Consumers prioritize naturally protein-rich foods like meat, eggs and dairy over heavily fortified alternatives, according to new research from the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association. The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based trade association found that while interest in added protein remains strong, particularly among parents, health-conscious shoppers and middle-income households, consumers consistently place greater trust in foods […]
Category: Featured News
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southeast
The Fresh Market Opens Second Store In Aventura, FL
The Fresh Market has opened a second location in Aventura, Florida, featuring expanded seating and a Roasting Plant where guests can buy freshly roasted premium coffee beans to order. The specialty grocery retailer celebrated the occasion by breaking a six-foot loaf of Cuban bread. The opening also featured giveaways and sampling, along with a $2,000 […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, West
Heritage Grocers Giving Foundation Launches Scholarship Programs
The Heritage Grocers Giving Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Heritage Grocers Group, has launched expanded scholarship programs benefiting students across communities served by its companies. Every store within the the company’s portfolio – Cardenas Markets, Los Altos Ranch Markets, El Rancho Supermercado and Tony’s Fresh Market – will award one $3,000 scholarship to a local […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Finance News, News, Northeast, Wakefern
Wakefern Food Corp. Selects Eagle Eye To Power Loyalty, Personalization
Wakefern Food Corp. has selected Eagle Eye to accelerate its loyalty strategy and deliver artificial intelligence-powered customer engagement initiatives across its retail network. The program is expected to go live in mid-2026. Wakefern, the largest retailer-owned supermarket cooperative in the U.S., will deploy Eagle Eye’s MACH-approved loyalty and personalization platform, moving away from a POS-based […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, National, News
Penny Shortage Creates Operational Challenges for Independent Grocers Nationwide
Independent grocers across the country are navigating a growing penny shortage that is disrupting cash-handling routines and raising compliance questions at the register. Months after the U.S. Treasury Department confirmed the U.S. Mint had stopped producing new pennies for circulation in late 2025, retailers are feeling the effects of a coin supply that is thinning […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Featured News, News, Southeast
Southern Exposure 2026 To Feature Grower Panel, Product Launches
The Southeast Produce Council will hold Southern Exposure 2026 from Feb. 26-March 1 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida, featuring educational sessions on agriculture challenges and consumer trends alongside new product debuts from exhibitors. The conference theme, “From Fields to Families: Nourishing Our Nation,” reflects SEPC Board Chair Sloan Lott’s platform emphasizing […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, Finance News, Grocery Research, National, News
Dunnhumby Study Finds Shoppers Shifting To Mass Retailers, Dollar Stores
Mass-channel retailers reached 79 percent penetration in December, equaling traditional supermarkets for the first time as 70 percent of working-age Americans reported difficulty covering unexpected $400 expenses, according to Wave 12 of the dunnhumby Consumer Trends Tracker released Feb. 18. The shift marks a fundamental realignment in American shopping behavior driven by persistent affordability pressures. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Meijer Employees Kept Stores Open During Winter Storm Fern
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer is praising employees who braved dangerous conditions to keep stores open and communities stocked during Winter Storm Fern, which swept across the Midwest in January. The historic storm dropped more than a foot of snow in many areas, shutting down roads and halting daily life across the region. In several communities, Meijer […]