JOH, the Billerica, Massachusetts-based sales and marketing agency covering the food, drug, mass and club channels, has added several team members in recent months. Pam Madonna Pam Madonna has joined the company as business manager of center store – New England, it was announced July 10. Madonna has nearly 30 years of experience in sales, […]
Category: Industry News
Back-To-School In Grocery: From School Supplies To Routine Solutions
Back-to-School has evolved well beyond a one-time stock-up trip for notebooks, pencils, and lunch bags. Today, it represents a broader household reset shaped by omnichannel shopping, value-seeking behavior, wellness priorities, and the return to more structured weekday routines. For grocery retailers, that evolution has fundamentally changed the role of the season. Back-to-School in grocery is […]
The Hidden Margin Leak Hiding in Your Accounts Payable Department
Every independent and regional grocer knows the math. Net margins run between 1% and 3%, which means that on a $10 million store, you’re working with $100,000 to $300,000 of breathing room before you’re underwater. Operators spend enormous energy managing the front end to protect those numbers, tightening promotional spend, auditing shrink, and fine-tuning labor […]
Breez AI To Quadruple Store Count As Independent Grocers Sign On
Joining the shopping platform are Brothers Market, Balls Food Stores, Price Chopper Enterprises and HAC Inc., among others.
Avocados From Peru Serves Breakfast Aboard Navy Ship As Part Of Sail250
At the invitation of the U.S. Navy, Avocados From Peru participated in America’s 250th Anniversary Maritime Celebration, hosting a “Superfood Breakfast” aboard the USS Arlington on July 2. The breakfast, which took place prior to the International Naval Review 250 in New York Harbor, recognized the service and dedication of the men and women of […]
FMS Solutions’ 2nd Profit Summit For Independents Coming This Fall
FMS Solutions, a financial management company serving independent grocery operators and restaurants, has announced its second annual FMS Profit Summit, set for Oct. 6-8 at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort in Boerne, Texas. The two-day event covers financial benchmarking, labor management, shrink reduction and the state of the independent grocery industry. Attendees will have direct […]
Feeding America: Food As Medicine Programs Cut Hospitalizations
Feeding America, in partnership with Elevance Health Foundation, has released the nation’s largest Food as Medicine evaluation of food banks, which found that consistent access to nutritious food reduces self-reported hospitalizations by 14 percent and emergency department visits by 11 percent while strengthening food security among people facing hunger. The three-year program, evaluated by the Center […]
Free Ice Cream, Dollar Deals Part Of Stop & Shop Summer Savings
Stop & Shop is bringing back its free ice cream event this July in addition to offering $1 deals in categories across the store to help customers put affordable meals on the table. The ice cream giveaway is in celebration of National Ice Cream Day, Sunday, July 19. Stop & Shop will be giving away […]
Report: Store Brands Hit 23.8% Unit Market Share As National Brands Lag
Store brands continued to strengthen their position in the marketplace during the first half of 2026, outperforming national brands in unit sales, according to the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA). Over the six months ending June 14, store brand unit sales increased 0.2 percent while national brand unit sales declined 0.5 percent – a spread […]
Fancy Food Show Takeaways: Specialty Brands Navigate AI-Curious Market
by Diana Leza Sheehan, founder of PDG Insights At the Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show, held June 28-30 at the Javits Center in New York City, a few themes were clear throughout the educational sessions and across the exhibit hall. Specialty food and beverage brands are operating in a market defined by contradiction: […]
Dollar General Offers 70+ Back-to-School Items At $1 Or Less
As families and educators prepare for the new academic year, Dollar General has priced more than 70 back-to-school items at $1 or less. “The back-to-school season can put pressure on household and classroom budgets, especially when everything is needed at once,” said Steve O’Brien, VP, division merchandise manager. “Our focus is on offering the essentials customers […]
The Giant Co. Begins Major Remodels At 3 Stores In PA, VA
The Giant Co. has begun renovations at two Martin’s stores in Winchester, Virginia, and one Giant store in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania. All three will remain open during renovations, which are expected to be completed by year’s end. The Martin’s stores in Winchester are located at 1950 S. Pleasant Valley Road and 200 Rivendell Court. The former […]
Walmart, Sam’s Club Roll Back Prices On Thousands Of Summer Items
Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart has lowered prices on thousands of items through Walmart’s Rollbacks and Sam’s Club offers. “Customers count on Walmart to deliver the value they need every day, and summer is no exception,” said Julie Barber, EVP and chief merchant of Walmart U.S. “This summer, we’re making even more investments in price, with thousands […]
ROFDA Launches Aggregated Data Cloud For Independent Grocers
It will provide participating members and CPG partners with a more collective view of performance across the network.
FMI Report: Food Industry Investing In Tech To Enhance In-Store Experience
Despite macroeconomic challenges, the food industry is leading in new technology implementation, offering more consumer-friendly in-store experiences and providing more options to help Americans reach their health goals, according to The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2026 report released by FMI – The Food Industry Association. “Consumers are increasingly sensitive to both the cost of food […]
How The Food Industry Is Mobilizing Earthquake Aid In Venezuela
When a series of earthquakes struck Venezuela in late June, the devastation was immediate and staggering. Grocery retailers and food companies across the U.S. — from Florida to California and beyond — have mobilized to help. What emerged was a coordinated response across the food industry that transformed store aisles into donation centers, checkout counters […]
Sprouts Bringing Klatch Coffee To 11 Additional SoCal Stores
The expansion builds on the initial collaboration that began in 2024, which currently includes 14 cafes in stores across Southern California.
Five Food Trends Shaping The Grocery Market In 2026
From the products shoppers are adding to their carts to the new items appearing on store shelves, food trends continue to influence the grocery business. While every market is different, several trends are gaining momentum across the industry and creating opportunities for retailers. Industry research and shopper data, shared by Associated Food Stores, point to […]
Walmart, Constellation Sign Nuclear Power Purchase Deal In IL
Walmart and Constellation have announced a long-term nuclear power purchase agreement for emissions-free electricity from Constellation’s Dresden Clean Energy Center in Illinois. The agreement includes about 176 MW of wholesale supply, including 30 MW of expanded generating capacity, and marks Walmart‘s first nuclear PPA – among the first of its kind between a large retailer and […]
NJ Passes Fair Price Protection Act To Ban Personalized Grocery Pricing
The New Jersey Legislature has passed the Fair Price Protection Act, sending the bill to Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who has indicated she will sign it into law. Once signed, New Jersey will become the third state in the country to prohibit personalized pricing for groceries, following Maryland and Connecticut. The legislation, which combines Senate Bill […]
