Humans are social animals. As a species, we crave interaction with others. And the absence of connection is so emotionally crippling, we use solitary confinement as a severe criminal punishment. Children born in isolation fail to develop emotionally and physically and often are so scared they can never integrate into society as adults. And primates […]
Category: Independent Store News
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Independent Store News, Midwest
Train And Retain – Fareway Investing ‘In Our People’
By Carol Radice Throughout its many years in business, Fareway has worked hard to establish a culture that encourages and motivates employees to do well. One could say, in fact, that being an employee-focused company is a central part of Fareway’s overall store mission. According to Garrett Piklapp, president, Fareway’s people, extensive training programs and […]
Posted inFestival Foods, Independent Store News, Midwest
Festival Foods Hailed As Top Disability-Friendly Employer In WI
Festival Foods has been named a 2023 Top Disability-Friendly Employer in Wisconsin, a first-time honor presented by Disability:IN Wisconsin. “The Top Disability-Friendly Employer in Wisconsin Award is a testament to companies genuinely committed to creating inclusive workplaces where people with disabilities can thrive,” said Judy Quigley, the organization’s executive director. Melissa Van Gheem, senior human […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Northeast
Tops Offers Double Give Back Days For Education Program
Williamsville, New York-based Tops Friendly Markets will offer schools the chance to earn double the rewards as part of its Tops in Education Program (TIE) during January. Participants enrolled in the program will now be able to earn up to 10 percent for their school(s) during the entire month. During January, participants’ designated school(s) will […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest
Round Up At Schnucks Raises $230K For Salvation Army
Through its recent 15-day Round Up at the Register campaign, Schnucks Markets and its customers donated $230,000 to The Salvation Army’s annual Tree of Lights campaign. Shoppers had the option to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with 100 percent of donations. They gave $212,281 and Schnucks added $17,719. “As they do each […]
Posted inNorthgate Market, Independent Store News, West
Northgate González Market Distributes Food During Holidays
Northgate González Market has partnered with other companies to provide holiday relief through food distribution events at various locations in Southern California throughout November and December. In the spirit of giving, the grocer worked with companies such as Disneyland Resort, Hyundai and WK Kellogg Co. to deliver groceries and turkey vouchers to thousands of families […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Northeast, ShopRite
ShopRite, Kellogg Donate $100K To Feeding America
ShopRite has partnered with the Kellogg Co. – now known as WK Kellogg Co and Kellanova – to donate $100,000 to 10 Feeding America network food banks in Northeast communities where the grocer has stores. The donations, which were collected at in-store events through the summer and fall, will allow food banks to buy nearly […]
Posted inHarps Food Stores, Independent Store News, Southwest
Opening Nears For Harps Foods Store In Brookland, AR
Harps Food Stores will hold a grand opening Jan. 17 for its new store at 8107 U.S. Highway 49 in Brookland, Arkansas. The 32,000-square-foot location will feature a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with Harps’ Black Angus beef, all natural pork and poultry, deli and signature bakery products, as well as grocery, health […]
Posted inH-E-B, Independent Store News, Southwest
H-E-B Begins Work On First Joe V’s Smart Shop In Dallas
Continuing its expansion in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, H-E-B has broken ground on its first Joe V’s Smart Shop outside the Houston area. Located at 4101 W. Wheatland Road, the 55,000-square-foot store is expected to open in late summer. “We are committed to providing the best shopping experience with an emphasis on offering the freshest products […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, West
Thrifty Foods Prospers Post-Pandemic In Wheatland, WY
While Jodi Axford never imagined she would own and run a small independent grocery store in rural Wyoming, she has found a place and a purpose there. The owner of Thrifty Foods in Wheatland moved to the small town with her then-husband and two children. He had been a store manager for Cub Foods in Minnesota, […]
Posted inFestival Foods, Independent Store News, Midwest
Festival Foods Adds Paid Parental Leave For Employees
Skogen’s Festival Foods has announced a new paid parental leave benefit for its 8,000 full- and part-time employees, effective Jan. 1. Following the birth of a child or placement of a child in connection to adoption or foster care in their homes, employees can receive three weeks of paid parental leave. The benefit is intended […]
Posted inHy-Vee, Independent Store News, Midwest
Hy-Vee Names Performers For 2024 INDYCAR Race Weekend
Award-winning artists Luke Combs and Post Malone will lead the entertainment lineup for next summer’s Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend on July 12-14. Combs will perform on the Hy-Vee Stage on July 13 before the first NTT INDYCAR Series race of the doubleheader weekend. Malone will take the stage on July 14, following the final race […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest
Meijer Surprises Customers With Holiday Shopping Sprees
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer held its 10th annual Very Merry Meijer event, surprising customers with holiday shopping sprees. In each of the retailer’s 262 stores across the Midwest, directors and executives gave one in-store customer a $1,000 shopping spree and presented two Meijer employees with $200 gift cards. “Celebrating the 10th anniversary of this special […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Midwest
Save A Lot Names Interim CEO Boehler To Permanent Role
St. Louis-based independently-owned and -operated discount grocery store chain Save A Lot announced that Fred Boehler, who had been serving as its interim CEO since Oct. 31, will move into the role on a permanent basis. A seasoned supply chain executive with more than 30 years of experience across multiple retail and wholesale format businesses, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Northeast
ARS Makes It Official: Fantozzi New President, COO
Allegiance Retail Services (ARS), a supermarket services cooperative based in Iselin, New Jersey, has named Joe Fantozzi as president and COO, effective immediately. Fantozzi was named interim president and COO in September, when John Derderian voluntarily agreed to reduce his responsibilities and transition to a part-time role of principal advisor for retail development and strategic business […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Northeast
ARS Opens New Foodtown In Brooklyn, NY
Allegiance Retail Services (ARS), a retailer-owned grocery co-op, held a grand opening Dec. 9 for a new Foodtown at 457 Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn, New York. Located in the Boerum Hill neighborhood, the 4,500-square-foot store is owned and operated by the Elayyan family, who have nine supermarkets, seven of which are in Brooklyn. “We are […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest
Lakeside Foods Taps Neff As SVP Of Sales
Manitowoc, Wisconsin-based Lakeside Foods has appointed Laurie Neff as SVP of sales. Neff brings 25 years of progressive sales leadership experience in the food industry, spanning private label and branded lines, channel and category development and joint venture management. “We’re excited to have Laurie on board to lead our sales function,” said Kevin Lien, chief […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, U.R.M. Stores, West
URM Stores Credits ReposiTrak For FSMA 204 Records Progress
URM Stores Inc. is crediting automation with the ReposiTrak Traceability Network for advancing its efforts to comply with FDA’s FSMA 204 food traceability law. The ReposiTrak solution enables the exchange and maintenance of FDA-required data between the co-op’s suppliers, distribution centers and retail locations in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. The FDA’s FSMA 204 food […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National
Niemann Foods Is 2024 NGA Student Case Study Retailer
The NGA Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the National Grocers Association, has announced that Quincy, Illinois-based Niemann Foods will be the participating retailer in the 2024 Student Case Study Competition. The annual Student Case Study Competition brings college students pursuing degrees in food and retail programs from across the country to The NGA Show, where […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, West
Stater Bros. Introduces New Supermarket In Ontario, CA
Stater Bros. Markets will hold the grand opening of its newest store Dec. 13 at 930 N. Haven Ave. in Ontario, California. The 47,491-square-foot store will be located at the corner of Fourth Street and Haven Avenue in Ontario and anchor The Collection neighborhood center developed by Lewis Retail Centers. The Ontario store’s grand opening […]