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 […]
Category: Bonus Content
Posted inMarket Profile, West
Market In Portland Keeping Customers Informed, Involved
Bread and Roses Market in Portland, Oregon, is an organic-focused grocery store “built by an employee.” Navid Sam Nayebi, owner/operator, said he has had many jobs as a person of color where he experienced “a fair share of ill treatment from former employers, leading me to create a work environment where employees are treated well […]
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 inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
VRGA Wary Of Paid Family, Medical Leave Proposal
The Vermont State Legislature convened Jan. 4 and has reached its halfway point. According to the February newsletter from the Vermont Retail & Grocers Association, legislators had said addressing the state’s housing shortage was a top priority. Eight weeks in, little progress had been made. As various committees were engaged in work during the first […]
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 […]
Posted inFeature, Southeast
DECA Important Benefit For Military Personnel, Families
Officials talk about agency’s purpose, recent transformation, modernization efforts The Defense Commissary Agency, headquartered at Fort Lee, Virginia, operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries in a safe and secure shopping environment to U.S. military personnel, retirees, service-related disabled veterans and their families. Authorized patrons can purchase items tax free, plus a 5-percent surcharge, […]