Rise Baking Co. has appointed Mark McNeil as CEO, succeeding Brian Zellmer, who led the Minneapolis-based manufacturer over the past five years. McNeil is a seasoned food and beverage executive with more than 30 years of cross-functional leadership experience across retail, foodservice and manufacturing. He most recently served as CEO of Shearer’s Foods, the largest […]
Category: Grocery Industry
Publix Opens New Store In Locust Grove, GA
Publix opened a new store Jan. 28 in the Shops at Indian Creek, 4518 Hwy 42 S. in Locust Grove, Georgia. The 48,387-square-foot store features traditional departments, including a full-service deli counter with a variety of meats and cheeses, an international selection of olives, antipastos, hummus and more than 200 artisan cheeses from the United […]
NGA Honors Hugo’s Magnuson Nelson With Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award
The National Grocers Association named Kristi Magnuson Nelson, president of Grand Forks, North Dakota-based Hugo’s Family Marketplace, as the 2026 recipient of the Thomas K. Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. One of the most prestigious honors in the independent grocery industry, the award honors the legacy of Zaucha, NGA’s first president and CEO, whose career was […]
Ask The Experts: Ryan Draude, Giant Food
Ryan Draude has spent nearly 15 years building nationally-recognized loyalty programs at brands like Choice Hotels, RITE AID, and now Giant Food — where he currently serves as the head of loyalty. But as cross-shopping, value-seeking behavior becomes the norm, earning loyalty from grocery shoppers is getting harder every day. We spoke with Ryan about […]
How Independent Retailers Can Maximize Refrigeration Performance, Profitability
Independent retailers face tight budgets and rising operational costs. These pressures are felt even stronger these days as consumers remain hyper-focused on grocery prices and affordability. Refrigeration equipment – critical for merchandising fresh and frozen products – represents a significant investment for retailers. Getting the most out of that investment starts with investing in the […]
Relationship Advice For Independent Grocers
How many times have you had an interaction and left feeling misunderstood? Experts say, communication and finances are the top downfalls in relationships. Now you may be thinking, this only applies in our personal lives. Your relationship with shoppers could be suffering here as well. For example, Craig never buys chocolate and is not likely […]
SoCal-Based Vallarta Supermarkets Charts Path Of Growth, Change
In 1985, the Gonzalez family opened a small market in Van Nuys, California, called Carnicería Vallarta. The family focused on selling traditional cuts of meats popular in their native Mexico. They worked hard to build a name for themselves by offering high-quality authentic products, providing a high level of customer service and treating employees as […]
Albertsons Media Collective Opens NYC Office, Unveils Brand Refresh
Albertsons Media Collective has opened its first New York City office in Midtown Manhattan and launched a brand refresh as part of the retail media network’s expansion strategy. The new office positions the retail media division at the center of the advertising industry to enable closer collaboration with agency partners, advertisers and industry leaders. It […]
