Grocery Industry News: Retail & Supply Chain Updates
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Organic Natural

Natural Grocers Opening Fifth Iowa Store June 21

Natural Grocers will open its fifth store in Iowa on June 21. The 15,000 s.f. store is located in Iowa City at 1404 South Gilbert Street. The first 100 people to shop at the new Iowa City store will receive a free Natural Grocers “goody bag.” Other opening day offerings include vendor demonstrations, an ice cream social […]

Posted inFrozen Food, Albertsons, Home Page Latest News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, New Products, Packaging News, Perishables, Southwest, Suppliers

John Soules Debuts New Varieties Of Fully-Cooked Products

John Soules Foods has expanded its fully-cooked lines with several new items. Added to the company’s mainstay retail items, like its best-selling beef and chicken fajitas, are Oven Roasted Chicken, Sriracha Chicken and Korean-Style Barbecue Beef varieties. Tyler, Texas-based John Soules also debuted breaded poultry items at the International Dairy Deli Bake, held June 4-6 in […]

Posted inIndustry News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Store News, West

Oliver’s Market Sells Portion Of Company To Employees

Oliver’s Market, the largest locally-owned grocer in Sonoma County, California, has sold 43 percent of the company to employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The four-store chain also registered with the state of California as a Social Purpose Corporation, allowing leadership to consider employees, the environment and the community in addition to financial position […]

Posted inBJ's Wholesale Club, Corporate Store News, Grocery Store Equipment, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Southeast

BJ’s Wholesale Opens Its First South Carolina Club

BJ’s Wholesale Club hosted a grand opening June 10 to celebrate its expansion into South Carolina. With the new Summerville location, the company’s footprint now covers 16 states with 215 clubs. “We’re thrilled at the excitement over our newest club and for the warm welcome BJ’s has received in Summerville,” said Dawn Albright, GM of the Summerville BJ’s Wholesale […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Organic Natural, Perishables, Private Label Brands, Specialty, Suppliers

Kings Food Markets, Balducci’s Choose KeHE

Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market have selected KeHE Distributors as a specialty distributor for natural & organic, specialty and private label items. The agreement is effective immediately. The transition is scheduled to be complete this summer. “Across the KeHE community, we are energized to put our compelling service, pricing and promotions model […]

Posted inAssociation News, Center Store, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Merchandising News, National, New Products, Snacks Brands, Specialty, Suppliers

NCA Sweets & Snacks Expo Breaks Records

The 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo, hosted by the National Confectioners Association, set an all-time attendance record for the second consecutive year as more than 18,000 industry professionals from nearly 90 countries were welcomed to McCormick Place to experience the latest trends and innovations in the candy and snack categories. Exhibitors grew nearly 6 percent, […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Online Grocery Technology, Southeast, Supply Chain News

Publix And Instacart Expanding Delivery Service Due To Demand

Nearly a year after they first formed a partnership that covered some stores, Publix and Instacart are gearing up to offer same-day grocery delivery to all Publix customers by 2020. Publix and Instacart began same-day grocery delivery to select customers in July 2016 via delivery.publix.com and instacart.com. Customers have embraced the service, the companies say. Publix […]

Posted inNortheast, Corporate Store News, Food Service News, Online Grocery Technology, Supply Chain News

King Kullen Grows Its ‘Shop OnLine’ Delivery Service

King Kullen recently expanded its Shop OnLine delivery service to now offer online grocery shopping with delivery to nearly all of Nassau County, many parts of Suffolk County and select areas of Queens, New York. In addition, grocery order pickup service is available at the Bay Shore, Bridgehampton, Garden City Park and Island Park store locations. […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Store News, Wholesaler/Distributor News

Siakotos Duo Chooses AWG To Supply Freshline Foods

In 1955, John Siakotos made the long journey to the U.S. from southern Greece. His uncle brought him to America so he could have a shot at a better future. Siakotos began working at his uncle’s fruit market in Chicago and his life did indeed begin to improve. As the fruit market prospered over the […]

Posted inProduce News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Perishables, Sustainability News

Hy-Vee Awards $156,000 To Fund Community Gardens

Hy-Vee recently awarded 156 One Step Garden Grants totaling $156,000 to community organizations and Hy-Vee stores as part of the Hy-Vee One Step program. The $1,000 grants will be used to purchase seeds, plants, garden tools and food preservation equipment for community gardens. One Step Garden Grants are given to community gardens that teach those […]

Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Online Grocery Technology, Supply Chain News, West, Whole Foods, Wholesaler/Distributor News

Amazon To Open Fulfillment Center In Fresno, California

Amazon said June 2 that it will open its first fulfillment center in Fresno, California. The Seattle-based online retailer said the center will “continue its growth in California’s Central Valley” and create 1,500 new full-time jobs. The Fresno center will be Amazon’s fifth fulfillment center in the Central Valley, with three operating fulfillment centers located […]

Posted inNortheast, Independent Store News, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Supply Chain News

For Wakefern’s Lane, Reinvention Is Name Of The Game

Leading procurement, marketing, logistics and technology initiatives for Wakefern Food Corp. is Chris Lane, EVP. His leadership ability at Wakefern is one reason why the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) tapped Lane to give the keynote address at its 2017 Trade Relations Conference, scheduled for today, Tuesday, June 6, from 3-6 p.m. at Harrah’s Resort […]

Posted in, Association News, C-Store News, Deli News, Food Service News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Perishables

NACS Encourages Members To Help Redraft Menu-Labeling Rules

The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) is urging its members to offer their opinions in hopes that they could have an impact on a possible redraft of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) menu-labeling rule. The association is holding a webinar later this week to give its members practical help on how to […]

Posted inNortheast, Association News, Industry News

NJFC Awarded $240K Grant To Train Food Workers

The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC), in collaboration with Rutgers University, has been awarded more than $240,000 to support food safety and management leadership training series. The grant, funded by the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, will pay for one year of training, beginning this month. Areas of training include entry-level food handler […]

Posted inStore News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Southwest

Brookshire Grocery Co. Recognizes 10 For Service Excellence

Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) recently honored 10 employees in the company’s inaugural Wood T. Brookshire Jump Over the Counter service excellence program. The program is named to honor Wood T. Brookshire, who founded the company in 1928 and would “literally jump over the store counter to help his customers,” according to BGC. Honorees were nominated by […]

Posted inNonfood Items, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National

Grocery Checkstands Drive Greeting Card Sales

Hallmark is partnering with several top supermarket retailers to test a new opportunity for greeting card sales at the grocery checkstand and is seeing positive sales as a result. One grocery partner reported seeing not only increased sales, but more units sold and a higher average price per card. “We are always looking for flexible […]

Posted inCorporate Store News, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National

Walmart Testing Associate Delivery

In addition to Online Grocery Pickup, two-day free shipping and its new Pickup Discount program, Walmart likely will add another service to its e-commerce platform: associate delivery. The service currently is being tested in three of the retailer’s stores—two in New Jersey and one in northeast Arkansas. Marc Lore, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. E-Commerce, […]

Posted inWest, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Store News, Suppliers

Olive Crest Hosts Food Industry Roundtable At Northgate Markets

Olive Crest recently hosted its Food Industry Roundtable meeting at Northgate Markets in Southern California. Olive Crest’s mission is to prevent child abuse, treat and educate at-risk children, and preserve the family. The grocery industry has long supported the organization. The roundtable discussed the industry’s recent accomplishments and other items of interest, including: • Food4Less Mobile raised […]