McCormick and Co. has proclaimed the 2026 Flavor of the Year as black currant, a berry it said has a balanced flavor profile that blends sweet, tart and rich taste notes. The announcement came alongside McCormick’s 2026 Flavor Forecast, an annual trend report that identifies emerging culinary flavors expected to shape how people prepare and […]
Category: Grocery News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Health & Wellness, Midwest, News
NationsBenefits Brings Food-As-Medicine Benefits To Dave’s, Lucky’s Markets
NationsBenefits, a healthcare fintech, benefits and outcomes platform, has begun a partnership with Dave’s Markets and Lucky’s Markets Ohio to expand access to groceries, over-the-counter wellness items and essential goods for eligible health-plan members across northeastern Ohio. Under the collaboration, members can use their NationsBenefits Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Flex Card at the grocers’ participating locations. […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, National, News
PLMA Preps For National Store Brands Month In January
Store Brands Month returns Jan. 1 with a nationwide, consumer-focused awareness campaign designed to spotlight the quality, innovation and value of private label products. Created by the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), the program is an industry-wide initiative that educates consumers about the breadth of store brand products available at supermarkets, club and convenience stores, […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Association News, National, News
FMI Urges Congress To Preserve Pharmacy Operations Through PBM Reform
FMI – The Food Industry Association is reminding Congress that pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, not just transparency, is the only way to preserve the viability of supermarket pharmacies and patient access to them in communities across the country. FMI Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher issued the following statement: “FMI and our members operate […]
Posted inExecutive News, National, News, Produce News
GrubMarket Appoints DeNeve As Chief Legal Officer
GrubMarket has named Jorge deNeve as its new chief legal officer, adding a legal and governance executive to its leadership team as the company continues to scale its technology and food supply chain platforms. DeNeve brings more than 20 years of experience in corporate governance, regulatory compliance and securities law. His background includes service as […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, News, Southwest
Seaboard Foods, Oklahoma Pork Council Donate 160K Pork Servings
Seaboard Foods and the Oklahoma Pork Council (OPC) teamed up to donate more than 40,000 pounds of Prairie Fresh ground pork and sausage to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, providing the equivalent of about 160,000 servings to families facing food insecurity. The donation was made Dec. 10 as part of OPC’s annual Give-A-Ham Challenge. […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, News, Southeast, The Kroger Co.
Smithfield Foods Distributes 1K Holiday Hams In Hampton Roads, VA
Smithfield Foods, in collaboration with The Kroger Co., distributed 1,000 free holiday hams and grocery bags filled with side dishes Dec. 16 as part of its Season of Serving event in southeastern Virginia. The effort was held in partnership with the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. “The […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, News, Northeast
Survey: Americans Would Choose Beef Over Turkey, Ham For Christmas Dinner
According to new survey data from The Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Redner’s Markets, more than half of Americans who don’t typically serve beef for Christmas dinner (54 percent) say they would consider it, suggesting the dish could be gaining momentum. Already, two out of five Americans (43 percent) serve beef as a main […]
Posted inExecutive News, Center Store, Finance News, Midwest, News
Kraft Heinz Names Cahillane CEO
Steve Cahillane has been named CEO of The Kraft Heinz Co., effective Jan. 1., where he also will join the company’s board of directors and serve as CEO of Global Taste Elevation Co. following Kraft’s separation into two companies. To ensure a transition, Carlos Abrams-Rivera will step down Jan. 1 and serve as an advisor […]
Posted inDairy News, Gelson's, News, West
Gelson’s Markets Launches Artisanal Cheese Boxes
Gelson’s Markets is expanding its reach beyond Southern California with the launch of nationwide shipping for its artisanal cheese boxes, allowing customers across the continental U.S. to order the grocer’s curated specialty food offerings. The supermarket chain said the program brings its in-store cheese expertise to a broader audience through a selection of gourmet collections. […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News
Equitable Food Initiative Commemorates 10th Anniversary, Celebrates 2025 Achievements
