Austin Kollasch of Fareway Store No. 215 in Omaha defended his top spot Oct. 7 at the annual Nebraska Best Bagger Contest hosted by the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association. The competition showcased five of the state’s finest grocery baggers in two preliminary heats followed by a final round. The event drew a crowd of nearly […]
Category: Store News
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, West
Heritage Grocers Group Launches Pumpkins Campaign For Children’s Hospitals
Heritage Grocers Group has launched the “Pumpkins for a Purpose” campaign to raise funds for children and families receiving care at hospitals in the communities served by its banner stores. Running through Oct. 31, the initiative is designed at the “heart of everything we do is a deep commitment to our communities,” said Adam Salgado, […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Feeds Awards More Than $2.6M In Grants
The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation has awarded more than $2.6 million in grants to 120 organizations as part of its Summers Without Hunger campaign, supporting community feeding partners working to prevent childhood hunger, address food insecurity and promote healthier lifestyles. Food Lion customers and participating vendors supported the annual Summers Without Hunger campaign, which provided […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, National, News, Save A Lot
Save A Lot Names 2025 Hometown Heroes Program Winners
St. Louis-based Save A Lot has named the winners of its 2025 Hometown Heroes, a nomination-based recognition program that showcases people and organizations making a difference in their communities. Here are the latest honorees: Ben Hoopengardner, Hancock Fire Department in Hancock, Maryland; Debbie Cohill, Martha’s House in Hancock, Maryland; Debbie Salters, Thursday Church in Vincennes, […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, Independent Store News, Northeast
Wiscovitch, Garcia Honored With FIA 2025 Award, Philanthropic Achievement
The Food Industry Alliance of New York (FIA) will honor Zulema Wiscovitch and Joe Garcia, co-CEOs of Associated Supermarket Group (ASG), with the Award for Philanthropic Achievement on Oct. 21 during the FIA Annual Gala. Since 2021, FIA has recognized the involvement of the retail food industry across New York and the surrounding tri-state area. […]
Posted inBakery News, Independent Store News, Natural Grocers, News, Organic Natural, Southwest
Natural Grocers Expands Private-Label Brand With Organic Tortillas
Organic grocery retailer Natural Grocers has added Natural Grocers Brand Organic Tortillas to its private-label brand. Made in New Mexico using traditional techniques, the four additions to the company’s house brand are certified organic, non-GMO, kosher and made without hydrogenated fats, flour-bleaching agents or chemical dough conditioners. Customers can choose from a range of sizes, from […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Food City, Southeast
Food City Holds Grand Reopening In Trenton, GA
Food City held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 8 for an expanded and remodeled store on Crimson Drive in Trenton, Georgia. The grand reopening celebration includes special pricing on select items throughout the store. “Our customers will find the same smiling faces, top quality products, exceptional customer service and competitive pricing they have come to expect […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, ShopRite
Kenny Family ShopRites Of Delaware Celebrate 30th Anniversary
Kenny Family ShopRites of Delaware is celebrating its 30th anniversary Oct. 13 with the unveiling of a community mural on its store at 501 S. Walnut St. in Wilmington. A video documenting the creation of the mural can be viewed here. Members of the Kenny family and store team will be joined by local Delaware […]
Posted inGrocery Research, C-Store News, National, News
Report: Buc-ee’s, Sheetz, Wawa Are Top 3 U.S. C-Store Retailers
Texas-based Buc-ee’s ranks as the top U.S. retailer in the Convenience Retailer Preference Index (RPI), a nationwide brand equity study by dunnhumby that examines the approximately $860 billion U.S. convenience market. Buc-ee’s outperformed the other 40 convenience stores surveyed, scoring 17 points higher than Sheetz, which ranked second on the RPI. Wawa, Kwik Trip and […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southwest, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market Forecasts 2026 Top Food, Beverage Trends
Whole Foods Market’s Trends Council has shared its top food trends for 2026 in the retailer’s annual predictions report. The council foresees 2026 as the year of fiber frenzy, fine-dining freezer finds and an uptick in tallow. The council – a collective of Whole Foods Market employees ranging from foragers and buyers to culinary experts […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Anniversary Issues, News, Publix Super Markets, Retailer of the Year, Southeast
