Kroger has announced two 4X Fuel Points Spring Weekend events, giving customers the chance to earn four times the fuel points on groceries and eligible purchases. The promotion, which runs March 27-29 and April 3-5, can be activated with a digital or in-store accessible coupon. “Spring can bring added travel for the families we serve,” […]
Category: Featured News
Posted inSouthwest, Featured News, Independent Store News, Natural Grocers, News, Organic Natural
Natural Grocers Relocating In Abilene, Seeking Health Coaches
With the grand opening of its replacement store in Abilene, Texas, set for April 9, Natural Grocers is holding a virtual hiring event for nutritional coaches across the country April 1. Bigger, better Natural Grocers‘ current store at 3350 S. Clack St. in Abilene, which opened in 2011, will close at 2 p.m. April 6 […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southwest
The United Family, Mrs Baird’s Bread Recognize 3 TX Teachers
The United Family and Mrs Baird’s Bread announced the February winners of the fifth annual North Texas Teachers on the Rise program, honoring three educators from the McKinney and Frisco school districts. The February honorees are Sydney Rorick of Eddins Elementary School (McKinney ISD), Amanda Nava of Cockrill Middle School (McKinney ISD) and Olivia McGaughey […]
Posted inBeverage News, Dairy News, Featured News, Midwest, News
Chobani Expanding Michigan Plant To Meet RTD Latte Demand
Chobani has announced plans for a multi‑phase, $567 million expansion of its La Colombe plant in western Michigan that is expected to add more than 200,000 square feet of production space and nearly 340 jobs. The March 24 announcement comes as demand surges for La Colombe’s signature ready-to-drink lattes, Chobani said. La Colombe’s history La […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Big Y Foods, Featured News, News, Northeast
Big Y Named ‘Greatest Workplace For Culture, Belonging, Community’
Big Y has been recognized as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging and Community in 2026 by Newsweek in partnership with Plant-A Insights Group. The designation is based on one of the nation’s largest independent studies of employee experience, drawing on millions of employee reviews, survey data, public information and third-party analysis. “Being […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, Harris Teeter, News, Southeast
Harris Teeter Packs 5K Meal Boxes At Annual Company Meeting
More than 300 Harris Teeter store managers, directors and support center leaders packed 4,992 seven-day meal boxes during the company’s annual leadership meeting, generating more than 104,000 meals for residents of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Through a partnership with Nourish Up, each box was filled with items ranging from mac and cheese, tuna and pasta […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, Finance News, News, Northeast
PFMA Announces 2026 PA DECA Scholar
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) has named Rishabh Jain of Downingtown STEM Academy as its 2026 PA DECA Scholar. Jain, a senior, compiled four years of competitive achievement, chapter leadership and community entrepreneurship in DECA. At the Pennsylvania State Career Development Conference, he placed first in entrepreneurship events. He followed that with a fourth-place […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Featured News, Independent Store News, News, Northeast, ShopRite
ShopRite Of Paramus Opens Electrify America Fast Charging Station
The ShopRite in Paramus, New Jersey, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 23 to mark the opening of a new Electrify America fast charging station in the store’s parking lot. The station features six Hyper-Fast chargers, each capable of delivering up to 350kW, among the fastest publicly available EV charging speeds on the market. Paramus Mayor Christopher […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Midwest, News
AWG Reports $293M Patronage Distribution During Annual Meeting
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) distributed a record $293.1 million in year-end patronage during its Annual Shareholders Meeting, capping a fiscal year in which the cooperative reported net sales of $11.6 billion and consolidated company sales of $12.2 billion – up 0.63 percent and 0.91 percent, respectively, on a comparable basis. The total distribution of cooperative […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, News, Southeast
AWG Invests $110M To Automate Gulf Coast Distribution Center
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) will invest $110 million to modernize its Gulf Coast Division Support Center in Pearl River, Louisiana, installing advanced automation in the facility’s ambient section to improve order accuracy and service reliability for independent grocery retailers across the Southeast. Construction begins in January, with automation installation in April 2027 and full operations […]
Posted inDeli News, Featured News, News, Northeast, Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop Repositions Hot Bars As Dinner Destination For Shoppers
Stop & Shop is updating its in-store hot bars, transforming them into a meal solution center designed to make dinner easier for shoppers. The refreshed offering introduces new comfort-food favorites, globally inspired proteins and an expanded selection of sides available from 4-7 p.m. daily. New protein options include black pepper steak, Thai coconut chicken thighs, […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Opens New Store In Simpsonville, SC
Food Lion will open a new location March 25 at 2321 W. Georgia Road in Simpsonville, South Carolina, marking the brand’s fifth in the area and its fourth store opening in the first quarter of 2026. The opening will be followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The first 100 customers in line will receive a mystery […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, Featured News, National, News
WGA Names Maurer President, Zambo Vice Chair
Women Grocers of America (WGA) has appointed Kristie Maurer, owner of Maurer’s Urban Market, as its new president, and Donna Zambo, EVP and chief information and marketing officer at Allegiance Retail Services, as vice chair. The two succeed outgoing President Kristin Popp and Vice Chair Heidi Huff, whose tenure expanded WGA’s national presence and strengthened […]
Posted inExecutive News, Corporate Store News, Dollar General, Featured News, National, News
Dollar General Names Fleeman As CEO, Succeeding Vasos
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 […]
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 […]