Posted inPiggly Wiggly, Feature, Midwest

Community Involvement Is ‘Secret Sauce’ For Piggly Wiggly Midwest

Headquartered in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Piggly Wiggly Midwest has been a regional institution since 1911. Founded as the Schultz Brothers Co. by brothers Herman, Arthur and Oscar Schultz, the company was a wholesale dealer dedicated to serving independent grocers.  In 1949, the brothers began operating Piggly Wiggly corporate retail stores, according to Mark McGowan, SVP of […]

Posted inThe Kroger Co., Albertsons, Association News, Guest Contributors, National

Exploring Possible Deal Thesis Behind Proposed Albertsons/Kroger Merger

I’ve been asked a lot lately about the Albertsons/Kroger merger and what it means for our industry. Every time I think, “What is the deal thesis behind the merger? What can they do together they can’t already do separately?” For example, would combining them save a bunch of costs? They won’t need two CFOs or […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast

Small State’s Aging Population Puts Pinch On Thin Labor Pool

Connecticut is facing a problem not wholly unique but one that is prominent within the small state – an aging population. And according to Wayne Pesce, Connecticut Food Association president, it is slowly making the workforce pool much shallower. “This demographic shift is impacting the labor force and consumer demand for goods and services,” Pesce […]

Posted inFeature, Beverage News, Northeast

PepsiCo Investing Heavily In Diversity, Inclusion, Sustainability

Pep Positive ‘overarching umbrella’ of how company approaches better initiatives PepsiCo is continuing its diversity, equity and inclusion journey and is in the second year of a five-year, $575 million investment focusing on communities – primarily those that are underserved.  Kent Montgomery, SVP of industry relations and multicultural development, and Chris Yemma, senior director of […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast

New Hampshire Industry Remains Strong Despite Challenges

New Hampshire ended the halfway point of the 2023 fiscal year $200 million ahead of estimates and $40 million more than the previous year. According to Kevin Daigle, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Grocers Association, Gov. Chris Sununu recently unveiled his proposed budget that will look to continue cutting and/or eliminating taxes and […]

Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National

Time To Remind Policymakers What Independent Grocers Mean Back Home

Independent community grocers are everywhere – in all 50 states, in every legislative district. They are at the heart of every community, from rural to urban. Business is very much local for independent grocers. Yet so much of what influences that business happens in Washington, D.C. The past year in Washington has been busy and […]