The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation awarded nearly $1 million in “Nourishing our Neighbors” grants to more than 280 nonprofits during its 2026 spring/summer grant cycle. Since its inception in 2001, the foundation has distributed more than $25 million in grants to support community feeding partners in the grocer’s 10‑state operating area. “Our local feeding […]
Category: Featured News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Balls Foods, Featured News, Midwest, News
Balls Food Stores Names Campbell President
Balls Food Stores has named Ryan Campbell president as David Ball, third-generation leader, transitions to the role of chairman of the board of directors, where he will focus on growth through acquisitions and mergers. Balls Food Stores is a 100 percent teammate-owned company and one of the largest locally owned grocery retailers in the Kansas […]
Posted inCenter Store, Featured News, Health & Wellness, News, Northeast
Unilever Investing $270M For R&D Hub In New Haven, CT
Unilever has unveiled plans to develop a new Global Innovation Center in New Haven, Connecticut, representing a $270 million investment. The facility, set to open by spring 2029, will serve as a hub for the company’s research and development (R&D) for personal care, beauty and well-being businesses in the U.S. and worldwide. The center will […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southwest, Walmart
Walmart Brings 30-Minute-Or-Less Delivery To 33 U.S. Markets
Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart is expanding its ultra‑fast delivery capabilities, bringing 30‑minute‑or‑less delivery to 33 U.S. markets. In the first quarter of 2026, Walmart completed millions of deliveries in 30 minutes or less to more than 19,000 zip codes across the country. The service is available in Austin, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, Tampa, […]
Posted inFinance News, Association News, Featured News, National, News
NGA Opposes OCC Rule Allowing Banks To Set Swipe Fees Via Third Parties
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has submitted comments to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) opposing an interim final rule that would permit national banks to establish interchange (swipe) fees through third‑party arrangements rather than through bank‑to‑bank competition. The rule revises 12 C.F.R. § 7.4002 and relates to the Illinois Interchange Fee […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, News, Northeast, Whole Foods
Whole Foods To Open New Market In Seekonk, MA
Whole Foods Market will open a new 40,000‑square‑foot store June 25 at 940 Fall River Ave. in Seekonk, Massachusetts. The location’s product assortment features more than 1,000 items from New England, sourced with the help of John Lawson, forager for local and emerging brands at Whole Foods Market. The store’s design features dimensional typography and […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southwest, Walmart
Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark Community Hits 150K Participants
Sam’s Club has grown its private brand Member’s Mark community to more than 150,000 participants nationwide, a threefold increase in just two years. The community gives members the ability to try, test, taste and recommend hundreds of exclusive Member’s Mark products. “Membership is about more than access and savings. It’s about giving members a voice,” […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Associated Food Stores, Featured News, News, West
AFS Collects 165K Pounds Of Food In UT Statewide Drive
Associated Food Stores (AFS) and its network of independent retailers played a pivotal role in the 2026 Feed Utah Food Drive, collecting 165,443 pounds of food – more than half of the statewide total. The fifth annual drive, held in March, brought communities across Utah together to fight hunger. Food insecurity affects one in five […]
Posted inFinance News, Featured News, Guest Contributors, National, News
Crossroads: Beyond The Store – Financial Balance In Independent Grocery
By Grant Fossum, AIF, RFC | ProWealth Financial Independent grocers understand diversification better than those in most other industries. Inside the store, balance is built into daily operations – meat and produce drive traffic, center store drives volume, service departments drive margin and the front end shapes the customer experience. Outside the store, that […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, Northeast
Uncle Giuseppe’s Brings Seasonal Italian Pop‑Up Back To Fire Island, NY
Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace is reopening its seasonal pop‑up inside Ocean Beach Trading on Fire Island and offering online ordering for next‑day delivery by ferry. Fire Island is a barrier island off the south shore of Long Island, New York, accessible only by ferry, with no cars allowed. This geography makes grocery shopping a logistical challenge […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Midwest, Natural Grocers, News
