Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Bonus Content, Grocery Industry, Home Page Latest News, Northeast

New Maine Food Group Executive Director Working To Join Retailers And Producers

by Mike Berger/editor-Northeast Christine Cummings, new executive director of the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association (MGFPA), will be returning to her position in January after maternity leave. She joined the association in 2017 and was promoted to executive director in June. She is excited about the growth of the association, the rise of Maine […]

Posted inBonus Content, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Whole Foods

Year In Review 2017: Top Stories In The Southeast

New competition—namely Lidl—garnered the most press in the Southeast edition this year. The merger of Amazon and Whole Foods Market also ­generated a good bit of speculation about what that might mean for the grocery industry. A number of top-level executive changes took place among the region’s grocers this year. Many also fine-tuned formats, undertook […]

Posted inCorporate Store News, Aldi, Amazon Fresh, Bonus Content, Costco Wholesale, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Recommended Reading, Store News, Whole Foods

Recommended: Kroger’s Battle Plan For Whole Foods, Amazon, Costco, Walmart And Aldi

To arm itself against competition from the merged Whole Foods/Amazon behemoth, Kroger has reshaped its strategy to make it leaner and more accessible, moves that will have a big impact on how you shop. There are plenty of challengers who’d like a piece of your food budget, but Kroger still dominates the Lexington grocery market. […]

Posted inROFDA Reports, Amazon Fresh, Bonus Content, Grocery Industry, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Northeast, Shelby Signature Content, Special Section, Store News, Whole Foods

At Hanover Co-op Food Stores, ‘Local’ Actually Means Local

Associated Grocers of New England member If you’ve ever seen a picture postcard of a quaint New England town, then you have a pretty good idea about the communities Hanover Co-op Food Stores serves, according to Allan Reetz, director of public relations. The 81-year-old co-op operates four retail stores in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, […]

Posted inGrocery Industry, Bonus Content, Equipment & Technology, Grocery Store Equipment, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, National

The Right Coin Management Strategy For Grocers: Turn Hidden Costs Into Profits

by Jim Weaks/ VP, Cummins Allison The grocery industry is constantly changing. Grocers must adapt to changes in consumer behaviors and expectations, online competitors luring away once-loyal shoppers and economic uncertainty that threatens already razor-thin margins. With that in mind, the pressure is on to control costs and find new ways of increasing profitability. Fortunately, […]

Posted inFood Service News, Bonus Content, Corporate Store News, Grocery Industry, Home Page Latest News, Recommended Reading, Southeast, Store News

Recommended: Lowes Foods Opens First Charleston-Area Supermarket In Summerville

Holly Famulari can’t wait to come to work every day. The cake “wizard” (decorator) at the new Lowes Foods supermarket dances and waves a wand in front of the store’s cake-making corner when the music begins to play for a game of cake walk. “You work, but you have so much fun doing it,” said […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Bonus Content, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Signature Content, Store News, West

Arizona Enjoying Economic Rebound, Business-Friendly Climate

by Lorrie Griffith/editor–West Arizona has rebounded strong economically over the past year, with its unemployment rate down to 4.5 percent vs. 5 percent the prior year and about 80,000 jobs added. Added fuel for optimism is a more business-friendly climate at both the state and federal government levels, Tim McCabe, president of the Arizona Food […]

Posted inRecommended Reading, Amazon Fresh, Bonus Content, Corporate Store News, Grocery Industry, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Midwest, Store News, Whole Foods

Recommended: Kroger Is Challenging Amazon And Walmart In Advertising

When Amazon entered the grocery business with the acquisition of Whole Foods this year, it was thought to be a supermarket killer. The grocery business was already facing competition from general retailers like Walmart that operate on larger scales and offer lower prices, and invading European grocers like Aldi and Lidl, before the mammoth conglomerate […]