Equitable Food Initiative – a workforce development and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers and retailers – marked a year of progress in 2025 during which it advanced responsible labor practices, strengthened industry collaboration and drove worker engagement throughout the fresh produce supply chain. EFI also celebrated its 10th year as an independent nonprofit with program […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, News, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
Vallarta Supermarkets, Evermore Partner On Benefit Card Integration
Vallarta Supermarkets has partnered with health benefits technology provider evermore to expand access to culturally relevant products for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial program members at the grocer’s locations across California. The integration marks the first time Vallarta, one of California’s largest Latino-owned grocery chains, has joined a health benefit card platform. Its inclusion in […]
Posted inCenter Store, Albertsons, News, West
Albertsons Media Collective Introduces Inaugural Alby Awards
Albertsons Media Collective, the retail media arm of Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos., has introduced the Alby Awards to recognize advertising partners that delivered the strongest return on ad spend (ROAS) via the network’s platform in 2025. Winners were evaluated using a standardized framework that measured aggregated ROAS performance across each advertiser’s brands throughout the year. […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Beverage News, National, News
Thrive Market Launches Non-Alcoholic Category
Ahead of the popular “Dry January” period and in response to growing member demand, online grocer Thrive Market is exiting alcohol and launching a new non-alcoholic beverage category with more than 100 SKUs. Thrive Market cited shifting consumer drinking habits and research that challenges traditional views on alcohol consumption as part of the rationale behind […]
Posted inExecutive News, Beverage News, News, Southeast, Supply Chain News
Coca-Cola Names Braun CEO, Quincey To Become Executive Chairman
The Coca-Cola Co. has elected EVP and Chief Operating Officer Henrique Braun as CEO, effective March 31. Braun will succeed James Quincey, who will transition to executive chairman after serving as CEO for nine years. The board also plans to nominate Braun for election as a director at the company’s 2026 annual meeting of shareowners. Quincey, […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Organic Natural, Southwest, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market Opens Relocated Store In Lakewood, CO
Whole Foods Market has relocated its Lakewood, Colorado, store into a larger 49,500-square-foot space that features more than 800 products from 200-plus local suppliers that meet the company’s strict standards. The site at 14225 W. Colfax Ave. is down the street from the one it replaced at 14357 W. Colfax, which was shuttered after more […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Organic Natural, West
First Sprouts Farmers Market In NY To Open At End Of January
Phoenix, Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market plans to officially enter the New York grocery market Jan. 30 with a store opening at 1930 Middle Country Road in Centereach on Long Island. Sprouts says it will offer “a shopping experience rooted in freshness, quality and wellness to the local community.” The store also is creating 92 full- and part-time […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Finance News, National, News
Mars Receives Final Approval for $36B Kellanova Acquisition
Mars Inc. received approval from the European Commission Dec. 8 for its acquisition of Kellanova, clearing the final regulatory hurdle for the $36 billion deal. The companies anticipate closing the transaction Dec. 11. The European Commission’s approval was the last of 28 required regulatory clearances. Kellanova shareholders approved the transaction on Nov. 1, 2024, following the […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, International Foods, News, Northeast
99 Ranch Market Opens New Food Hall Inside NYC Store
99 Ranch Market has opened Eat Up, a 12,000-square-foot food hall featuring more than 20 Pan-Asian food concepts, inside its store in Flushing, Queens. One of the largest Asian food destinations in New York City, the food hall offers cuisines ranging from Taiwanese fried chicken cutlet and Hong Kong milk tea to Guangxi rice noodles […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Association News, National, News
NCSA Elects Three New Members To Board Of Directors
The National Confectionery Sales Association (NCSA) has elected three industry leaders to its board of directors. Cody Heinz with Bell Flavors & Fragrances joins the board for the first time; Peter Kempton Jr. of b.a. Sweetie Candy Company has been re-elected for a second three-year term; and Brandon Sagotz from Ferrara Candy Co. returns after […]