Grocery Industry News: Retail & Supply Chain Updates
Posted inProduce News, Marketing News, Southeast

Dole Launches Astrology-Based Salad Recipe Series

Beyond ingredient variety, nutritional value, taste and ease of preparation, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Dole Food Company Inc. has added another selection criteria to the 12 recipes featured during its “Healthier by Dole” salad recipe series in May: the alignment of the stars. The produce leader has released a dozen original recipes linked to the specific astrological […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, National

NGA Urges Swipe Fee Reform, Calls For End To Anticompetitive Tactics

The National Grocers Association called on lawmakers to fix the “broken” U.S. card payments system and stem the rising tide of swipe fees that compound the impact of inflation and cost merchants and consumers billions of dollars annually. NGA submitted a statement for the record to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary in advance […]

Posted inPackaging News, Northeast, Sustainability News

NJFC Releases Statement On Plastic Bag Legislation And Implementation

The New Jersey Food Council and Linda Doherty, president and CEO, issued a statement May 4 in response to the recent plastic bag legislation passed. “After many years of being in the middle of policy discussions on single-use paper and plastic bags, and polystyrene, this landmark plastic legislation, signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on Nov. […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Midwest

Cognira To Provide AI Promotion Solution For Cub Locations

Cognira has announced a new relationship with Stillwater, Minnesota-based Cub to manage the company’s promotions with the help of Cognira’s Artificial Intelligence Promotion Solution. Cub is one of the largest grocers in the Midwest, operating 80 grocery stores and pharmacies. Modernizing the promotion management process is a part of Cub’s vision to discover a solution that can better plan, […]

Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Supply Chain News

Rising Retail Prices Will Increasingly Test Consumers’ Appetite For Meat

U.S. consumer demand for retail meat remains exceptionally strong despite higher prices stemming from increased production costs and supply chain limitations. However, once the full effects of producer price inflation finally hit retail meat cases, consumer demand for meat will be tested again, according to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “Retail meat prices will […]

Posted inPackaging News, Midwest

Inline Plastics Expands Footprint With New Facility In Gladwin, MI

Inline Plastics, a manufacturer of high-quality PET (polyethylene terephthalate) food packaging, has opened a new manufacturing plant in Gladwin, Michigan, at the former Cam Packaging facility. The announcement was made recently at the company’s corporate headquarters in Shelton, Connecticut. The Michigan facility is already up and running under its new Inline banner.  “We are excited […]

Posted inSustainability News, Independent Store News, Northeast

Weis Markets Issues 2021 Sustainability Report

Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based Weis Markets has announced its continued progress toward reducing the company’s overall environmental impact.  The company’s progress is reported in the new 2021 Weis By Nature Sustainability Report, which details Weis Markets’ efforts to conserve resources, embrace green design and exemplify social responsibility. The company has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent since […]

Posted inPackaging News, Produce News, Southwest

MountainKing Introduces 3-Pound Mesh Bags For Potatoes

Houston, Texas-based MountainKing has introduced new, 3-pound mesh bags of its baby-sized red and gold potatoes designed to generate a higher ring for retail grocers while providing shoppers with a larger, yet still manageable product size for summer cook outs, potato salads and other dishes associated with the season. “It’s well documented that small potatoes […]

Posted inMarketing News, West

Stater Bros. Markets Partners With LAFC For Advertising Campaign

San Bernardino, California-based Stater Bros. Markets has partnered with the Los Angeles Football Club and LAFC star Christian Torres. Through this partnership, Stater Bros. Markets will bring the excitement of soccer to stores and communities in Southern California, beginning with the 2022 Major League Soccer season. “It was important to us that we teamed up […]

Posted inSnacks Brands, Southeast, Supply Chain News

Utz Brands Adds New Manufacturing Facility In Kings Mountain, NC

Utz Brands Inc. has purchased a new, recently completed snack food manufacturing facility in Kings Mountain, North Carolina from Evans Food Group, d/b/a Benestar Brands. The purchase includes the existing building, land and pork-rind production equipment. Utz will convert the space into an operational snack food manufacturing facility starting in 2022. The current 125,000 square […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Midwest, Supply Chain News

RJW Logistics Group Expands Supply Chain Analytics With Edge Insights

Woodridge, Illinois-based RJW Logistics Group has launched Edge Insights, an advanced supply chain analytics platform designed to quickly deliver enhanced data that drives better decision-making and total supply chain control. These technologies expand on the company’s supply chain analytics platform, RJW Edge, to create greater visibility into inventory management and performance analysis. With demand forecasting and […]

Posted inBJ's Wholesale Club, Corporate Store News, Grocery Store Layout, Northeast

BJ’s Wholesale Club To Open New Concept Store May 6 In Warwick, RI

BJ’s Wholesale Club has announced the opening of a BJ’s Market, a new concept club in Warwick, Rhode Island. Located at 375 East Ave., BJ’s Market is 43,000 square feet, about half the size of a full-sized BJ’s club. BJ’s Market will feature top-selling fresh foods, produce, sundries and seasonal products for members of BJ’s […]

Posted inMarketing News, Southeast

The Fresh Market Offering Special Items For Mother’s Day May 8

Greensboro, North Carolina-based The Fresh Market is promoting itself as the “one-stop-shop destination” by offering guests special items and values this Mother’s Day, May 8.  “Mother’s Day should be all about making sure mom feels loved, and we want to help families make the most of the day,” said Dan Portnoy, chief merchandising officer at The […]

Posted inSustainability News, Online Grocery Technology, West

Sprouts Announces First Sustainability Vendor Summit

Phoenix, Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market will host its first Our Brands focused Sustainability Vendor Summit June 21-24 as part of the company’s commitment in bringing responsibly grown and sourced food to our customers. The virtual event, hosted in partnership with ECRM and RangeMe, will allow Sprouts to discover new suppliers to support the expansion of Sprouts branded […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Marketing News, Northeast

ChaseDesign Reports Shoppers Eager To Return To In-Store Experiences

According to analysis of new research from Skaneateles, New York-based ChaseDesign, the category growth design agency, retailers need to make digital investments in their stores to attract and retain returning shoppers.  Eighty-five percent of customers will do more in-store shopping in 2022 than last year, up from the 79 percent reporting increased visits in 2021. Factors driving this return […]

Posted inPublix Super Markets, Produce News, Southeast, Sustainability News

Publix Donates 50M Pounds Of Produce From Farmers To Food Banks

Lakeland, Florida-based Publix has donated more than 50 million pounds of produce as part of its initiative to support farmers and food banks in the Southeast. Launched in response to farmers being forced to discard produce they could no longer sell due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Publix began purchasing produce directly from impacted farmers and donating […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Executive News, Southwest

Relationshop Hires Wakim As VP Of Business Development

Houston, Texas-based Relationshop, a provider of digital customer engagement solutions, has added Linda Wakim as the company’s VP of business development. “Linda has deep industry knowledge, experience in omni-channel personalization in the retail space and excels at developing winning strategies,” said Galen Walters, CEO. “She will bring exceptional value to our clients and we are excited […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National

GetUpside Rebrands As Upside, Raises $165M Series D Funding

Upside, the retail technology company rebranded from GetUpside, has raised $65 million in equity financing and $100 million in debt financing from General Catalyst with participation from existing investors including Bessemer Ventures and Builders VC. This latest round brings Upside’s valuation to $1.5 billion. “With inflation at a 40-year high, we are at an inflection […]