The National Grocers Association named Kristi Magnuson Nelson, president of Grand Forks, North Dakota-based Hugo’s Family Marketplace, as the 2026 recipient of the Thomas K. Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. One of the most prestigious honors in the independent grocery industry, the award honors the legacy of Zaucha, NGA’s first president and CEO, whose career was […]
Category: Store News
Expert Article
Real-Time Insight For Real Results: Giving Independent Grocers Control Over The Decisions That Drive Profit
Independent grocers operate in one of the most demanding areas of retail. Margins are tight, labor is unpredictable and vendor costs can change without warning. Yet many store leaders still rely on month-end reports or spreadsheets that arrive long after the moment to adjust has passed. That delay makes it harder to lead with confidence. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Festival Foods, Midwest, News
Festival Foods’ Munns Retiring, Whitney Promoted To Chief Merchant
Festival Foods shared two personnel moves Jan. 30, including the upcoming retirement of Randy Munns, EVP and COO, and the promotion of Adam Whitney to chief merchant. Munns will retire Feb. 13 after a 40-year career in the grocery industry, including 35 years with the Wisconsin-based chain. Munns joined Festival in 1991 as a third-shift […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
IGA Debuts Community Development Program To Address Food Desert Crisis
The Independent Grocers Alliance has launched IGA Community Development, a new initiative designed to expand access to fresh, affordable food in underserved urban and rural communities across the U.S. The new area of focus for IGA involves matching funding from communities, nonprofits and other developmental entities with independent retailers. This allows those retailers to open […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, National, News
Lidl U.S. Opening New Store Feb. 4 In Totowa, NJ
Lidl U.S. will open a new store Feb. 4 at 545 US-46 in Totowa, New Jersey, expanding the discount grocer’s presence in the state. The store will welcome customers at sunrise with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:40 a.m. The grand opening will feature freshly baked croissants and coffee. The Totowa location will feature Lidl’s curated […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Costco Wholesale, National, News
Costco Launches Same-Day Instacart Delivery Websites In France, Spain
Costco (Nasdaq: COST) members in France and Spain can shop online and receive same-day delivery through Costco’s first European websites powered by Instacart’s Storefront Pro commerce platform and fulfillment solutions services, the companies announced Jan. 30. The initial rollout includes delivery from all Costco locations in the two countries, including stores in the Paris metropolitan […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger Expands Simple Truth Protein Line With 24 New Products
Kroger added 24 new Simple Truth Protein products to store shelves in January, expanding the line to more than 110 items as customers focus on wellness goals in the new year. The expanded line features protein-packed options designed to support nutrition goals, from establishing everyday habits to building strength. All products are free from unwanted […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Anniversary Issues, Finance News, News, Retailer of the Year, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
SoCal-Based Vallarta Supermarkets Charts Path Of Growth, Change
In 1985, the Gonzalez family opened a small market in Van Nuys, California, called Carnicería Vallarta. The family focused on selling traditional cuts of meats popular in their native Mexico. They worked hard to build a name for themselves by offering high-quality authentic products, providing a high level of customer service and treating employees as […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southeast
The Fresh Market Adds South Miami Store To Florida Footprint
The Fresh Market opened its first store of 2026 in South Miami on Jan. 28, marking the grocer’s eighth location in the Miami-Dade area and 172nd store overall. The ribbon-cutting welcomed customers to a store featuring premium meats and seafood, fresh seasonal produce, local offerings and international products. To mark the occasion, the store contributed […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Produce News, Tops Friendly Markets
Tops Markets Launches 2026 Produce Winter Olympic Games
Tops Markets has launched its 2026 Produce Winter Olympic Games, a four-week, company-wide competition Feb. 1-28 that challenges store teams to showcase produce displays, innovative merchandising and strong sales performance. Throughout the competition, stores participate in weekly themed events designed to highlight freshness, presentation and promotional creativity within the produce department. Teams compete for thousands […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Reaches Milestone In Florida Everglades Projects
Publix recently completed two wetland restoration projects in the Florida Everglades, restoring more than 1,300 acres and an estimated 173 million gallons of water annually to the region. In 2021, the Lakeland, Fla.-based company committed $2 million to the National Audubon Society and the National Park Foundation to support restoration efforts at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Expands Pickup, Delivery To 36 Additional Stores
Food Lion has expanded Food Lion To Go online ordering to 36 additional stores in Georgia, Maryland and North and South Carolina. The expansion provides more customers access to online grocery pickup and home delivery services through foodlion.com and the Food Lion app. The rollout builds on continued e-commerce growth for the Salisbury, North Carolina-based […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southwest
United Supermarkets, Cheez-It Donate $10K To Extra Yard For Teachers Initiative
United Supermarkets and Cheez-It recently presented $10,000 in grant funding to nearly two dozen educators across the South Plains of Texas as part of the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative. Grants ranging from about $200-900 will support classroom projects through DonorsChoose. The CFP Foundation is the largest sports entity dedicated to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
NGA Shares 2026 Creative Choice Award Winners
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has shared the winners of the 2026 Creative Choice Awards, recognizing top marketing and merchandising programs in the independent grocery industry. The awards, supported by Cheez-It and Unilever, will be presented during The NGA Show, which runs Feb. 1-3 at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. A Unilever […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Taylor Bros. Construction Builds Business Through Meijer Grow Program
Taylor Bros. Construction Co., a Columbus, Indiana-based construction company, has expanded its operations through participation in the Meijer Grow program, which supports local businesses within the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer’s footprint. Taylor Bros., established in 1933, previously worked on Meijer stores through other general contractors. “We were part of the team, just not working with […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, C-Store News, News, Southeast
ECRS Launches CATAPULT Fuel For Independent Retailers
Boone, N.C.-based ECRS has released CATAPULT Fuel, a fuel management system that integrates operations into the company’s CATAPULT point-of-sale platform. The system allows independent retailers to manage fuel operations through CATAPULT Web Office, creating a single unified platform for store and fuel management. The release marks a departure from complex fuel software systems that require […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Holds Grand Opening In Statesville, NC
Food Lion opened its fifth store in Statesville, North Carolina, on Jan. 18, marking more than five decades of service to the community. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at 7:45 a.m. at the 1909 E. Broad St. location. The first 100 customers received a mystery gift card valued up to $200 and a free reusable […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, ShopRite
ShopRite To Open New Supermarket Feb. 4 In Manahawkin, NJ
Saker ShopRites will open a larger, expanded location Feb. 4 at 733 Route 72 West in Manahawkin, New Jersey. The new store is more than double the size of the Stafford Square location it is replacing and marks a addition to the Manahawkin Commons shopping center. Members of the Saker family and local officials will […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Amazon Fresh, Finance News, National, News, Whole Foods
Amazon To Close Go and Fresh Stores, Open 100+ Whole Foods Locations
Amazon is closing all its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores to focus on online grocery delivery and Whole Foods Market expansion, with various locations converting to Whole Foods stores. In addition, the Seattle-based company plans to open more than 100 new Whole Foods Market stores over the next few years and will expand same-day […]
Posted inBJ's Wholesale Club, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, National, News
BJ’s Wholesale Club Opening Second Small-Format Market
BJ’s Wholesale Club is set to open its second BJ’s Market location on Jan. 30, marking the expansion of the retailer’s small-format concept designed to offer warehouse club value in smaller, more convenient locations. The 55,000-square-foot store – at 14595 South Military Trail in Delray Beach, Florida – is about half the size of a […]