by Treva Bennett/staff writer A strong Arizona economy, along with a pro-business governor, was good for the state in 2019, according to Arizona Food Marketing Alliance (AFMA) President Mark Miller. Phoenix, home to AFMA, has benefited from the pro-business environment in the state. “Downtown has really exploded,” Miller said, noting the new Fry’s Food Store […]
Category: Store News
Posted inExecutive News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Slider, West
Fry’s Food Stores Co-Founder Charles Fry Dies At 92
Charles Lindbergh Fry, 92, co-founder of Fry’s Food Stores, died in his sleep Monday, Jan. 20, at the home he shared with his wife Alice in Paradise Valley, Arizona. After 68 years of marriage, he stayed by his wife’s side as long as his body would allow. He shared love and laughs with close family […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Corporate Store News, Home Page Slider, Marketing News, Southwest
Walmart Makes Pickup ‘Famous’ With First Big Game Commercial
For the first time ever, Walmart will be airing an ad during the Big Game with the help of some familiar visitors. Famous Visitors brings 12 “visitors” from popular TV shows and movies—and their creative transportation methods—together for the first time ever as they touch down on Earth to pick up everything they need curbside […]
Posted inNortheast, Corporate Store News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Slider, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Organic Natural, Produce News
Sprouts Farmers Market Hiring 110 For Maryland Store
Phoenix, Arizona-based healthy grocer Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. announced in mid-January that it soon will finish construction of a new store in Pasadena, Maryland. The nearly 30,000-s.f. store at 8048 Ritchie Highway will open at 7 a.m. April 15. Details about the grand opening celebration will be announced later. “Since Sprouts first opened in the […]
Posted inH-E-B, Bakery News, Beverage News, Dairy News, Deli News, Grocery Store Layout, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Southwest
H-E-B Returns To Meyerland With Bigger, Better Store
H-E-B’s reinvestment in the Meyerland community of Houston, Texas, has gone vertical. H-E-B Meyerland Market, located at 4955 Beechnut, opened Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 6 a.m. Serving as an anchor in the Meyerland Plaza, the brand new, 95,000-s.f. store replaces the former Braeswood store that closed after enduring significant damage from the floods following Hurricane […]
Posted inBeverage News, Corporate Store News, Deli News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Slider, Southwest, Suppliers, Sustainability News
Snap Kitchen Rolls Out Free Shipping To 235M Households
Austin, Texas-based Snap Kitchen is offering free ground shipping across 38 states for its nutritionally balanced, ready-to-eat meals. For those who prefer to shop in-store, Snap Kitchen’s dietitian-curated and chef-prepared meals also have launched in Whole Foods Market stores in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, in addition to all 34 Whole Foods Market stores in Texas. “We’ve been pleased with the […]
Posted inExecutive News, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Southeast, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Houchens Industries CEO/Chairman Jimmie Gipson To Retire
Jimmie Gipson, long-time executive, CEO and chairman of the board at Houchens Industries, shared his retirement plans at the company’s Jan. 24 board meeting. Gipson, who has close to 55 years with the company, will retire March 31 from the Bowling Green, Kentucky-based company. The board has elected EVP Dion Houchins to succeed Gipson as […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest, Shelby Signature Content
Grocery Business Is In DNA Of Mackenthun’s Fine Foods Family
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest August Mackenthun opened a little butcher shop in Plato around the turn of the last century. The exact year is not known, said Kim Mackenthun, who with his son, Jaime, and daughter, Jessa, owns the business today. “Jaime and Jessa’s great-great-grandfather started a little store 12 miles west of (Waconia) right about […]
Posted inShelby Originals, C-Store News, Food Service News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Perishables, Shelby Signature Content, Southwest
Allsup’s Pushing Back Food Desert In Melrose, New Mexico
by John McCurry/contributing writer Melrose, New Mexico, is a town with a population of about 650 in the north central part of the state, about 30 miles from the Texas border. The town is in a rural area considered a food desert. Helping fill the gap is a new, larger Allsup’s convenience store, which offers […]
Posted inRecommended Reading, Corporate Store News, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Southeast
Recommended: Publix To Buy Neptune Beach Lucky’s Lease
Publix Super Markets Inc. confirmed late Jan. 27 that it intends to buy the Lucky’s Market lease in Neptune Beach, Florida, raising the possibility that it will bring its GreenWise Market concept to Duval County. “I can confirm that we are under contract to purchase five Lucky’s leases with locations in Clermont, Naples, Neptune Beach, […]
Posted inAssociation News, C-Store News, Home Page Slider, Snacks Brands, Southwest
