Sendik's
Sendik’s Receives WI Governor’s Proclamation For 100th Anniversary
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has issued a certificate of commendation to the Balistreri family, which owns and operates Sendik’s Food Market, recognizing the grocer’s 100-year anniversary. Mike Semmann, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association, presented the certificate to co-owner Ted Balistreri on April 22 at the Sendik’s in Mequon, Wisconsin. Family-owned grocer started […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, West
Town & Country Markets Honored With Environmental, Sustainability Award
Town & Country Markets has been recognized in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual Environmental and Sustainability Awards, honored for making impact through environmental leadership, innovation and stewardship in the region. The family-owned grocer operates six family-owned markets across the greater Seattle region. Its award-winning practices include an 80 percent waste diversion rate through recycling, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Midwest, News, Piggly Wiggly
Piggly Wiggly Completes Major Store Remodel In Racine, WI
Piggly Wiggly has completed a major refresh of its store at 4011 Durand Ave., one of three locations in Racine, Wisconsin, bringing expanded fresh offerings and refreshed departments. The remodel, the store’s most significant update in 15 years, focused on areas identified through customer and employee feedback during the upgrade. Improvements include expanded fresh departments, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Wegmans
Wegmans Releases 2025 Impact Report, Highlights $96.3M In Giving
Wegmans Food Markets has released its 2025 Impact Report, detailing the Rochester, New York-based grocer’s community contributions, sustainability progress and workforce investments through its 114-store footprint. The company contributed $96.3 million to communities in 2025 through corporate gifts, 36.8 million pounds of donated food, employee donations and customer scan campaigns. Through its Check Out Hunger […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Meijer, Merchandising News, Midwest, News, Private Label Brands
Meijer Introduces 300 Products To Meet Fiber, Protein Consumer Goals
Meijer is launching more than 300 new products designed to help customers meet fiber and protein intake goals. The move aligns with nutrition trends that show fiber overtaking protein as a top consumer priority for 2026. Current Dietary Reference Values recommend 25-38 grams of fiber per day for adults. Meijer said it is responding with […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Grocery Store Layout, Midwest, News, SpartanNash
Family Fare Completes Remodels At 3 MI Stores
Family Fare has completed remodels at three of its locations in Calhoun County, Michigan, that align with the banner’s Spring Refresh campaign and bring upgrades to both in-store and online shopping experiences. The stores in Albion, Marshall and Pennfield each received expanded fresh departments designed to support meal planning and grab-and-go needs. Updates include elevated […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, Northeast, ShopRite
Cingari Family Markets Completes ShopRite Renovation In Southbury, CT
Cingari Family Markets will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 20 to mark the completion of major renovations to its ShopRite location in Southbury, Connecticut. First Selectman Tim O’Neil and representatives from the Southbury Chamber of Commerce are scheduled to join the Cingari leadership team for the event at 775 Main St. South. The renovation project, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Featured News, Marketing News, News, West
How Swensens Built A Social Media Sales Channel That Rivals Any App
Idaho independent’s “Social Deal” program turns Facebook comments into a weekly reservation system – no shopping app to download, no online checkout, no problem. When Swensen’s Markets posted a deal on 50-pound boxes of Idaho russet baking potatoes to its Facebook page in mid-February, the family-owned grocer likely expected a solid response. What it got […]