Editor’s note: HR & Benefits News is a new monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides protected leave to employees when they must take extended absences for qualified reasons. The calculation to determine if a grocer meets the 50-employee threshold to comply with […]
Category: Home Page Latest News
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Corporate Store News, Food Service News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest
Hy-Vee To Operate 26 Wahlburgers And Offer In-Store Fitness Classes
Hy-Vee Inc. has entered into two strategic partnerships that it says will diversify its business model while reinforcing its mission of making customers’ lives easier, healthier and happier. The organization plans to build, own and operate 26 Wahlburgers restaurants—nearly doubling the brand’s current locations. Hy-Vee will add select Wahlburgers menu items in all Market Grille […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, National, Store News
Study Discredits ‘Retail Apocalypse’ As Retailers Opening 4,000+ Stores
U.S. retailers are opening 4,080 more stores in 2017 than they are closing and plan to open more than 5,500 more in 2018, according to a new research report from IHL Group. The report, “Debunking the Retail Apocalypse,” was released Aug. 30 and is available for free download here. The research reviewed more than 1,800 retail chains […]
Posted inEquipment & Technology, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Store News, West
Smart & Final Launches E-Commerce Site Powered By Instacart
Commerce, California-based Smart & Final Stores Inc. has launched its own delivery platform at shop.smartandfinal.com powered by Instacart, the nationwide, on-demand grocery delivery service. The e-commerce website is part of a renewed collaboration between Smart & Final and Instacart, who have signed an expanded partnership contract. Smart & Final and Instacart first joined forces to […]
Posted inNortheast, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News
N.Y. Governor Signs Bill Hiking Cigarette Pack Price To $13
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a series of bills Monday aimed at reducing the number of smokers in the city by 160,000 by 2020. These seven bills affect all operators selling tobacco and go into effect June 1, 2018. The legislation raises the minimum prices for all tobacco products, including cigarettes, and […]
Posted inGrocery News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Produce News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
SpartanNash Expands Double Up Food Bucks To 46 Michigan Stores
SpartanNash is again expanding its participation in the Double Up Food Bucks healthy food incentive program, bringing on an additional 29 stores. That triples SpartanNash’s participation in the Double Up program in 2017, with 46 stores now taking part in Michigan. Double Up Food Bucks matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food […]
Posted inBeverage News, Home Page Latest News, National
Wine Consumption Increases Led By Sparkling And Champagne
The U.S. wine market continued to show strength in 2016, growing 2.4 percent to 341.1 million 9-liter cases led by a 6.6 percent upsurge in the consumption of total sparkling wines, according to the Beverage Information Group’s 2017 Wine Handbook. A strong U.S. economy, employment and wage gains, and larger discretionary incomes all contributed to the […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News
NGA Surprises ‘Mentor To Many’ With Spirit Of America Award
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest The National Grocers Association (NGA) surprised Joe Williams with the NGA Spirit of America Award on July 23 at the Texas Retailers Forum in Fort Worth. Williams is the former VP for regulatory and member services of the Texas Retailers Association (TRA). He currently serves as a consultant with the TRA’s Texas […]
Posted inDeli News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Merchandising News, Suppliers, West
Chef’d Meal Kits Make Grocery Retail Debut At Gelson’s
Chef’d, an e-commerce meal kit marketplace, has entered into a partnership with Gelson’s Markets in a strategic push to expand distribution into retail. Gelson’s will offer Chef’d meal kits at the Gelson’s Valley Village/North Hollywood, California, store on Laurel Canyon Blvd., with plans to expand into other locations across the retailer’s Southern California store portfolio. […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Southeast, Store News
Publix Again Named Top National March For Babies Corporate Partner
For the second year in a row, Publix Super Markets is the number one national March for Babies corporate partner, raising more than $8.3 million dollars for the cause. “On behalf of the four million babies born each year in the United States, March of Dimes is grateful to Publix, their associates and customers for their exceptional caring […]