NCASEF Says 7-Eleven Ignores Requests To Hear Franchisee Concerns
In the 15 years since Joe DePinto has served as CEO of Dallas, Texas-based 7-Eleven, franchisees have struggled with profitability and working conditions. That’s according to the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF), an elected, independent body representing the interests of more than 7,200 7-Eleven franchised locations in the U.S. NCASEF is concerned […]
Posted inMeijer, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Midwest, Nonfood Items, Online Grocery Technology
Meijer Selects Hyer To Help Execute Its Gig Strategy
In an effort to drive even more efficiencies throughout its stores, Midwest retailer Meijer plans to utilize the Hyer platform/app across its 246-store footprint and its Serv-U-Success operation, to connect gig workers with identified tasks on demand. The Hyer app will allow Meijer to support its workforce needs in real-time, ensuring it can meet consumer […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Corporate Store News, Home Page Slider, National
Updated: Lucky’s Market To Sell 11 Stores, Begins Chapter 11 Proceedings
Lucky’s Markets has agreed to sell various ongoing stores to its founders, Bo and Trish Sharon, who will be a stalking horse in the Lucky’s Chapter 11 process which was filed earlier this week, according to a Jan. 30 statement by investment banking advisor PJ Solomon. On Jan. 27, the Niwot, Colorado-based natural foods chain […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Executive News, Home Page Slider, Marketing News, West, Women In The News
Albertsons’ Own Brands Welcomes Alice Chan VP Of Sales And Marketing
The Own Brands team from Albertsons welcomed Alice Chan to its leadership team on Monday, Jan. 20. Chan joined the organization as VP of Own Brands sales and marketing. “Alice is an energetic and visionary leader who brings more than 16 years of proven results in the CPG industry with PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay Division,” said Own […]
Posted inFood City, Corporate Store News, Home Page Slider, Nonfood Items, Southeast
Food City Recognizes 100-Plus Associates For Volunteerism
Through its Claude P. Varney Volunteer Recognition Program, Abingdon, Virginia-based Food City recently recognized more than 100 associates for their volunteerism. “As a company, we strive to maintain a high level of dedication to service, quality, value and community involvement, while providing a work environment that enables our associates to grow both personally and professionally […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Association News, Corporate Store News, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, National
FMI—The Food Industry Association Celebrates Six Industry Leaders
FMI—The Food Industry Association honored six industry leaders with its 2020 Executive Leadership Awards at its Midwinter Executive Conference. The six were recognized for elevating the food industry through their investments in talent, the customer and for transforming the business environment. “The food industry is a people business; in our operations, there are three necessary […]
Posted inDeli News, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Online Grocery Technology, Southeast
Instacart Launching New Instacart Meals At Publix Stores
Instacart is introducing Instacart Meals—a new grocery meals product that the company says powers easy ordering, delivery and pickup of made-to-order food. The launch marks Instacart’s move into grocery meal delivery, helping retailers bring more in-store aisles and experiences online for customers across North America. With the new Instacart Meals product, customers can order specialty counter […]
Posted inProduce News, Center Store, Corporate Store News, Deli News, Frozen Food, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Nonfood Items, Organic Natural, West
Hanford, California’s First Smart & Final Extra! Store To Open Jan. 29
Smart & Final, the Los Angeles-based grocery warehouse store for household and business customers, is getting bigger in Hanford, California, with a new Smart & Final Extra! opening on Jan. 29. Located at 552 N. 11th Avenue, the new 35,000-s.f. Smart & Final Extra! will be almost three times the size of the existing store […]
Posted inDeli News, Food Service News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Southeast
Wegmans Expands Into West Cary, North Carolina, Hiring Around 450
As of Jan. 16, hiring and training were underway for full-time positions at Wegmans Food Markets’ new West Cary, North Carolina, store. Located on Davis Drive and Airport Boulevard in Wake County, the store is expected to open this summer. Wegmans plans to employ approximately 450 people at the West Cary store, 180 of which […]
Posted inBeverage News, C-Store News, Food Service News, Home Page Slider, Snacks Brands, Southwest
7-Eleven Inc. To Acquire Independently Operated 7-Eleven Stores In Oklahoma
Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven Inc. has entered in an agreement to acquire “7‑Eleven Stores” of central Oklahoma, which includes more than 100 7-Eleven-branded locations that have been operating independently for 67 years. The transaction is anticipated to close in 60-90 days, subject to standard closing conditions and regulatory approvals. All of the stores being acquired are located […]