In 1985, the Gonzalez family opened a small market in Van Nuys, California, called Carnicería Vallarta. The family focused on selling traditional cuts of meats popular in their native Mexico. They worked hard to build a name for themselves by offering high-quality authentic products, providing a high level of customer service and treating employees as […]
Category: Finance News
Market moves, funding, earnings, and financial strategy across the grocery industry.
Posted inCorporate Store News, Amazon Fresh, Finance News, National, News, Whole Foods
Amazon To Close Go and Fresh Stores, Open 100+ Whole Foods Locations
Amazon is closing all its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores to focus on online grocery delivery and Whole Foods Market expansion, with various locations converting to Whole Foods stores. In addition, the Seattle-based company plans to open more than 100 new Whole Foods Market stores over the next few years and will expand same-day […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Finance News, Foodtown, News, Northeast
Instacart Expands ARS Partnership With Omnichannel Technologies
Instacart has expanded its partnership with Allegiance Retail Services to deploy omnichannel retail technologies across ARS’s network of more than 125 independently-owned supermarkets in the Northeast. The expansion includes the introduction of Instacart’s AI-powered Caper Carts at select Foodtown stores, alongside new capabilities designed to unify Allegiance’s digital, loyalty and in-store experiences. Storefront Pro – […]
Posted inCenter Store, Finance News, National, News
Violet Foods Acquires Muir Glen Organic Tomato Brand From General Mills
Violet Foods, a portfolio company of Amphora Equity Partners, has acquired the Muir Glen brand of organic tomato products from General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition marks a significant expansion for Williamstown, New Jersey-based Violet Foods, which owns a portfolio of brands, including Sclafani, Fattoria Fresca […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Associated Food Stores, Finance News, News, West
Dick’s Market Featured In Nationwide Film “STANDOUT”
Dick’s Market in Centerville, Utah, served as a filming location for “STANDOUT: The Ben Kjar Story,” a feature film that opened Jan. 23 in theaters nationwide and won the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival. The film chronicles the life of Ben Kjar, a Utah native born with Crouzon syndrome who became a three-time state wrestling champion, […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Finance News, News, Southeast
ECRS Launches AI-Powered Chat Tool For Retail Data Analysis
ECRS has released Chat with Cognition, an artificial intelligence-driven insight and summarization tool built into its CATAPULT Cognition cloud-based platform. The new capability allows retailers to converse with their operational data, receive automated insights and streamline decision-making without requiring specialized analytics expertise. Designed for independent grocers, natural and organic retailers, food co-ops and convenience operators, […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Finance News, National, News, UNFI
UNFI Adds 50 Private Label Products Focused On Wellness, Snacking Trends
UNFI is launching nearly 50 new private brand products this month at its Spring and Summer Selling Shows in Long Beach, California, and Orlando Florida, targeting emerging consumer preferences around wellness, snacking and value. The products span the company’s Brands+ portfolio, which includes eight core brands and more than 4,400 SKUs. The launches come as […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Finance News, Gelson's, News, West
Gelson’s To Open Small-Format Store In Toluca Lake, CA
The 10,000-square-foot small-format store Gelson’s will open Jan. 28 at Riverside Drive and Mariota Avenue in Toluca Lake, California, will serve as the centerpiece of a mixed-use development that includes 37 studio apartments. Toluca Lake is known for its tree-lined streets, historic homes and proximity to entertainment landmarks like Warner Bros. Studios. The area blends old Hollywood […]
Posted inAssociation News, Finance News, Market Profile, News, West
Hawaii Grocery Industry Adapts During Uncertain Times, Mounting Challenges
The grocery industry in Hawaii is facing mounting challenges as food insecurity remains high and transportation costs continue to climb. Approximately 30 percent of Hawaii’s residents report some level of food insecurity, according to Alexis Chapman, director of operations for the Hawaii Food Industry Association in Honolulu. The situation is even more dire in certain […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Finance News, National, News
Mars Receives Top Honors On Glassdoor’s Best Places Lists
Mars Inc. earned the top spot on Glassdoor’s inaugural Best Places to Work in Manufacturing and Energy list and ranked sixth on the job search and career community’s 2026 Best Places to Work list, the company announced Jan. 21. The awards are determined based on voluntary, anonymous feedback from employees on Glassdoor. McLean, Virginia-based Mars […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Finance News, National, News
