Meijer has named the recipients of its 2024 Legacy Awards, the highest recognition a Meijer team member can receive. The Legacy Awards are comprised of the Fred Meijer Award and the Earl Holton President’s Award. The Fred Meijer Award is given to one team member annually who demonstrates his values of humility, generosity and passion for serving others. The Earl Holton President’s Award, […]
Category: Independent Store News
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Independent Store News, National, Save A Lot
RFMN Begins Partnership With Save A Lot’s Independent Grocers
Retail Fluent Media Network (RFMN), a retail media and ad tech company, has begun a partnership with Save A Lot’s independent retail partners, including its 750 independently-owned and -operated stores across 32 states in the U.S. Through this partnership, Save A Lot’s independent retail partners will have the opportunity to utilize Digital Window Signs to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Corporate Store News, Midwest
Minnesota Grocers Recognized For Promoting Locally Grown Products
Eight Minnesota retailers who demonstrate excellence in locally grown and produced products have been named a 2025 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Minnesota Grown program, in partnership with the Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA). Along with awards given by region, a new beer, wine and spirits award was presented […]
Posted inH-E-B, Corporate Store News, Independent Store News, Market Profile, Southwest
H-E-B, Other Independent Grocers Investing In Texas
It has been a significant year for the $70.7 billion Texas grocery industry. At the onset of 2024, grocers in many parts of the state were attempting to rebound from national issues such as labor, supply chain and e-commerce challenges. As the year draws near to a close, it appears their efforts are paying off. […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest
Meijer Expands EVgo Partnership To Install 480 Charging Stations
Meijer has expanded its partnership with EVgo Inc. to set up as many as 480 new public fast-charging stalls for electric vehicles at Meijer properties across Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. To date, EVgo has opened 24 of the stalls at six Meijer stores in Michigan and Ohio. As part of the expanded […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, Food Lion, Guest Contributors, Southeast, The Kroger Co.
Southern Flavors: Unpacking Unique Supermarket Scene In Southeastern U.S.
by Diana Leza Sheehan Within the grocery sector in the U.S., the Southeast stands out with its distinctive characteristics. Influenced by local tastes, strong community bonds and the significant presence of Publix, this region’s grocery landscape is unique. Including some 11 states, the Southeast region accounts for 25 percent of the U.S. population – about […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, West
Mollie Stone’s Markets Kicks Off Fundraiser To Fight Hunger
Mollie Stone’s Markets has begun its annual Grab & Give food drive, a community initiative in partnership with San Francisco-Marin Food Bank aimed at fighting hunger in the San Francisco Bay Area. Customers at all Mollie Stone’s locations can participate through Dec. 31 by buying pre-packed bags of groceries or making direct donations. Each Grab & […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest
Chicago Market Taking Shape In Historic Train Station
Next year, the Windy City will be getting a new grocery store with the opening of Chicago Market in the Gerber building on Broadway, a landmark location that served as a train station for a century. Dan Arnett, general manager, recently spoke with The Shelby Report of the Midwest about the store and how a […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Independent Store News, Northeast
Stew Leonard’s Joins Uber Eats For Grocery Delivery
Uber Eats has begun a partnership with Stew Leonard’s, a family-owned and -operated farm fresh food store in the Northeast, for grocery delivery. All of Stew Leonard’s Connecticut, New Jersey and New York locations are available to shop on the Uber Eats and Uber apps, giving consumers near-instant access to the brand’s exclusive items. Uber One […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Northeast
Murphy’s Fresh Markets Serving Its Communities Inside, Outside Stores
Murphy’s Fresh Markets operates three stores in southern New Jersey. The stores are nestled in their respective neighborhoods, with strong relationships with customers and a reputation for charitable giving. But the grocer knows that to continue to be successful, the stores have to provide the goods, literally, as well. “My family’s grown roots here and […]
Posted inH-E-B, Independent Store News, Southwest
H-E-B Celebrates Opening Of Third Store In Pflugerville, TX
