GES Inc., owner and operator of Edwards Food Giant and Edwards Cash Saver stores, has made key executive promotions as part of its leadership succession planning. Paul Rowton, previously EVP and CFO, has been promoted to president of Marianna, Arkansas-based GES Inc., while Gary Proffitt has been promoted to VP and COO. Steve Edwards will […]
Category: Independent Store News
Hy-Vee Launches Nothing But The Truth Private Label Brand
Hy-Vee Inc. has introduced Nothing But The Truth, a health-forward product line designed to meet growing consumer demand for transparency, taste and value in the better-for-you food space. Developed by Hy-Vee’s team of registered dietitians, the new private label brand features products made with ingredients that are primarily organic, plant-based, non-GMO, low sugar and high […]
The Raley’s Companies Names Barsotti As Chief Communications Officer
The Raley’s Companies has appointed Carol Barsotti as chief communications officer, expanding her leadership role within the organization. Barsotti will assume responsibility for public relations, government affairs and community impact as the West Sacramento, California-based retailer continues to focus on transformation and sustainable growth. Barsotti also is president of fieldTRUE, a farm-box subscription business, and […]
Sendik’s Food Market Celebrates 100th Anniversary
Sendik’s Food Market is celebrating 100 years in business, marking a century since the Balistreri family opened a produce market in Shorewood, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee-area grocer announced the milestone Jan. 19. What began in 1926 as a family selling fruits and vegetables has grown into company that operates 18 stores from Grafton to Franklin to Oconomowoc, […]
99 Ranch Market Expanding In Vegas With Summerlin Store
99 Ranch Market plans to open its second Las Vegas location Jan. 24 in the upscale Summerlin neighborhood. The 50,000-square-foot store at Boca Park Plaza, located at 820 S. Rampart Blvd., marks the company’s 66th location nationwide, covering 11 states. According to the company, the opening comes at a strategic time for both 99 Ranch […]
Market 32 Completes $3.4M Store Conversion In Morrisville, VT
Market 32 has completed a $3.4 million conversion of a former Price Chopper supermarket in Morrisville, Vermont. A grand-opening celebration was held Jan. 16 for the 53,000-square-foot store, the 52nd Market 32-branded location across the Schenectady, New York-based grocer’s six-state footprint. The store closed the night of Jan. 15 to complete final renovations and reopened […]
ROFDA Rolls Out National Merchandising Program
Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates has launched Aggregated National Merchandising Scale Events, a new capability designed to provide manufacturers with coordinated access to the independent grocery channel through ROFDA’s nine member wholesalers. Beginning this year, ROFDA will execute three coordinated, national-scale merchandising programs across key seasonal windows during summer and fall. The programs will […]
Harps Food Stores Announces New Leadership Across Company
Harps Food Stores has made several leadership appointments following the retirement of Randall Harp, who served as VP of warehouse operations and grocery procurement. The promotions include Shannon Kincade to VP of center store merchandising, Josh Cleveland to director of grocery retail management, Mike J. Roberts to director of warehouse operations and Ashley Winget to […]
Okimoto Corp.’s Longstanding Values Guide Everyday Operations Of Its Stores
Hawaii grocer Okimoto Corp. celebrated 75 years in business in 2024, built on a foundation of honesty, integrity, humility and unity. Led by the third generation – Kris, Kyle and Kit Okimoto – the company operates two stores on Oahu and one on Molokai. Kit Okimoto, who in addition to his CFO duties in the […]
Northgate González Market Opens New Store In La Mirada, CA
Northgate González Market opened a 29,800-square-foot store Jan. 14 at 12721 Valley View Blvd. in La Mirada, California, marking a homecoming to the community where owners the González family first settled after immigrating to the U.S. “For our family, La Mirada will always hold a special place in our hearts,” said Oscar González, co-president of […]
Food City Pledges $100K To Revolutionary War Mobile Museum
Food City has begun a partnership with Virginia’s American Revolution 250 Commission to support the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience, pledging $100,000 to the project. Titled “Out of Many, One: The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience,” it tells the story of Virginia’s role in the American Revolution, from Patrick Henry’s 1775 “Give Me Liberty, or Give Me […]
Meijer Launches Virtual Healthcare Platform With WellSync
Meijer has launched a virtual healthcare service through a partnership with WellSync, allowing customers to access treatment for common health conditions from home for $29.99 per visit with no insurance required. Customers can receive care for cold, flu, allergies, hair loss and other everyday health concerns through board-certified healthcare professionals through the Meijer website, pharmacy […]
Key Food Partners With Swiftly To Modernize Digital Shopper Experience
Key Food Stores Co-Operative, a chain of more than 460 family-owned and -operated supermarkets across eight Northeast states, has partnered with Swiftly to transform its digital ecosystem and tap new retail media revenue streams. Through the collaboration, Key Food will leverage Swiftly’s App & Web platform with integrated Alcohol Cashback solutions to enhance shopper engagement. […]
Save A Lot Donates 103K Food Bags Through Holiday Campaign
Save A Lot donated 103,656 bags of food to local charities through its annual Bags for a Brighter Holiday program, marking a 54 percent increase from the prior year’s effort. The St. Louis-based discount grocer announced the results Jan. 15, following a three-month donation campaign. Customers purchased pre-assembled food bags at Save A Lot stores […]
Big Y Debuts Remodeled Supermarket In West Hartford, CT
Big Y has reopened its West Hartford, Connecticut, supermarket following a remodel that expanded prepared foods, updated fixtures across all departments and added a new café with digital menu boards. The new look features a reconfigured entrance, modern décor and updated graphics throughout the store. The kitchen department received the most significant expansion, adding a […]
Lowes Foods Opens Sixth Charlotte-Area Store In Waxhaw, NC
The store Lowes Foods opened Jan. 15 at Providence Road and Prescott Glenn Parkway in Waxhaw, North Carolina, is its sixth in the Charlotte market. Part of the Winston-Salem-based grocer’s expansion across the Carolinas, with multiple store openings and conversions planned for 2026, the Waxhaw location follows recent openings in Indian Land and Red Bank, […]
Stater Bros. Expands Partnership With Afresh
Stater Bros. Markets is scaling its partnership with Afresh Technologies, extending AI-driven inventory management beyond produce into additional fresh departments while implementing distribution center (DC) forecasting. The expansion follows strong results from the 171-store California chain’s recent produce deployment, which it said reduced shrink and improved product availability. The combined system connects real store demand […]
Schnucks Begins Store Remodel In St. Charles, MO
Schnucks has begun renovating its Lindenwood store in St. Charles, Missouri, with completion expected by late summer. The remodel will update the 71,000-square-foot location with expanded departments and improved amenities. The project includes expanding the dairy, frozen foods and deli kitchen departments, along with adding a new floral section. The store will receive updated fixtures […]
H-E-B Celebrates Leadership, Milestones
Over its storied 120-year history, H-E-B has become synonymous with the grocery industry in Texas. And it’s not showing any signs of slowing down. The Shelby Report of the Southwest’s 2025 Retailer of the Year continues to expand into the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, as well as other areas of the Lone Star State, and remains […]
Raley’s Food For Families Marks 40 Years Of Hunger Relief
Raley’s Food For Families is marking 40 years of hunger relief with the launch of its 2026 Infrastructure Grant Program, a renewed funding initiative designed to strengthen food access across communities in California and Nevada. Since its founding in 1986, Raley’s Food For Families has donated more than $81 million and 70 million pounds of […]
