A 36-year-old Kroger executive died over the weekend after a reported fall in eastern Kentucky. WCPO Cincinnati reports that Mr. Jason M. Lazor fell 200 feet at Red River Gorge late Friday night, according to Wolfe County Coroner Frank Porter. In an earlier report the coroner’s office stated alcohol was a factor in Mr. Lazor’s […]
Category: Store News
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southeast, Store News
Rouses To Take Over Two Winn-Dixie Stores In Louisiana
Rouses Markets plans to open new stores in Kenner and Ponchatoula, Louisiana, taking over buildings that currently are occupied by Winn-Dixie. The New Orleans Advocate reports that Rouses will open in Keener this summer at 4041 Williams Boulevard, moving out of its current spot at 1000 West Esplanade. “The whole shopping center there is kind […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Store News
Debunking Myth Of ‘Typical’ Hispanic Food Shopper Key To Market Growth For Grocers
While Hispanic food shoppers offer a rich opportunity for food marketers and retailers, they also present a potentially bewildering set of challenges. As highlighted in the “Hispanic Food Shoppers in the U.S.” report from market research publisher Packaged Facts, the in-store behavior of Hispanic food shoppers is the product of a complex interplay among a […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest, Store News
Earth Fare To Open First Michigan Store This Month In Portage
Earth Fare will open its first Michigan store in Portage, at 5070 S. Westnedge Avenue, on Feb. 25. As mlive.com reports, the local operation is part of a growing Asheville, North Carolina-based chain of supermarkets in the Southeast and Midwest that has been anticipated by area people who like natural and organic foods. The Earth Fare […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Southeast
Publix Settles Overtime Pay Case
Publix Super Markets has agreed to pay $30 million to settle a lengthy legal battle about overtime pay. The Ledger reports that the settlement was approved the first week of February in Tennessee federal court, bringing an end to a collective lawsuit filed in May 2012. Lakeland, Florida-based Publix had been accused of failing to […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Supervalu To Host 2015 National Sales Show In August
Following the success of its inaugural national sales show last year, Supervalu Inc. says it will host the 2015 National Expo in August in St. Paul, Minnesota. This year’s event will be held Aug. 11-13 at the RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul and is open to the more than 2,000 independent retail customers served by […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National, Southwest, Store News
Whole Foods, Instacart Offer New One-Hour Valentine’s Floral Delivery
For the first time ever, and exclusively from Whole Foods Market, Instacart is offering Valentine’s flowers delivered in as little as one hour across 15 major U.S. cities. With prices starting at approximately $25 and the ability to include other romantic essentials from Whole Foods Market, this new model offers a more convenient and affordable […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest, Store News
Ohio Grocers Honor Rideout, Wagner Families With Pinnacle Awards
The Ohio Grocers Association (OGA) presented its Pinnacle Award to Rideout’s IGA Foodliner and the Rideout family as well as to Wagner’s IGA and the Wagner family last week. The Pinnacle Award, based on operational excellence and significant contribution to Ohio’s food industry, is given annually to both a single-store operator and a multi-store operation. […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Newport Avenue Market Wins Unified Grocers’ 2015 Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award
Rudy and Debbie Dory and their daughter Lauren Johnson—owners of Newport Avenue Market in Bend, Oregon—received the 2015 “Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award” from Unified Grocers at a special awards dinner Tuesday in Los Angeles. This is the 10th year that Unified has presented the award to an outstanding independent retailer. “It’s an honor […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, National, Northeast, Whole Foods
Wegmans Unseats Amazon To Claim Top Corporate Reputation Ranking
Rochester, New York-based grocer Wegmans Food Markets, with 85 stores and one-tenth of Amazon’s revenues, edged past the online retailer to reach the top spot for corporate reputation among the 100 most visible companies, according to the 16th annual Harris Poll Reputation Quotient (RQ) study. Ranking third on the list, Samsung outperformed all other technology […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Store News, West
Ralphs Launches Charitable Campaign To Benefit Children’s Hospitals