H-E-B opened a new 127,000-square-foot store Nov. 13 at 2641 E. Pflugerville Pkwy. in Pflugerville, Texas, the retailer’s third location in the city. The store includes the city’s first True Texas BBQ restaurant and has distinctive features such as H-E-B curbside with covered parking, full-service H-E-B pharmacy with two-lane drive-thru, fuel station with car wash […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, National
Circana Thanksgiving Report: Consumers Will Spend More On Groceries
Circana has released its annual Thanksgiving Outlook, providing insights into projected consumer purchasing behaviors and attitudes for 2024. This year’s analysis highlights the popularity of Thanksgiving traditions, providing data to help manufacturers, retailers and marketers develop merchandising and promotional strategies and drive growth throughout the season. The week prior to and the week of the […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest
Meijer LPGA Classic Champ Donates $25K To The Other Way Ministries
Meijer is making a $25,000 donation to The Other Way Ministries in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on behalf of 2024 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give champion Lilia Vu. The donation comes after the tournament achieved a record-setting $2 million fundraising goal and supports a tradition started in 2021 to support a hunger relief program of the champion’s choice. Recent past champions […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Grocery Store Layout, Northeast, Tops Friendly Markets
Tops Cuts Ribbon On Store Renovation In South Lockport, NY
Tops Friendly Markets recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its renovated store in South Lockport, New York, one of the largest locations in the chain’s footprint. The remodel, totaling about $4 million, is also Tops’ most significant investment to date since embarking on a capital improvement plan more than five years ago. Shoppers in […]
Posted inCoborn's, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Dollar General, Festival Foods, Guest Contributors, Independent Store News, Midwest, The Kroger Co.
Midwest Grocery: How Rural Nuance Allows Regional Independents To Thrive
by Diana Leza Sheehan While many factors help to shape the state of grocery retailing in the Midwest, geography plays a critical role in how retailers have evolved and thrived over time. National chains such as Walmart, Kroger and Aldi continue to hold a significant share in the market, yet the region features many small […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Southeast
Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market Continues Family Legacy
Tom Leonard, owner of Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market in Richmond, Virginia, learned many life lessons from his father, including how to succeed in the food business. He said his father, the late Stew Leonard, had two rules, which literally were set in stone. “Rule one, the customer’s always right. Rule two, if they’re wrong, reread […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest
Super One Foods Celebrates New Store In Walker, MN
Super One Foods recently held a grand opening celebration for a replacement store in the northern Minnesota town of Walker. Parent company Miner’s Inc. broke ground on the project, which represents a $15 million investment, in summer 2023. The new location, about double the size of the previous one, was built behind the former store. […]
Posted inCentral Market, Independent Store News, Southwest
Central Market Moving Forward On Uptown Dallas Site
Central Market has unveiled preliminary drawings for a location in Uptown Dallas, Texas, that has been on hold since 2023, when plans for a high rise, mixed-use project were complicated by a softer post-COVID commercial market. Central Market, which took assignment of the property in 2016, has since designed a new standalone store within parameters […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Independent Store News, National
More Independent Grocers Adopting Instacart’s Caper Carts
Several independent grocers – including Bowman’s Market, Maurer’s Market IGA, Neiman’s Family Market, Queen’s Price Chopper and Soelbergs Market – are adopting Caper Carts, Instacart’s artificial intelligence-powered smart carts. The carts offer customers shopping in these stores – which operate across Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington – a more personalized shopping experience. Caper Carts are equipped with cameras, sensors […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Southeast
Houchens Food Group Announces Death Of Former Longtime Leader
Houchens Food Group has announced the death of former President and COO James “Jimmy” Kent Nichols, on Nov. 5, 2024, 11 days after being diagnosed with glioblastoma. Nichols was born on July 10, 1959, in Clifton, Texas, and graduated from Crockett High School in Austin in 1977, according to his obituary. He got his start […]