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 […]
Category: Featured News
Posted inFinance News, Crossroads, Featured News, Guest Contributors, National, News, The Grocer's Playbook
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 […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, H-E-B, News, Southwest
H‑E‑B Unveils New-Look Store With Restaurant, Expanded Departments
After more than two years of renovations, H‑E‑B held a grand reopening May 22 for its H‑E‑B plus! store at 104 N. Hasler Blvd. in Bastrop, Texas. Spanning nearly 140,000 square feet, the location features a wider selection of food options, larger departments and a new True Texas barbecue restaurant with indoor seating. Renovations began […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Continues KY Expansion, Inks Lease In Nicholasville
Publix Super Markets has executed a lease on a new store location in Nicholasville, Kentucky, adding to the grocer’s growing footprint in the Bluegrass State. Located at Nicholasville and Brannon roads, Publix at Stonedale will total 54,964 square feet with an adjacent Publix Liquors. An opening timeframe has not been determined for the location, which […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Merchandising News, National, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger SVP Jabbar Retires After 38 Years
The Kroger Co. has announced that Valerie Jabbar, SVP of retail divisions, retired in May after 38 years of service. Jabbar began her career with Kroger’s Fry’s division in 1987 as a clerk. Over the decades, she held a range of leadership roles, including assistant store director, category manager, drug/general manager coordinator, general office seasonal […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, News, West
CGAEF Honors 3 Leaders For Service, Tops $1M In Scholarship Funds For Year
April 16 proved an eventful day for the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation as it inducted three industry veterans into its Hall of Achievement and raised more than $500,000 to help fund its college scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs. With the latest contributions, the CGAEF has secured about $1,025,000 in scholarship commitments this year, bringing […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, BJ's Wholesale Club, Featured News, National, News
BJ’s Adding 5 Clubs In 3 States
BJ’s Wholesale Club has announced the locations of five new clubs set to open this year in Florida, Indiana and Kentucky – part of a push to add 12 stores nationwide in 2026. The stores will be located in: Lecanto, Florida; Ocala, Florida; Port St. Lucie, Florida; Portage, Indiana; and Frankfort, Kentucky The expansion strengthens […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southeast
The Winn‑Dixie Co. Converts 5 Harveys Stores In FL, GA
The Winn‑Dixie Co. recently held grand reopenings for five former Harveys Supermarkets in north and central Florida and south Georgia that are now operate under the corporate banner. These openings continue the Jacksonville-based grocer’s ongoing efforts to unify its store holdings under the Winn‑Dixie banner. This wave of converted stores includes these locations: 5909 University […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Featured News, News, Northeast
UNFI Foundation Charity Classic Raises Record $1.1M For Food Access Grants
The UNFI Foundation hosted its annual golf Charity Classic, raising a record $1.1 million to advance the organization’s mission of empowering people to create more sustainable and equitable food systems across North America. UNFI suppliers and industry partners came together on the course, learning about the foundation’s mission and engaging with organizations making a difference […]