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 […]
Category: Grocery News
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 […]
Posted inAssociation News, Frozen Food, National, News
NGA Petitions EPA To Reconsider HFC Management Rule Regulations
The National Grocers Association has petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to revise its Hydrofluorocarbon Management Rule, citing what it maintains are unrealistic timelines, excessive compliance costs and regulatory requirements that exceed congressional mandates. NGA’s petition argues that the HFC Management Rule imposes several impractical and overly burdensome requirements on food retailers, including drastically increasing […]
Posted inSupply Chain News, Deli News, Guest Contributors, National, News, Produce News
Why Food Retailers Are Moving To Full Traceability – Turning Compliance Into Opportunity
by Ron Margulis / ReposiTrak Many of the country’s largest food retailers are actively embracing full traceability under FSMA 204 as both a regulatory mandate and a critical business strategy. Driven by major chains like Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons, the push for comprehensive recordkeeping is transforming the grocery industry, setting new performance standards for the […]
Posted inProduce News, Supply Chain News, West
Arizona Farmer Named 2025 Organic Grower of the Year
Arnott Duncan, founder of Duncan Family Farms, received the Grower of the Year award during the recent 2025 Organic Grower Summit in Monterey, California. The John Deere-sponsored recognition honors Duncan’s three-decade transformation from small-scale agritourism operator to organic farming innovator managing 3,850 acres across three states. Duncan’s path to organic leadership began with an accidental […]
Posted inSustainability News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, News
Wilson Family Named Niman Ranch’s 2025 Sustainable Farm Of The Year
Niman Ranch named the Wilson family of Iowa’s Seven W Farm as its 2025 Sustainable Farm of the Year, an honor coinciding with World Soil Health Day. The recognition highlights the family’s leadership in restoring soil health, protecting waterways and demonstrating how small, diversified farms can address the state’s water quality challenges. “The Wilson family […]
Posted inProduce News, Grocery Store Equipment, News, Northeast, Weis Markets
Weis Markets Completes Tech Upgrade With Toshiba ELERA Security Suite
Weis Markets has completed a full deployment of Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions’ ELERA Security Suite across its store network, advancing the company’s efforts to modernize its front-end operations and strengthen loss-prevention capabilities. The technology is active in the self-checkout lanes of all 199 Weis Markets stores, with plans to extend the system to dual-use and […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, Midwest, News
PLMA’s 2025 Private Label Trade Show Draws 14K Attendees To Chicago
PLMA‘s 2025 Annual Private Label Trade Show, held Nov. 16-18 in Chicago, drew more than 14,000 attendees, including retailers, exhibitors, visitors and industry professionals from across the private label and retail sectors. The show featured hundreds of thousands of food and nonfood products across 3,000 booths with more than 1,900 exhibitors representing 63 countries. It […]
Posted inDairy News, Southeast, Southwest, Walmart
Walmart Opens Second Milk Processing Facility In Valdosta, GA
Walmart recently celebrated the grand opening of its second owned and operated milk processing facility in Valdosta, Georgia, which will supply more than 650 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs across the Southeast. The 300,000-plus square-foot plant, which represents a $350 million investment, has created more than 400 new jobs. Sourcing milk from local dairy farmers, the […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News, Produce News, Schnucks
Schnucks Expands ‘Hyper Local’ Sourcing With Farm Direct-to-Store Program
Schnuck Markets Inc., in partnership with Foodshed.io, is expanding a farm direct-to-store concept – increasing the number and types of farms customers experience, with the goal of increasing flavor and freshness. The pilot program began in fall 2024, with one farm supplying multiple Schnucks locations across the St. Louis metro region. It has since expanded […]
Posted inBakery News, West, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Strictly From Scratch Marks 30 Years, Eyes Growth In 2026
Strictly From Scratch, a Phoenix-based commercial bakery specializing in sweet and savory breads and pastries for wholesale distribution, celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025. The company is now positioning itself for expanded capacity and new product categories heading into 2026. The bakery, founded in 1995 by Rudy DePaola, has grown into the largest niche commercial […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, International Foods, News, West
New Japanese Specialty Market To Debut Dec. 12 In Foster City, CA
Osaka Marketplace will hold a grand opening Dec. 12 at 919 Edgewater Blvd. in Foster City, California, bringing its Japanese grocery experience to the East Bay area. Located inside the Edgewater Place Shopping Center, the store is taking over the former Lucky Supermarket space. It will offer the extensive assortment, quality and service that have […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Association News, Grocery Research, National, News
Winter Holiday Confectionery Demand Remains Strong, NCA Reports
According to a new survey from the National Confectioners Association (NCA), 95 percent of Americans plan to celebrate the winter holidays with chocolate and candy, reflecting the category’s continued strength as a holiday staple. The “big four” seasonal moments – Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and the winter holidays – remain key for the $54 billion […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Village Farms Greenhouse Grown Supports Publix Produce For Kids Campaign
The Healthy Family Project Fall Publix Produce for Kids cause marketing campaign wrapped Nov. 5, with Village Farms Greenhouse Grown participating as one of 13 produce sponsors. This season’s program helped provide about 875,000 meals to 35 Feeding America partner food banks across the Publix market area. Since its launch in 2002, the biannual effort […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, Executive News, News, Southwest, Walmart
Walmart SVP Morris To Keynote PLMA Annual Meeting, Leadership Conference
Walmart’s SVP of private brands food, consumables and manufacturing will deliver the keynote address April 15-17 during PLMA’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference. Scott Morris and his team are tasked with positioning Walmart’s private brands, strengthening their value proposition, developing quality core and innovative products and building customer loyalty and holistic cultural support. He […]