Dollar General Corp. has appointed JJ Fleeman as its next CEO, effective Jan. 1, succeeding Todd Vasos, who has led the discount retailer for a combined 10 years across two terms. The appointment comes the same day Ahold Delhaize confirmed Fleeman will depart as CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA at the end of June to pursue […]
Category: Featured News
Posted inExecutive News, Ahold Delhaize, Featured News, News, Southeast
Ahold Delhaize USA CEO Fleeman Leaving Role In June
Ahold Delhaize has announced that JJ Fleeman will depart from his role as CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA, effective at the end of June, to become CEO of Dollar General Corp. Fleeman has spent his entire 36-year career in grocery retail in Ahold Delhaize companies, including Food Lion, the grocer’s largest U.S. brand. Frans Muller, […]
Posted inGrocery Research, Featured News, National, News
Survey: Price Surpasses Taste, Brand Loyalty As Top Grocery Purchase Driver
Price has become the dominant factor in grocery purchasing decisions, with 70 percent of consumers citing price or value as the top influence when shopping for snacks and beverages, according to new findings from Zappi’s CPG Mega-Trends Report. The nationally representative study of 2,000 U.S. consumers found that more than 90 percent have adjusted their […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Midwest, News, SpartanNash
Family Fare Completes Full-Store Remodel In Paw Paw, MI
The Family Fare supermarket in Paw Paw, Michigan has completed a full-store remodel, expanding its fresh food offerings and refreshing key departments at one of the community’s longest-standing grocery locations. The renovation focused on high-priority areas for shoppers, including expanded produce, an upgraded hot bar, enhanced beer, wine and liquor selections and a nostalgic candy […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Finance News, Harps Food Stores, National, News
Harps To Deploy SmartMeals AI Shopping Assistant
Harps Food Stores will deploy SmartMeals, AWG’s artificial intelligence-powered shopping assistant built by Breez AI, across its network of more than 150 stores. The announcement came during the AWG Innovation Showcase, where independent grocers gathered to explore technologies shaping the future of grocery retail. The rollout makes Harps one of the largest operators in the […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, National, News, Nonfood Items
Inspired Home Show 2026 Draws Buyers From More Than 100 Countries
The Inspired Home Show 2026 wrapped its three-day run at Chicago’s McCormick Place on March 12, bringing together more than 1,000 exhibitors, thousands of brands and attendees from some 100 countries. U.S.-based buyers represented more than 100,000 retail locations and nearly $75 billion in buying power. The show, produced annually by the International Housewares Association […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Midwest, News
AWG Celebrates 100th Anniversary At 2026 Innovation Showcase
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) launched its centennial celebration during its 2026 Innovation Showcase, marking 100 years since independent retailers united in 1926 to compete against the growing power of chain stores. Today, the cooperative serves 1,100 member companies and 3,500 locations across 33 states, making it the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler. The Innovation Showcase […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Featured News, News, Northeast
Wawa’s Edwards Joins PFMA Board Of Directors
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) has added Christopher Edwards, director of store operations for Wawa, to its board of directors. Edwards, who brings more than 20 years of hospitality and retail leadership experience to the board, leads Wawa’s store operations across Delaware County through Central Pennsylvania. Since joining Wawa in 2014, he has held […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Volunteer Registration Open For Meijer LPGA Classic For Simply Give
Volunteer registration is open for the 12th Annual Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, set for June 18-21 at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan. The tournament is seeking more than 1,400 volunteers to support the event, which combines LPGA Tour competition with hunger-relief fundraising through Meijer’s Simply Give program. The fee to volunteer is […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Anniversary Issues, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Feature, Featured News, Finance News, Midwest, News, Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
AWG’s Cooperative Strength Positions Independent Grocers For Future
As Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, the cooperative is reflecting on a century defined by independent spirit, shared success and an unwavering commitment to its members – while keeping its focus firmly on what comes next. Founded in 1926 by a group of independent grocers who believed they were stronger […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger, Peoria Area Anti-Hunger Coalition Launch Annual Canathon Food Drive
The Peoria Area Anti-Hunger Coalition launched its 40th annual Canathon food drive March 19 at area Kroger stores, collecting donations through the end of March with a goal of 50,000 pounds of food for 11 participating central Illinois food pantries. Kroger opened the drive with $1,000 in non-perishable food donations and $1,500 in Kroger gift […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, Northeast
Price Rite Marketplace Raises $27.5K For Regional Food Banks
Price Rite Marketplace raised nearly $27,500 for local food banks through its annual Check-Out Hunger campaign, which ran November-January across all 53 stores. The campaign has now raised more than $2 million for hunger relief since its launch in 2002. The top fundraising store was Price Rite Marketplace of Fall River, Massachusetts, which collected $4,600 […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Featured News, National
National Rural Grocery Summit Focusing On Innovation
The National Rural Grocery Summit will be held May 5-7 in Fargo, North Dakota. The event was created by the Rural Grocery Initiative out of Kansas State University, with the first summit held in 2008 in Kansas. Since then, the summit has grown to attract rural grocers, community leaders, food suppliers, academic researchers, healthy food […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Featured News, National, News, Save A Lot
Save A Lot Begins ‘Bacon For A Year’ Sweepstakes
Save A Lot is running a Bacon for a Year sweepstakes through March 31, offering one winner a $500 gift card – the equivalent of a 12 months’ supply of the chain’s Farmington bacon brand. Customers can enter through the Save A Lot app or by mail. No purchase is necessary. A winner will be […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, H-E-B, News, Southwest
H-E-B Seeks Entries For Annual Quest For Texas Best Competition
H-E-B has opened entries for its 13th annual Quest for Texas Best competition, giving Lone Star State-based product makers until April 22 to submit products for a chance at shelf placement and a share of $100,000 in cash prizes. The grand-prize winner receives $50,000, the “Texas Best” title and a spot in H-E-B stores statewide. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Midwest, News, Schnucks
Schnucks Raises $100K Through Urban League Campaign
Schnucks Markets and its customers raised $100,000 for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis through the sixth annual Round Up at the Register campaign Feb. 4-17. Customers contributed $83,624 at checkout, with Schnucks adding $16,376. All St. Louis-area donations are directed to the Urban League’s Save Our Sons and Save Our Sisters programs. Round-ups […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Midwest, SpartanNash
Needler’s Fresh Market Opens New Store In Anderson, IN
Needler’s Fresh Market celebrated the grand opening of a new location March 20 in Anderson, Indiana, marking a milestone for the community and expanding grocery access on the city’s west side. Located at 2810 Nichol Ave., the store is the newest Needler’s Fresh Market in Ohio and Indiana. “Our goal is to be more than […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, National
Leadership, Math And Power Of Perspective
The leadership lesson this month is part math and part perspective lesson. It’s one of those ideas that, once we truly see it, permanently changes how we think about the grocery business. We may even look back later and realize it was one of those moments that quietly – but decisively – turned the tide […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, News, Northeast
Hannaford Donates 29M Pounds Of Food To Nonprofits In 2025
Hannaford Supermarkets donated nearly 29 million pounds of food to food banks and pantries across the Northeast in 2025 – a record for the grocer and a 15 percent increase over its 2022 donation total. The contributions equate to 24 million meals for food-insecure residents in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Fresh […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Harris Teeter, News, Southeast
Harris Teeter President DeBoer Named 2025 BusinessWoman Of The Year
Harris Teeter President Tammy DeBoer was honored as the 2025 BusinessWoman of the Year by Queens University of Charlotte during the award’s 40th anniversary luncheon March 13. DeBoer was recognized for her leadership of the North Carolina-based $10 billion regional grocery chain and her community-centered approach to the role. Kristi Coleman, CEO of Tepper Sports […]