United Natural Foods Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) reported second quarter fiscal 2026 net income of $20 million, reversing a $3 million net loss in the same period a year ago, as cost discipline and distribution network restructuring more than offset a 2.6 percent decline in net sales to $7.9 billion. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation […]
Category: Industry News
ECRS Names Rosner Chief Revenue Officer
ECRS, a Boone, North Carolina-based retail technology company, has named Merrick Rosner chief revenue officer. Rosner brings more than a decade of executive experience in retail technology and previously served on the National Retailer Advisory Board of the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA). In his new role, Rosner will oversee customer experience, sales operations and strategic […]
EY Survey: Ingredient Scrutiny, Wellness Reshaping Beverage Purchases
A new survey from EY finds that health awareness, generational differences and digital tools are fundamentally changing what consumers want from beverages – with implications for retailers and CPG brands across the category. The study surveyed more than 2,500 adults in the U.S. and Brazil between Nov. 20-Dec. 11. Wellness is baseline expectation Health-driven behavior […]
NPPC Elects New Officers, Board Members For 2026-27 Term
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) elected new officers and board members to lead the organization through the 2026-27 term, tapping a mix of multi-generational family farmers and large-scale production executives to guide its national advocacy agenda. Rob Brenneman of Washington, Iowa, was elected president. Brenneman owns and operates Brenneman Pork and has served on […]
Huck’s Market Becomes First C-Store To Deploy AI-Native POS Chainwide
Huck’s Market has gone live with an artificial intelligence-native point-of-sale system at its flagship location in Carmi, Illinois, becoming the first c-store chain to deploy the technology in-store. The employee-owned 135-store Midwest chain partnered with Tote, an AI-native POS platform built for fuel and convenience retail, with a chainwide rollout planned for completion by the […]
Swiftly, MDI Bringing Digital Circular, AI Targeting To Independent Grocers
Swiftly has partnered with Merchants Distributors (MDI), a Hickory, N.C.-based wholesale grocery distributor, to expand digital capabilities across MDI’s network of more than 600 independent retailers in the Southeast. Under the agreement, MDI retailers will gain access to three Swiftly products – a modern retail website platform, SmartCircular for digitizing the weekly circular experience and Audience […]
Oliver’s Market Plans Fifth Store In Santa Rosa, CA
Oliver’s Market, an employee-owned independent grocer, is under contract to purchase Farmer’s Lane Plaza at 1501-1591 Farmer’s Lane in Santa Rosa, California, where it will open a fifth location in a 35,500-square-foot space formerly occupied by Rite Aid. The deal is expected to close April 1, with construction beginning immediately and a 2027 opening targeted. […]
NCA Report: U.S. Confectionery Sales Climb To $55B In 2025
Americans spent a record $55 billion on chocolate, candy, gum and mints in 2025, and the category shows no signs of slowing down, according to the National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) 2026 State of Treating report. Sales are projected to grow an additional $7.3 billion over the next five years, reaching $62.2 billion across all outlets […]
Royal Cup To Acquire Farmer Brothers Coffee
Royal Cup Coffee & Tea has signed an agreement to acquire Farmer Brothers Coffee Co. (NASDAQ: FARM) for $1.29 per share in an all-cash transaction, combining two B2B coffee suppliers with nearly 250 years of combined industry experience. The transaction is expected to close during Farmer Brothers’ fiscal fourth quarter ending June 30, pending approval […]
Morinaga To Acquire My/Mochi Ice Cream, Expanding U.S. Snack Portfolio
Morinaga & Co., a leading global confectionery manufacturer, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire My/Mochi Ice Cream, the largest mochi ice cream brand in the United States. The acquisition unites two businesses with strong brand heritage and complementary capabilities. My/Mochi will join Morinaga’s portfolio of brands, including HI-CHEW, HI-SOFT and Chargel. “In welcoming […]
NPPC Honors Parker For Four Decades Of Pork Industry Leadership
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) recognized John Parker with the Paulson-Whitmore State Executive Award during the National Pork Industry Forum, honoring his 40-plus years as executive secretary of the Virginia Pork Council. The award was presented in partnership with the National Pork Board (NPB). Parker’s tenure shaped Virginia’s agricultural community, producer-funded promotion and research […]
Redner’s Markets Launches New Mobile App, Kicks Off ‘Appiness Tour’
Redner’s Markets launched a new mobile app March 5, and the employee-owned regional chain is celebrating with a five-store tour across Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware that begins March 10. The app gives customers access to exclusive deals, gas and grocery rewards points, grocery delivery and pickup and catering orders – consolidating Redner’s loyalty and shopping […]
Walmart To Deploy Digital Shelf Labels Chainwide Within A Year
Walmart is accelerating its rollout of digital shelf labels (DSLs) chainwide, with about 2,300 locations already using the technology and full deployment expected within the next year. Price updates are people-led, with employees reviewing and pushing approved changes through a secure system, typically outside of shopping hours, so prices remain stable and consistent during the […]
MGA Presents 2026 Legislator Of The Year Awards
The Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) honored Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar) and Sen. Susan Pha (D-Brooklyn Center) as its 2026 Legislators of the Year during the association’s annual Legislative Dinner at The University Club in St. Paul. The lawmakers were recognized for their roles in securing continued funding for the MGA Foundation’s Carts to Careers initiative, […]
Report: 86% Of Supply Chain Leaders Feeling Tariff Impact
Trade policy uncertainty is forcing supply chain leaders into difficult choices across pricing, sourcing and inventory, according to a preview of RELEX Solutions’ third annual State of the Supply Chain report. The findings, drawn from a January survey of 514 retail, manufacturing, wholesale and supply chain leaders, show 86 percent have felt the effects of […]
Grocery Outlet To Close 36 Stores Due To $224.9M Net Loss In Fiscal 2025
Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: GO) reported a net loss of $224.9 million for fiscal 2025, a dramatic swing from the $39.5 million net profit posted the prior year, as the retailer absorbed $149 million in goodwill impairment charges, $113.8 million in non-cash asset impairment and $45.9 million in restructuring costs. Despite those headline losses, […]
Shelby Exclusive: FMI’s Harig Discusses Key Factors Impacting Food Prices
Shelby Publishing’s Maggie Kaeppel recently visited with Andy Harig, FMI – The Food Industry Association’s VP of tax, trade, sustainability and policy development, to add additional economic context on the state of the industry following the Annual Meat Conference, which was held March 2-4 in Baltimore, Maryland. What forces are having the greatest impact on […]
Meat Institute Backs USDA Line Speed Rule Changes for Pork, Poultry
The Meat Institute has said the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) proposed rule changes concerning pork and poultry processing rates will increase production and innovation, helping to ease prices for consumers and benefit livestock and poultry producers. “The Meat Institute has supported changes to line speed rules for pork […]
Simbe Becomes First Retail Robotics Company To Achieve Certification For Tally
Simbe is the first retail technology company to achieve UL 3300 certification from UL Solutions for Tally, its shelf-scanning autonomous mobile robot. UL 3300 is the standard for service, communication, information, education and entertainment robots. The certification showcases that Tally meets the requirements of the safety standard and helps set a new bar for trust and […]
Shift In Spending Patterns Detected As DE Shoppers Navigate Economic Minefields
Julie Miro Wenger, executive director of the Delaware Food Industry Council, spoke with The Griffin Report about the busy year she and her members have had. Many challenges have arisen over the past 12-plus months, as a new administration has made some sweeping changes that affect the industry. But the state’s grocers, as is their […]