Smithfield Foods To Acquire Nathan’s Famous For $450M
Smithfield Foods has entered into a merger agreement to acquire Nathan’s Famous Inc. for $102 per share in cash, representing an enterprise value of about $450 million. The transaction will secure Smithfield’s rights to the all-beef hot dog brand into perpetuity. The company has held an exclusive license from Nathan’s Famous since March 2014 to […]
Posted inGrocery Research, Finance News, National, News
Report: Traditional Grocers Losing Shoppers As Fragmentation Accelerates
Traditional grocers are losing their most valuable shoppers in a shift that appears permanent, according to new data from AlixPartners released Jan. 21. Fewer than half of consumers in the survey — 49 percent — say they spent most of their grocery budget at traditional grocers like Kroger, Albertsons, H-E-B and Wegmans in 2025, down […]
Posted inNews, Finance News, Northeast, Wakefern
Wakefern Supermarket Banners To Host Job Fairs Jan. 31
Wakefern Food Corp. supermarket banners ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market are holding a series of walk-in hiring fairs Jan. 31. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., participating stores across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will host in-store recruitment events for full-time, […]
Posted inExecutive News, Finance News, Marketing News, National, News
Expana Appoints Harris As CEO, Succeeding Wicks
Expana has appointed Julie Harris as CEO effective Jan. 26, succeeding Spencer Wicks, who will retire Jan. 23 after more than seven years leading the agrifood-focused price reporting agency and market intelligence provider. Harris joins Expana from IWSR, the beverage-alcohol data and insight provider, where she served as CEO and led the company through major […]
Posted inCenter Store, Finance News, National, News
B&G Foods Wins Del Monte Broth Brands For $110M In Bankruptcy Auction
B&G Foods has agreed to acquire Del Monte Foods’ broth and stock business, including the College Inn and Kitchen Basics brands, for about $110 million in cash following a competitive bankruptcy auction. The transaction emerged from Del Monte Foods Corporation II’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, where B&G Foods prevailed as the winning bidder for the […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, Finance News, National, News
U.S. Private Label Sales Hit Record $282.8B In 2025
U.S. store brand sales reached a record $282.8 billion in 2025, climbing 3.3 percent compared to 1.2 percent growth for national brands, according to year-end Circana Unify+ data released Jan. 20 by the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA). The $9 billion increase marks store brands’ continued momentum in capturing market share across all retail channels. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Finance News, Home Page Slider, International Foods, News, Retailers, West
99 Ranch Market Expanding In Vegas With Summerlin Store
99 Ranch Market plans to open its second Las Vegas location Jan. 24 in the upscale Summerlin neighborhood. The 50,000-square-foot store at Boca Park Plaza, located at 820 S. Rampart Blvd., marks the company’s 66th location nationwide, covering 11 states. According to the company, the opening comes at a strategic time for both 99 Ranch […]
Posted inExecutive News, Finance News, Harps Food Stores, Independent Store News, News, Southwest
Harps Food Stores Announces New Leadership Across Company
Harps Food Stores has made several leadership appointments following the retirement of Randall Harp, who served as VP of warehouse operations and grocery procurement. The promotions include Shannon Kincade to VP of center store merchandising, Josh Cleveland to director of grocery retail management, Mike J. Roberts to director of warehouse operations and Ashley Winget to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Finance News, Market Profile, News, West
Okimoto Corp.’s Longstanding Values Guide Everyday Operations Of Its Stores
Hawaii grocer Okimoto Corp. celebrated 75 years in business in 2024, built on a foundation of honesty, integrity, humility and unity. Led by the third generation – Kris, Kyle and Kit Okimoto – the company operates two stores on Oahu and one on Molokai. Kit Okimoto, who in addition to his CFO duties in the […]
Posted inNews, C-Store News, Executive News, Finance News, Southwest
Yesway Hires Hampton As Chief Technology Officer
Robert Hampton has joined convenience store chain Yesway as chief technology officer. Reporting to Tom Trkla, chairman, CEO and president, Hampton will lead Yesway’s information technology strategy and oversee all aspects of enterprise technology, digital transformation, cybersecurity and innovation. With more than 20 years of executive technology leadership experience in the retail, convenience and supply […]