Posted inIndependent Store News, Health & Wellness, Midwest, News

NationsBenefits Brings Food-As-Medicine Benefits To Dave’s, Lucky’s Markets

NationsBenefits, a healthcare fintech, benefits and outcomes platform, has begun a partnership with Dave’s Markets and Lucky’s Markets Ohio to expand access to groceries, over-the-counter wellness items and essential goods for eligible health-plan members across northeastern Ohio. Under the collaboration, members can use their NationsBenefits Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Flex Card at the grocers’ participating locations. […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Affiliated Foods, Corporate Store News, National, News

Food Industry Accelerates Traceability Ahead Of FSMA 204 Deadline

The push for traceability is being driven by market forces rather than federal timelines, according to ReposiTrak. During a recent MorningNewsBeat interview, ReposiTrak Chairman and CEO Randy Fields and Affiliated Foods Inc. Amarillo President and CEO Randy Arceneaux discussed how retailers and wholesalers are accelerating traceability implementation well ahead of the FDA’s FSMA 204 enforcement date, which […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News, SpartanNash

SpartanNash Foundation Donates $780K To Local Food Pantries

SpartanNash and the SpartanNash Foundation have provided a $780,000 donation to more than 100 local food pantries across the Michigan-based company’s retail footprint, helping provide meals to families facing food insecurity this holiday season. The funds were raised during the foundation’s fifth annual in-store fundraiser of 2025, which ran from Oct. 24-Nov. 26 in participating […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Anniversary Issues, Midwest, News, Special Section

Busch’s Fresh Food Market Honors Its Roots – Quality, Partners, Community

As Busch’s Fresh Food Market enters its next 50 years, the family-owned Michigan grocer is strengthening its foundation through strategic investment in people, technology and community. The company’s mission remains clear: deliver an exceptional fresh food experience while staying true to the neighborhood-focused culture that has defined Busch’s for generations. The momentum at Busch’s is […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, News, Northeast

Survey: Americans Would Choose Beef Over Turkey, Ham For Christmas Dinner

According to new survey data from The Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Redner’s Markets, more than half of Americans who don’t typically serve beef for Christmas dinner (54 percent) say they would consider it, suggesting the dish could be gaining momentum. Already, two out of five Americans (43 percent) serve beef as a main […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Hy-Vee, Midwest, News

Hy-Vee Opens Food Pantry At Iowa Elementary School

Students at Olmsted Elementary School in Urbandale, Iowa, have easier access to nutrition with the opening of a food pantry at their school through a partnership between Hy-Vee and the Food Bank of Iowa. Leaders from the retailer, food bank and the Urbandale Community School District celebrated the opening Dec. 8 with a ribbon-cutting, all-school […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, Market Profile, Midwest, News

Grocery Industry Navigates Expansion, Rural Challenges Across Kansas

The grocery landscape across Kansas tells two stories: one of aggressive growth in metropolitan corridors where national chains are planting flags and another of persistent struggle in rural communities where the independent store remains threatened by economics and changing demographics. Kansas State University’s Rural Grocery Initiative shared a post from KCUR News of an independent […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Natural Grocers, News, Southwest

Natural Grocers Shares Top Consumer Trends For 2026

Natural Grocers has released its annual Top Trends for Living Well in 2026, offering a forecast of emerging consumer behaviors and product interests that are expected to influence health, wellness, food and sustainability in the year ahead. The outlook reflects insights from the company’s Nutrition Education team along with its marketing and analytics professionals. Now […]