Natural Grocers To Debut First Wisconsin Store In Lake Geneva
Natural Grocers will open its first Wisconsin store June 10 at 600 N. Edwards Blvd. in Lake Geneva, serving the southeastern part of the state and northern Illinois. The grand opening celebration will begin at 8:15 a.m. with a $2,500 donation to the Lake Geneva Food Pantry, followed by a ribbon‑cutting ceremony with Visit Lake […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Featured News, Food City, News, Southeast
Food City Parent K-VA-T Selects Homesome For Digital Commerce Platform
K‑VA‑T Food Stores Inc., parent company of Food City, has selected Homesome to power its digital commerce transformation. K‑VA‑T will deploy Homesome’s full platform suite across its 140 Food City locations, delivering a retailer‑branded, end‑to‑end digital experience to customers across Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Homesome’s enterprise, fulfillment and AI platforms give Food City […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Executive News, Featured News, National, News
AWG CFO Koch Joins Breez AI Board; Stukus Named VP Sales
Breez AI has added Gary Koch, CEO of Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), to its board of directors and named David Stukus as VP of sales and customer success. The leadership additions come as Breez AI accelerates growth across retailers, prepares to deploy its next‑generation artificial intelligence platform and unlocks new monetization capabilities for independent grocers. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Foodtown, News, Northeast
ARS Elects Ferreira Chairman, Introduces Pathmark Daily Banner
Allegiance Retail Services held its annual meeting May 20, during which the board of directors for the supermarket cooperative and Foodtown were chosen for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Jason Ferreira was elected chairman and CEO. Ferreira has served on the board at Iselin, New Jersey-based Allegiance since 2021 and has been a co-op member since […]
Posted inExecutive News, Corporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southeast
Veteran Lidl Leader Barry To Take Top Role As U.S. CEO
Alan Barry will assume the role of Lidl US chief executive officer, effective in July, bringing nearly two decades of international experience with the company to the top post. According to a Lidl US spokesperson, Barry joined Lidl US in 2024 as chief operating officer and previously served the company in Ireland and Great Britain. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Grocery Store Layout, News, Northeast, Tops Friendly Markets
Tops Completes $2M Store Remodel In Tonawanda, NY
Tops Friendly Markets has completed a $2 million remodel of its 67,279‑square‑foot store at 150 Niagara St. in Tonawanda, New York, marking the company’s 51st major renovation in six years. The effort was part of Tops’ capital improvement project, which has included more than $100 million invested in its three‑state footprint. The renovation included a […]
Posted inNews, Corporate Store News, Featured News, Organic Natural, Southeast
Sprouts Opening First Store In Savannah, GA
Sprouts Farmers Market will open its first store in Savannah, Georgia, next year, according to a news release from an Atlanta real estate firm. The Phoenix, Arizona-based natural and organic grocer has signed a lease at Crossroads Shopping Center, a 92,000-square-foot neighborhood retail center on Savannah’s east side. The store is targeted to open in […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger EVP Tim Massa To Retire After 16 Years
Tim Massa, The Kroger Co.’s EVP and chief associate experience officer, will retire Sept. 18 following 16 years of leadership at the company and more than three decades in human resources. Massa joined Kroger in 2010 after a 21‑year career at Procter & Gamble. Prior to his current positions, he rose through senior leadership roles, […]
Posted inGrocery Research, Featured News, National, News
Report: 19 States To Restrict SNAP Soda, Candy Purchases By End Of 2026
By the end of 2026, 19 states will have Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food restriction waivers in place, affecting about one‑third of program participants and putting up to $830 million in soda, candy and energy drink sales at risk, according to a new report from Numerator, a consumer data and technology company. The report, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, Southeast, Wegmans
Wegmans Sets Oct. 14 Opening For First Store In Charlotte, NC
Wegmans will enter the Charlotte, North Carolina, market Oct. 14 when it opens a store at 11550 North Community House Road in the Ballantyne neighborhood. “We’ve put a lot of care into hiring and training our new team, and we’re looking for more enthusiastic candidates to join us before opening day,” said Patrick McGuinness, store […]