Ralphs Grocery Co. is raising funds to support children’s hospitals in Southern California. Ralphs customers and associates can support their local children’s hospital through the supermarket chain’s nonprofit arm, The Ralphs Fund, by donating their spare change in collection canisters located at the checkstands in their neighborhood Ralphs supermarket. The children’s hospital fundraising campaign will […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Executive News, Industry News, Midwest
Strack & Van Til Reorganizes Executive Management Team
Strack & Van Til President and CEO Ken Diehl has announced a reorganization of the Highland, Indiana-based chain’s executive management team. Hired last October to steer the 5,000-employee company operating 38 stores, Diehl said the staffing changes are part of a plan to better position Strack & Van Til for the future. “I’m very excited […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Industry News, Marketing News, Southwest
Homeland Announces Winner Of 14-Week Get Healthy Challenge
Twenty-year-old William White of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was awarded $5,000 on Jan. 31 for his weight loss efforts in the Homeland Grocery Stores‘ second annual Get Healthy Challenge. White lost a total of 83 pounds throughout the 14-week challenge. Collectively, 12 contestants finished the program and lost 363 pounds and 264 inches. The contestants also […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, National, Store News
Albertsons, Safeway Complete Merger; Combined Co. To Operate 2,230 Stores
Albertsons and Safeway on Friday said that they have completed their proposed merger. Under the terms of the agreement first announced and unanimously approved by Safeway’s board of directors in March 2014, Albertsons will acquire all outstanding shares of Safeway. The deal is valued at approximately $9.2 billion. The merger creates a company that has 2,230 […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National, Online Grocery Technology, Southwest
Sprouts Recognized By Supply Chain Solutions Provider As Innovator Of The Year
iTradeNetwork, a provider of supply chain solutions for the food service and retail industries, has honored Sprouts Farmers Market with its Innovator of the Year Award for Supply Chain Technology. The Phoenix, Arizona-based grocers was recognized for its visionary contributions shaping the breakthrough new iTrade store order management solution, scheduled for general release later this […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Equipment & Technology, Independent Store News, Online Grocery Technology, West
AFS Launches Platform To Provide Online, Mobile Shopping Opportunities
Associated Food Stores (AFS) is making grocery shopping more convenient through a partnership with Rosie, an integrated software company, which will provide online/mobile shopping opportunities to retailers. The new platform will enable participating AFS corporate and member stores to reach new customers, while providing consumer behavior analytics, data analysis and new marketing opportunities. Saveway Market […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Southeast
Martin’s Will Be ‘Official Supermarket’ Of 2015 Richmond Cycling Event
Richmond 2015, the organizer of the 2015 UCI Road World Championships, says that Martin’s Food Markets will join its team of major corporate partners of the nine-day cycling event that will be held in Richmond, Virginia, in September. Martin’s, operating 24 grocery stores in central Virginia, will be the “Official Supermarket” of this year’s UCI […]
Posted in, C-Store News, Midwest, Northeast, Store News
Giant Eagle Entering New Market With Two Store Concepts
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Giant Eagle plans to enter greater Indianapolis later this year with two store concepts. The multi-format food, fuel and pharmacy retailer will open a Market District food destination store and GetGo convenience restaurant and fuel station in The Bridges development in Carmel, Indiana, just outside of Indianapolis. “We are thrilled to bring our Market […]
Posted in, California Perspective, Store News, West
California WIC Moratorium Is Lifted
The moratorium for stores to apply for authorization in the California Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program was lifted Feb. 1. The announcement was made by Dr. Ron Chapman, director and state health officer at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). “This positive step will improve availability and access for the approximately 1.4 million […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Industry News, Southwest
Albertsons Market Debuts First Alamogordo, New Mexico, Store
Albertsons Market opened the company’s first Alamogordo, New Mexico, store Jan. 28. Located at 1300 East 10th Street, the 53,727-s.f. Albertsons Market offers a wide variety of specialty foods, including more than 2,000 international and imported items, an expansive bulk food section, a wine steward and a gluten-free selection containing more than 300 items. The […]