Posted inNortheast, Association News, Home Page Latest News
Groups Hail Settlement That Blocks NYC’s Premature Menu Labeling
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) all hailed a settlement reached Friday afternoon, Aug. 25, that blocks New York City’s efforts to enforce FDA menu labeling rules before the May 7, 2018, federal compliance deadline. Lyle Beckwith, NACS’ SVP of government […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Southeast, Store News
Food City Now Offering Home Delivery In Knoxville Area
Food City has launched its new same-day delivery service, now available to more than 290,000 Knoxville, Tennessee, residents. The program is made possible through a joint partnership between the local retail supermarket chain and Instacart, a nationwide on-demand grocery delivery service. To take advantage of the convenient new service, shoppers can visit foodcitydelivers.com or download the […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
SpartanNash Foundation Fundraising Companywide To Help End Hunger
The SpartanNash Foundation is hosting a companywide fundraising effort to help end hunger in the communities it serves, inviting store guests to join the foundation and SpartanNash associates in supporting local food pantries and food banks. The retail scan campaign runs Aug. 30 through Sept. 10, and 100 percent of dollars raised will support community food […]
Posted inSouthwest, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Store News
OKC Food Truck Chef Event Set For Aug. 29
The Wheeler District, a neighborhood in downtown Oklahoma City, will host its Food For All food truck on Aug. 29 with net proceeds from the event benefitting the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The truck will be at the Wheeler Ferris Wheel from 5-8 p.m. “The Food For All food truck is a great way […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, West
Albertsons Cos. Pharmacies Aim To Play Greater Role In Consumer Health
Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos.’ pharmacies have annual flu vaccinations in stock and are reminding customers that while they are getting vaccinated, it’s a great time to review their immunization records and talk to their pharmacist about other health concerns, too. “A quick trip to the store for your daily staples can also be a convenient […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Southwest, Store News
Homeland Donates $30K, Helps 300 Children Have Enough To Eat
Homeland, a locally owned grocery store chain with 31 locations in Oklahoma, has donated $30,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food for Kids program as part of the chain’s commitment to “ensuring Oklahoma’s children have enough to eat this school year.” Thanks to the Food for Kids match, this donation will be matched dollar […]
Posted inExecutive News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Target Names Pak Chief Strategy And Innovation Officer
Target Corp. has appointed Minsok Pak EVP, chief strategy and innovation officer. Pak will be responsible for Target’s enterprise strategy development and retail innovation with the goal of enhancing the guest experience and accelerating growth. He also will oversee business development for the company, including mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and joint venture initiatives. He will report […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, National, Store News, Whole Foods
UPDATED: Amazon/Whole Foods Merger Will Close Monday; Industry Leaders Respond
Updated 8/25/17 11:36 a.m. Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods Market will close on Monday August 28, 2017, and the two companies will “together pursue the vision of making Whole Foods Market’s high-quality, natural and organic food affordable for everyone.” Whole Foods Market will offer lower prices starting Monday on a selection of best-selling grocery staples […]
Posted inNortheast, Association News, Center Store, Home Page Latest News
GMA Promotes Jobs At Pennsylvania’s Freshpet Kitchens
This week the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) kicked off its national tour, “Grocery Manufacturers Power America: How the Nation’s Largest Manufacturing Sector Drives Communities, Jobs, and Economic Growth,” at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania’s Freshpet Kitchens. GMA said Freshpet is one of the fastest-growing providers of manufacturing jobs in the state’s Lehigh Valley. Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15) and […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Southeast, Suppliers
Sweet Potato Industry Leader Carson Barnes Passes Away
Carson Barnes, a driving force in the North Carolina sweet potato industry, passed away late Saturday evening. He was 82. Barnes began farming in 1960 with three-eighths of an acre of sweet potatoes and eight acres of tobacco. His company, Barnes Farming Corp., has grown to become the largest sweet potato grower and shipper in the country. […]