A new poll released by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) found that 68 percent of Maryland voters support banning electronic shelf labels (ESLs) in grocery stores. The survey, conducted by GBAO Strategies, also found 69 percent believe the technology will cause grocery prices to increase. The poll comes as Gov. Wes […]
Category: Industry News
Crossroads: How Cap Rates, Lease Terms Affect Grocery Store Property Value
In a previous column, we discussed building businesses to last and some of the factors that influence valuation. Today, we will take a closer look at one area that often creates confusion – the valuation of real estate in the grocery industry. Nerd alert: This one is a little more technical, but I believe it […]
Coke Florida Promotes Calhoun VP, Chief Of Staff To CEO
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida has appointed Reagan Calhoun as VP and chief of staff to Chairman and CEO Troy Taylor. Calhoun joins from The Coca-Cola Co., where she most recently served as VP of finance-marketing for the North America Operating Unit (NAOU). She has more than 20 years of experience across the Coca-Cola system spanning marketing, […]
Study Finds Food Affordability Rivals Taste As Top Purchase Driver
Food affordability has pulled even with taste as the two most important factors consumers consider when buying food, according to a new national survey from Stratovation Group and food and agriculture communications agency Inspire. More than half of respondents said rising food prices have strongly affected how they buy food at grocery stores or restaurants. […]
Logile Launches Fresh Operations Management Suite For Grocers
Logile Inc. has introduced its Fresh Operations Management suite, a platform designed to help grocers coordinate production, inventory, waste and food safety across fresh departments. The platform brings together customer demand, labor capacity and cost visibility to align production, inventory, waste control and food safety execution. The goal is to help grocers improve on-shelf availability, […]
McCormick To Combine With Unilever’s Foods Business
McCormick & Company Inc. (NYSE: MKC) and Unilever PLC (LSE: ULVR / NYSE: UL) have announced an agreement to combine McCormick with Unilever’s Foods business, creating a global flavor company with $20 billion in combined fiscal year 2025 revenue. Under the terms of the agreement, Unilever and its shareholders are expected to receive shares equating […]
Hannaford Supermarkets Refreshes Private Brand Packaging
Maine-based Hannaford Supermarkets is unveiling a refreshed design across its private brand portfolio, with the updated packaging arriving on shelves in select markets and a full portfolio expansion planned across all stores in 2027. The new look is designed to make it easier for shoppers to find products, discover new items and shop with confidence […]
Homeland Closing, Consolidating Stores As Part Of ‘Comeback’
In a March 26 post on its Facebook page, Homeland announced that it will close four stores in Oklahoma and consolidate six others into three. Homeland said in the post that it had informed employees of the changes the previous day, explaining the moves as “important steps to strengthen our company and better serve our […]
RELEX Report: AI Becomes Core Supply Chain Tool As Volatility Persists
RELEX Solutions has released the “State of Supply Chain 2026: Volatility, Trade-Offs & the Rise of AI,” finding that artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation to operational decision support across supply chain planning. The report, based on a January 2026 survey of 514 retail, manufacturing, wholesale and supply chain leaders, found that 67 percent of […]
Aldi U.S. Launches Redesigned Website, App With Instacart
Aldi U.S. and Instacart (Nasdaq: CART) have launched a redesigned Aldi website at aldi.us and an updated mobile app, powered by Instacart’s Storefront Pro enterprise commerce platform and fulfillment solutions. The enhanced digital experience offers personalized recommendations, improved product discovery and shoppable recipes for meal planning. Instacart, which began powering fulfillment for Aldi U.S. in […]
General Mills Names Ness Chief Supply Chain Officer
General Mills (NYSE: GIS) has appointed Jonathan Ness as chief supply chain officer. Ness reports to chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening, joins the company’s senior leadership team and oversees global supply chain operations. Ness had been serving as interim chief supply chain officer since late January. He had previously served as VP of global supply […]
Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Names Nettleship SVP Of Marketing
Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions has appointed Trish Nettleship as SVP of marketing. In her new role, Nettleship will serve on the company’s executive leadership team and lead the global marketing organization, responsible for defining and executing its marketing vision and strategy. Nettleship brings more than 25 years of marketing leadership experience across global technology and […]
ReposiTrak, SPAR Group Launch ‘Surge Merchandising’ Platform For Retailers
ReposiTrak (NYSE: TRAK) and SPAR Group (NASDAQ: SGRP) have announced a strategic partnership to deploy a national solution designed to help retailers improve on-shelf availability, reduce store-level labor strain and ensure that products reach the shelf quickly and consistently. The integrated service pairs ReposiTrak’s inventory intelligence technology with SPAR’s nationwide on-demand workforce, giving retailers a […]
Teel To Lead The Raley’s Companies Following Knopf’s Departure
The Raley’s Companies has announced a leadership transition, with President and CEO Keith Knopf departing after 11 years and owner and Chairman Mike Teel returning to the CEO role he previously held before Knopf joined the company. “After 11 fulfilling years of service, I have reached a natural inflection point, and having achieved significant milestones, […]
Nude Foods Market Reports Growth Following ‘Shark Tank’ Appearance
Nude Foods Market, a Colorado-based, female-founded grocery company built around eliminating single-use plastic, is seeing a surge in national attention following its appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” which aired March 11. Co-founders Verity Noble and Rachel Irons entered the Tank asking for $250,000 in exchange for a 5 percent stake in their zero-waste grocery operation, […]
Walmart, VIZIO Unveil Content-To-Commerce Integrations At IAB NewFronts
Walmart and VIZIO took the stage during the 2026 IAB NewFronts to announce new platform integrations, a first-to-market branded content deal with L’Oréal and early connected TV campaign results – accelerating the buildout of a content-to-commerce ecosystem that connects streaming audiences to retail purchases. Walmart completed its acquisition of VIZIO in December 2024. The NewFronts […]
Store Closings Part Of Grocery Outlet Turnaround
Grocery Outlet’s top executive was candid in his remarks to the investment community during the grocer’s earnings call March 4. Jason Potter, who took over as president and CEO of Emeryville, California-based Grocery Outlet in February 2025 after nearly five years as CEO of upscale retailer The Fresh Market, said, “I joined Grocery Outlet because […]
CK Snacks Acquires Keystone Food Products
CK Snacks (Cheeze Kurls LLC) has acquired Keystone Food Products, expanding the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based private label snack platform to three manufacturing facilities across complementary geographies. Founded in 1946, Keystone is a snack food manufacturer and co-packer based in Easton, Pennsylvania. It specializes in masa and cooked corn tortilla chips, baked and fried extruded snacks, […]
PFMA Announces 2026 PA DECA Scholar
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) has named Rishabh Jain of Downingtown STEM Academy as its 2026 PA DECA Scholar. Jain, a senior, compiled four years of competitive achievement, chapter leadership and community entrepreneurship in DECA. At the Pennsylvania State Career Development Conference, he placed first in entrepreneurship events. He followed that with a fourth-place […]
Inmar Intelligence, Eagle Eye Integrate To Speed Digital Coupon Activation
Inmar Intelligence and Eagle Eye announced a multi-year technology integration that connects Inmar’s digital offer content with Eagle Eye’s promotions platform, allowing shared retail customers to retrieve, clip, redeem and reconcile Inmar digital coupons within their loyalty and point-of-sale environments. The API-based integration is designed to reduce the friction retailers face when deploying digital offers […]
