The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) shared that the 2026 Viva Fresh Expo on April 22 in San Antonio drew a record 2,872 attendees, including 380 retail and foodservice buyers, and featured 199 exhibitors, marking the largest turnout in the show’s history. Since its debut in Austin in 2015, Viva Fresh has grown into a […]
Category: Grocery News
Charlie’s Produce Breaks Ground On New Facility In Spokane, WA
Employee-owned distributor Charlie’s Produce has broken ground on a new 66,000-square-foot facility in Spokane, Washington, designed to strengthen warehouse efficiency, support growth and enhance service across its regional distribution network. The new building will include 56,000 square feet of warehouse space, with the remaining 10,000 square feet to be used for offices. Construction is projected […]
PLMA’s 2026 Leadership Conference Sets New Attendance Record
A record number of store brand executives – retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, suppliers, brokers and others involved in adjacent industries – gathered April 15-17 in Bentonville, Arkansas, to participate in PLMA’s 2026 Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting. Themed “Building Brands That Drive Success,” the event offered tracks on Brand Building: Value Proposition and Social Media; Emerging […]
Handwritten Recipe Of Schnucks Founder Resurfaces After Decades
Schnucks has brought back its founder’s long-lost recipe for potato salad that recently was rediscovered by her granddaughter. Anna Schnuck’s Original Potato Salad, made using that 1939 recipe, is now available in the deli/prepared foods department at all Schnucks locations. The side dish features red-skin potatoes and double-smoked bacon lardons folded together with caramelized onions. […]
NWPB Marketing Guide Aims To Sustain Record Watermelon Growth
With the watermelon category surpassing 3.5 billion pounds at retail in 2025, the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) has released a new marketing guide to help the industry sustain that momentum. The guide equips retailers, marketers and category managers with fact-based insights to drive year-round watermelon sales. The research highlights how whole and cut watermelon […]
PLMA Inducts Record 23 Leaders Into Private Label Hall Of Fame
A record 23 inductees joined the Private Label Hall of Fame Class of 2026 during a ceremony at the Private Label Manufacturers Association’s (PLMA) Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference. Since its inception in 2006, the Hall of Fame has honored 136 store brand industry leaders. Induction is based on nominations submitted by industry representatives across […]
Beyond Protein: Texture, Minis And Tang Are Reshaping In-Store Bakery
Consumer expectations are shifting from “healthy indulgence” to sensory experience – here is what is driving basket rings right now. In February, The Shelby Report outlined how protein-forward formulations, viral bakery moments and smart bake-off strategies were redefining the in-store bakery (ISB) in 2026. Three months later, those trends have not faded – they have […]
Food Lion Feeds Honors Kellanova With Grand Lion For Good Vendor Award
Food Lion Feeds, the hunger-relief platform of Food Lion, has launched its 2026 Feedys Awards, recognizing partners who help provide access to food and support families across the retailer’s 10-state operating area. The awards will be presented from April through June as a series of surprise celebrations. Food Lion Feeds presented the Grand Lion for […]
PLMA Announces 2026 Board Of Directors, Executive Committee
The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) formally announced its 2026 Board of Directors and Executive Committee on April 20, led by Chairperson Mark Cheney of Upstate Niagara Cooperative. The newly elected slate was presented by PLMA’s Nominating Committee, John Galioto of Trinidad Benham Corp. and Alissa Lodahl of Masters Gallery Foods, during PLMA’s Annual Meeting […]
Rise Baking Co. Receives 20 Blue Ribbons At 2026 National Pie Championships
Rise Baking Co. received 20 Blue Ribbon awards at the 2026 American Pie Council (APC) National Pie Championships, held April 8-9 in Orlando. The commercial division competition drew hundreds of entries from bakers across the U.S. and Canada. They were judged on appearance, flavor, texture and overall appeal. Rise secured top honors across multiple categories, […]
Food City Launches Pharmacy RX Pickup Station Pilot In Gatlinburg, TN
Food City has introduced an RX Pickup Station at its store in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a city that has no pharmacy locations. The first of its kind for a retail location in the state, the kiosk operates through a pilot program with the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy. The program enables Food City to fill prescriptions at […]
Meijer Introduces 300 Products To Meet Fiber, Protein Consumer Goals
Meijer is launching more than 300 new products designed to help customers meet fiber and protein intake goals. The move aligns with nutrition trends that show fiber overtaking protein as a top consumer priority for 2026. Current Dietary Reference Values recommend 25-38 grams of fiber per day for adults. Meijer said it is responding with […]
H Mart To Open Renovated Store In Cherry Hill, NJ
H Mart is preparing to debut its renovated location at 1720 NJ-70 in Cherry Hill Township, New Jersey. The reopening April 23 will mark the completion of a full renovation designed to enhance the shopping and dining experience for the community. Opening-day events and giveaways are planned. One-stop shopping destination The renovated location will serve […]
Kearney Cites ‘Unpredictable’ Consumer Behavior In Beverage Outlook
Global management consulting firm Kearney has released its 2026 Beverage Outlook, detailing a growing “duality” in purchasing habits – where economic pressure, health consciousness and evolving social norms are forcing a rethinking of portfolio strategies. According to the analysis, beverage consumers have become significantly less predictable. Shoppers are increasingly “trading down” for efficiency in routine […]
GrubMarket Acquires Schoenmann Produce, Boosts Gulf Coast Presence
GrubMarket has acquired Schoenmann Produce, a Houston-based distributor that has served the Gulf Coast region for more than 100 years. The move integrates one of Texas’s oldest produce houses into GrubMarket’s artificial intelligence-powered supply chain platform. Schoenmann Produce serves the foodservice, retail, wholesale, healthcare and education sectors in Texas and Louisiana. Under the leadership of […]
PLMA Preps For 2026 Private Label Trade Show In November
The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) has scheduled its 2026 Private Label Trade Show for Nov. 15-17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago. Themed the “Store Brands Marketplace,” the event serves as a central hub for thousands of manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers to develop and expand private label programs. Registration for retailers […]
The Coca-Cola Co. Taps Chandele As Global Chief People Officer
The Coca-Cola Co. has named Tapaswee Chandele as global chief people officer, effective May 1, succeeding Lisa Chang, who is stepping down after a seven-year tenure. Chandele currently serves as SVP and executive assistant to President and CFO John Murphy, a position she has held since May 2025. She will report to CEO Henrique Braun. […]
Western NY Coffee Brand Now On Shelves At 40-Plus Tops Markets
RocketCup Coffee has secured distribution at more than 40 Tops Markets around western New York. The partnership is part of Tops’ “commitment to support local businesses while delivering high-quality, innovative products to customers,” the grocer said in an April 15 press announcement. Founded in 2022, RocketCup says it is “focused on revitalizing communities through exceptional […]
Walmart Plans Full Redesign For Great Value Private Label Brand
Walmart has begun the first redesign of Great Value, its flagship private brand, in more than a decade. Spanning nearly 10,000 food and consumables items, it represents the most extensive private brand update in the retailer’s history. The rollout will be phased over 18 to 24 months, beginning with salty snacks in May. Cereals, cream […]
Winn-Dixie Wins Three First-Place Honors At National Pie Championship
Winn-Dixie took home three first-place blue ribbons during the American Pie Council National Pie Championship on April 8-9 in Orlando, Florida. The retailer’s winning entries spanned classic and specialty categories, including the 8-inch caramel apple pie, 8-inch caramel chocolate pecan pie and 11-inch apple lattice pie. The 8-inch caramel apple pie garnered its sixth blue […]