Publix Super Markets Expands Kentucky Presence With ‘55 Model’ Prototype
Publix Super Markets, The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s 2025 Retailer of the Year, is continuing its expansion into Kentucky with the opening of another store – part of a new market for the Florida-based grocer but one CEO Kevin Murphy says is already exceeding expectations. The second Lexington store, which opened June 4, is […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, National, News, Private Label Brands
Food Club Hosts Boy Band Bake-Off To Celebrate 80 Years
As part of its 80th anniversary celebration, Topco’s Food Club brand recently held a Boy Band Bake-Off featuring Lance Bass – multi-platinum Grammy winner of boy band *NSYNC – and A.J. McLean – member of the eight-time Grammy-nominated music group Backstreet Boys. The bake-off challenged Bass and McLean to use Food Club ingredients to bake […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Wegmans
Wegmans Feeds Local Families With Grow-A-Row, Interfaith Food Pantry Network
Wegmans employees recently completed a full-circle volunteer initiative – planting, harvesting and delivering fresh produce to families in need. Through a partnership with America’s Grow-a-Row (AGAR), the employees began their journey in the fields, planting rows of zucchini. Weeks later, they returned to harvest the produce and deliver it to the Interfaith Food Pantry Network […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Ahold Delhaize, Corporate Store News, News
Ahold Delhaize USA, NationsBenefits Partner To Expand Food Access
Ahold Delhaize USA has begun a collaboration with NationsBenefits that enables eligible members to use the Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Flex Card to buy fresh produce, pantry staples and over-the-counter wellness items in-store at Ahold Delhaize USA brands. “This collaboration is another important step in our healthier people strategy to make nutritious choices affordable, easy and […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, H-E-B, News, Southwest
H-E-B Names 2025 Quest For Texas Best Competition Winners
H-E-B has announced the winners of its 12th Annual H-E-B Quest for Texas Best competition, a statewide search for superior products made in the Lone Star State. Judges and H-E-B employees convened in San Antonio for the final decisions and selected the winners, who will receive a combined $110,000 in prize money and the opportunity […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Harris Teeter, News, Southeast
Harris Teeter, Make-A-Wish CWNC Celebrate $1M Donation Milestone
Harris Teeter and Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina (CWNC) are celebrating a milestone in their partnership. Since 2013, Harris Teeter has raised more than $1 million for the Make-A-Wish chapter, funding more than 100 wishes for children with critical illnesses. “This milestone reflects Harris Teeter’s ongoing commitment to supporting our communities,” said Danna Robinson, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Fareway, Midwest, News
Enhanced Fareway Exhibit Opens At Boone County History Center
The Boone County (Iowa) Historical Society is celebrating the grand reopening of its remodeled Fareway history exhibit on display at the Boone County History Center. Society members joined staff from Fareway and residents for a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. The exhibit celebrates the legacy of Fareway Stores Inc., which opened its first store in 1938 in […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Guest Contributors, IGA, National, News
Column: Why Are There So Many Food Deserts In America?
By Ashley Page, VP of marketing and public affairs for the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) Most Americans, and certainly those of us in the grocery business, have grown used to seeing a bounty of food in our local grocery store. Rows of vibrantly colored fruits and vegetables, fresh meat and dairy and a huge variety […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Hy-Vee, Midwest, News
Hy-Vee Acquires County Market, Circle K In Wausau, WI
Hy-Vee Inc. is acquiring the County Market store at 220 S. 18th Ave. in Wausau, Wisconsin. The store will close at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 and reopen on Nov. 18 as a Hy-Vee. Hy-Vee also is taking over the adjacent Circle K convenience store, which will be rebranded as a Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh location. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Balls Foods, Midwest, News
Hen House, Harvesters Partner On ‘Fill The Fridge’ Drive
Hen House Market in Overland Park, Kansas, partnered with Harvesters – The Community Food Network for the virtual “Fill the Fridge” food drive Oct. 1., raising more than $22,470, along with 2,316 pounds of fresh food donations. According to Harvesters, food insecurity in the region is at an all-time high. The “Fill the Fridge” campaign […]