Wakefern Food Corp. has selected Eagle Eye to accelerate its loyalty strategy and deliver artificial intelligence-powered customer engagement initiatives across its retail network. The program is expected to go live in mid-2026. Wakefern, the largest retailer-owned supermarket cooperative in the U.S., will deploy Eagle Eye’s MACH-approved loyalty and personalization platform, moving away from a POS-based […]
Category: Finance News
Market moves, funding, earnings, and financial strategy across the grocery industry.
Posted inExecutive News, Center Store, Finance News, National, News
Kraft Heinz Names Amaya President, North America
Chicago-based Kraft Heinz has named Nicolas Amaya president of North America, effective Feb. 23, overseeing strategy, operations and performance across Kraft Heinz’s largest market. Amaya most recently served as SVP and president of Kellanova North America, where he was a member of Kellanova’s executive committee. Navio steps down Pedro Navio, current president of North America, will step […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, Finance News, Grocery Research, National, News
Dunnhumby Study Finds Shoppers Shifting To Mass Retailers, Dollar Stores
Mass-channel retailers reached 79 percent penetration in December, equaling traditional supermarkets for the first time as 70 percent of working-age Americans reported difficulty covering unexpected $400 expenses, according to Wave 12 of the dunnhumby Consumer Trends Tracker released Feb. 18. The shift marks a fundamental realignment in American shopping behavior driven by persistent affordability pressures. […]
Posted inBeverage News, Association News, Featured News, Finance News, News, Northeast
PFMA Supports Bill To Enable Third-Party Alcohol Delivery For Grocers
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association testified before the Pennsylvania House Liquor Control Committee Feb. 11 in support of House Bill 1451, legislation that would allow licensed third-party transporters to deliver beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails on behalf of licensed retailers. The trade association called the bill a necessary update to the state’s liquor code that […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Finance News, Leadership, National, News, The Grocer's Playbook
Leadership: Prime Time Defined
Leaders who consistently win understand one simple truth: performance is never evenly distributed across the day, week or year. Some moments matter more than others, and what a team does in those windows separates average operations from extraordinary ones. What is ‘prime time’ in leadership? In operations-heavy environments, prime time is the predictable window when […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Finance News, Midwest, News, Supply Chain News
Smithfield Foods Plans $1.3B Processing Facility In Sioux Falls, SD
Smithfield Foods has initiated the approval process to build a packaged meats and fresh pork processing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, representing a preliminary investment estimate of up to $1.3 billion over the next three years. The facility, subject to permitting and regulatory approvals, will be built in Foundation Park, a 1,000-acre heavy industrial […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, Finance News, Frozen Food, National, News
AFFI Promotes Seiling To COO, Head Of Strategic Initiatives
The American Frozen Food Institute has promoted Adrienne Seiling to COO and head of strategic initiatives, expanding her role on the executive leadership team. Seiling most recently served as SVP of industry affairs and member services. In her new role, she will oversee core operations and lead advancement of key organization priorities, including events and […]
Posted inSupply Chain News, Finance News, National, News
Registrar Corp. Acquires TechniCAL, Expands Safety Capabilities
Registrar Corp has acquired TechniCAL, an independent process authority for low-acid and acidified foods. The acquisition combines Registrar Corp’s global regulatory compliance expertise with TechniCAL’s thermal processing validation and testing capabilities. Together, the companies provide complete regulatory and safety support for producers of shelf-stable packaged foods and beverages. Market drivers Consumer demand for convenience and […]
Posted inProduce News, Finance News, National, News
Shore Capital Forms Produce One Through Partnership, Acquisition
Shore Capital Partners has formed Produce One, a specialty produce distribution platform, through a partnership with Premier ProduceOne and the acquisition of Native Maine Produce. The platform combines Premier ProduceOne’s statewide distribution coverage across Ohio with Native Maine’s Northeast-focused distribution network across Maine, Connecticut and New York. Shore Capital plans to partner with additional produce […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Finance News, Independent Store News, Midwest, News, Southeast, Southwest
Second Annual HFG Awards Program Honors 15 Store Managers From 6 States
Houchens Food Group continued its Store Manager Appreciation Awards for the second year, culminating with the announcement of the 2025 HFG Store Manager of the Year. The company recently hosted 15 lunch banquets divided by region and banner. The events included individual recognition of store managers, as well as a selection of other awards. In […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Crossroads, Finance News, National, News, The Grocer's Playbook
