Despite cautious consumer spending and ongoing economic uncertainty, independents recorded some positive numbers in FY25.
Category: Industry News
Posted inDeli News, Independent Store News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, News, Online Grocery Technology, Produce News
Heinen’s Expands Its Afresh AI Usage In Fresh Departments
Heinen’s is extending its use of the Afresh AI platform to period ending inventory across its fresh departments, replacing manual after-hours counts with AI-generated inventory estimates in produce, meat, deli, cheese and bakery. The Warrensville Heights, Ohio-based grocer already used Afresh for store ordering, so adding the inventory review required no new integrations or devices, […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Featured News, Independent Store News, National, News
More Regional Grocery Brands Join Uber Eats Marketplace
Busch’s Fresh Food Market, Hays, Lowe’s Market and Piggly Wiggly stores in North Carolina have joined the platform.
Posted inSustainability News, Costco Wholesale, Equipment & Technology, News, Southeast, West
Costco Distribution Center In Florida Gains Off-Grid Capability
The project, completed in conjunction with Trinity Energy, allows the facility to operate off the utility grid when needed.
Posted inNational, Featured News, News, Online Grocery Technology, The Kroger Co.
Kroger Launches AI Shopping Assistant Across All Banners
The company positioned the launch around the back-to-school season, as shoppers get back into their normal routines.
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Ahold Delhaize, Corporate Store News, News, Northeast, Southeast
Ahold Delhaize USA Adds Shoppable Recipes, Product Pages
The partnership is designed to help shoppers “move from discovery to cart with fewer steps,” says ADUSA’s Keith Nicks.
Posted inGrocery Research, Feature, Featured News, National, News
SNAP In Transition: Circana Details How Program Changes Reshaped CPG Spending In First Half Of 2026
Circana says 2026 SNAP changes will reduce EBT funding by about $10 billion, reshaping grocery spending, fresh food purchases and retailer strategies.
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Featured News, Independent Store News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Meijer First In Michigan To Accept WIC For Online Grocery Orders
Customers now can use WIC benefits on Meijer.com and the Meijer mobile app after adding their WIC card to their mPerks account.
Posted inGrocery Research, Association News, Beverage News, Featured News, National, News
FMI’s 1st ‘Power Of Beverage’ Report: Function Powering Purchase
FMI’s inaugural Power of Beverage report finds shoppers spent nearly $295 billion on beverages in 2025, increasingly buying on function.
Posted inGrocery Research, Association News, Featured News, Frozen Food, National, News
Frozen Treats Now An Everyday Habit, Not A Summer Splurge, Finds NFRA
Ice cream and frozen novelties have moved beyond occasional summer indulgence to become a routine part of household shopping, according to new consumer research from the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association. Nearly three-quarters of adults say keeping frozen treats at home feels more affordable than going out for dessert, and a similar share view […]
Posted inGrocery Research, Center Store, Featured News, Health & Wellness, National, News, Snacks Brands
NCA Research: GLP-1 Users Still Buy Chocolate And Candy
The study found these consumers are making more intentional choices rather than cutting the treats out completely.
Posted inRetail Media, Featured News, Marketing News, National, News, Online Grocery Technology
Vusion To Acquire In-Store Media, Building Out Digital Retail Media Platform
Vusion has agreed to acquire Barcelona-based In-Store Media, expanding its digital in-store retail media platform across retailers and brands worldwide.
Posted inNews, Ahold Delhaize, Corporate Store News, Featured News, Finance News
Ahold Delhaize Marks 10 Years With Euronext Gong Ceremony
The Zaandam, Netherlands-based retailer was formed in 2016 through the merger of Ahold and Delhaize Group, one of the largest cross-border deals in food retail.
Posted inGrocery Research, Featured News, National, News
Visa: World Cup Spending Highest In Santa Clara/San Jose, Boston, Miami
Visa data shows cross-border transactions rose nearly 20 percent in World Cup host cities, with both dining and food merchants benefiting.
Posted inShelby Content, Corporate Store News, Executive News, Lowes Foods, News, Online Grocery Technology, Southeast
Lowes Foods’ Tim Lowe On Growth, Value And Why Retailers Must Earn A Spot In AI’s ‘Consideration Set’
Lowes Foods President and CEO Tim Lowe discusses six store openings and conversions, the consumer shift to value and why grocery retailers must earn a place in AI’s consideration set.
Posted inNortheast, Marketing News, Midwest, News, Suppliers
JOH Expands North Central Division With WI Acquisition
The Massachusetts sales and marketing agency is expanding outside its longstanding markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Featured News, Hy-Vee, Independent Store News, Midwest, News
Hy-Vee Adds 30-Minute Pickup, Delivery Chainwide
Hy-Vee has begun offering online orders in as fast as 30 minutes at all of its stores, giving shoppers a faster option for both in-store pickup and delivery. Customers select “Get it faster” during online checkout to use the 30-minute option. Delivery fee is $14.95; for a 30-minute pickup order, the fee is $9.95. For […]
Posted inGrocery Research, Center Store, Featured News, Marketing News, National, News
Acosta Tracker: Stock-Up Trip Costs $366, Up 27% From 2020
A typical grocery stock-up trip now costs more than $366, roughly 27 percent above a comparable 2020 basket, according to the inaugural Acosta Group Affordability Tracker released July 23. The Jacksonville, Florida-based firm measures affordability by comparing the cost of an 84-item basket of commonly purchased grocery and household essentials against median hourly earnings in […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Grocery Research, Midwest, News
AWG, Illinois Grad Students Finish 5th Year Of Private Brand Research
Students in the University of Illinois’ Master of Science in Business Analytics program studied new item adoption and pricing dynamics.
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Marketing News, News, Online Grocery Technology, Southwest
Arkansas Grocer Adds Personalized Weekly Ads On Existing Platform
Little Rock-based Edwards Food Giant is able to add the personalization without a separate integration or an additional vendor.