Crossroads: Built-To-Last Factors Impacting Value
As we have discussed before, understanding the value of a business is important at every stage of its life. By tracking value over time, we can see its trajectory. By understanding the factors that impact value, we can better identify where to focus our time, energy and investment. In the grocery industry, there are multiple […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Finance News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Independent Grocers Face Pricing Pressures, Rural Store Closures In ND
Independent grocers across North Dakota face mounting pressure from several directions, according to John “Jiggs” Dyste, president of the North Dakota Grocers Association. “Independent grocers are being squeezed by big-box stores and food manufacturers,” Dyste said. “Unfair pricing is the main problem driving consumers to big-box stores.” The challenges come as North Dakota’s economy undergoes […]
Posted inExecutive News, Center Store, Finance News, National, News
J.M. Smucker Eliminates COO Role, Expands CFO, Supply Chain Leadership
The J.M. Smucker Company has announced a leadership restructuring that eliminates the chief operating officer position and expands responsibilities for its chief financial officer and newly created chief product supply officer. The Orrville, Ohio-based food manufacturer said the changes, effective Feb. 9, are designed to advance long-term growth strategy, further momentum among its brand portfolio […]
Posted inAssociation News, Finance News, National, News
NRF Reports Retail Sales Post Fourth Monthly Gain
Retail sales showed moderate monthly growth and strong year-over-year gains in January, marking the fourth consecutive month of increases, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor released by the National Retail Federation. Total retail sales, excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations, were up 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted month over month and up 5.72 percent unadjusted year […]
Posted inSupply Chain News, Finance News, Lipari Foods, Midwest, News
Lipari Foods Selects RELEX Solutions For Supply Chain Planning
Lipari Foods has selected RELEX Solutions to transform its supply chain planning and improve replenishment operations across its distribution center. The Midwest distributor will use RELEX’s artificial intelligencer-driven platform and Advanced Diagnostics to manage more than 23,000 SKUs across grocery, deli, bakery, natural and specialty categories. Lipari Foods supplies thousands of retailers with fresh, natural, […]
Posted inCenter Store, Finance News, National, News
Kraft Heinz Pauses Company Split, Commits $600M To Turnaround Plan
The Kraft Heinz Company announced Feb. 11 it is pausing work on its planned separation into two independent companies, instead committing $600 million to accelerate growth efforts as the food manufacturer reported a 15 percent decline in full-year 2025 adjusted earnings. CEO Steve Cahillane, who joined the Pittsburgh and Chicago-based company Jan. 1, said its […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Finance News, National, News
Swiftly Converts Static Circulars Into Interactive Digital Format
Swiftly has launched SmartCircular, an artificial intelligence-powered tool that transforms grocery retailers’ PDF circulars into interactive digital experiences with engagement tracking. The Seattle-based retail technology company’s new product uses proprietary AI to convert static weekly ads into clickable formats that allow shoppers to browse deals, zoom in on products and add items to shopping lists. […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Finance News, News, Southeast, UNFI
UNFI Spotlights 5 Key Grocery Trends For 2026 Spring Season
United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) brought more than 3,400 retailers and suppliers together at its Spring and Summer Selling Show in Orlando, Florida, to examine five major trends reshaping grocery retail, from private label dominance to the growing emphasis on gut health. The distributor’s Feb. 10-12 event highlighted shifts in shopper behavior that grocers should […]
Posted inNational, Finance News, News, Store News
LocalDutch Brings Urban Farm Shop Model To U.S.
LocalDutch, a Netherlands-based agri-tech and food retail company, has announced plans to roll out its Urban Farm Shop concept in the United States and other markets. The model integrates on-site controlled-environment food production with direct-to-consumer retail and local delivery in a single location. The company, headquartered in The Hague, calls the concept the “LocalDutch Shop” […]
Posted inProduce News, Finance News, Independent Store News, News, Northeast
EmpowerFresh Enhances Produce Operations At Karns Quality Foods
EmpowerFresh has partnered with Karns Quality Foods, a 10-store family-owned grocer in central Pennsylvania, to enhance produce operations through artificial intelligence-powered ordering and inventory management. Founded in 1959, Karns Quality Foods has been recognized for its meat and produce departments. The partnership will leverage EmpowerFresh’s AI-driven forecasting and data analytics to help the grocer reduce […]