For the 12th consecutive year, Wisconsin-based Metcalfe’s Market will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 with its community tradition of distributing 3,000 reusable shopping bags featuring original artwork from students at 10 local elementary schools. Limited to one per customer, the bags will be available while supplies last at all three Metcalfe’s Market locations. “Every […]
Category: Sustainability News
Sustainability news for grocery retailers and suppliers: recycling, packaging, food waste, energy and emissions.
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Posted inSustainability News, Featured News, News, Northeast, Tops Friendly Markets
Tops Markets Adds Compost Drop-Off Initiative In Hamburg, NY
Tops Friendly Markets has introduced a neighborhood compost drop-off location at its 6150 South Park Ave. store in Hamburg, New York. Called “From Scraps to Soil,” the pilot program marks Tops’ first retail composting effort designed for customers. It builds on a partnership with Farmer Pirates Compost, a worker-owned company that provides commercial composting services […]
Posted inGelson's, Equipment & Technology, Featured News, News, Shelby Originals, Sustainability News, West
Gelson’s Opens Second ReCharge Micro-Market in Costa Mesa, CA
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Gelson’s Markets has opened its second ReCharge by Gelson’s micro-market, this time inside a new Rove fast-charging hub on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa, about a mile from the Pacific Coast and minutes from Interstate 405. The Shelby Report of the West was on hand April 8 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony […]
Posted inCenter Store, National, News, Sustainability News
Barilla Climbs To No. 9 In Global RepTrak 100
Barilla has been named the world’s leading food company for reputation in the 2026 Global RepTrak 100, climbing 16 spots to ninth place overall and entering the global top 10 for the first time. This marks the third consecutive year the Parma, Italy-based company has led the food sector in the annual ranking. The study, […]
Posted inSustainability News, Corporate Store News, Featured News, Midwest, News
Thrive Market Launches Climate Action Working Group
Thrive Market has launched the Climate Action Working Group, a new initiative designed to help its consumer brand partners and owned-brand suppliers measure and reduce their carbon and plastic footprints. The program was developed in partnership with Planet FWD, PCX Markets and Climate Positive Consulting. It provides education, measurement tools and frameworks to help brands track […]
Posted inSustainability News, Featured News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Flashfood Expands To All Kroger Mid-Atlantic Division Stores
Flashfood, the surplus grocery platform, is now available at all 100-plus Kroger stores in the Mid-Atlantic Division, which includes Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. The expansion follows a pilot that launched last summer in 16 Richmond-area stores. Since then, Flashfood has helped Kroger Mid-Atlantic shoppers save nearly $700,000 on fresh groceries while keeping more […]
Posted inSustainability News, Featured News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger Begins Earth Month Campaign To Benefit World Wildlife Fund
The Kroger Co. is inviting customers to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar at checkout through April 30 to support World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) conservation efforts. The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation will match customer donations up to $50,000. “Earth Month serves as a reminder each year that our choices have […]
Posted inSustainability News, Corporate Store News, Finance News, News, West
Sprouts Invests In AZ Solar, Battery Storage Project
Sprouts Farmers Market has signed a tax credit transfer agreement with Schneider Electric, U.S. Bank and Longroad Energy to help finance the Sun Pond Solar + Battery Energy Storage System project in Maricopa County, Arizona, where the grocer is headquartered. The 111 MWdc solar and 85 MWac / 340 MWh storage project is operational. It […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Natural Grocers, News, Southwest, Sustainability News
Natural Grocers Releases 2025 Sustainability Report
Natural Grocers has released its fiscal year 2025 Sustainability Report, marking 70 years of industry leadership and highlighting more than $7 million invested in nutrition education services during the fiscal year. The Lakewood, Colorado-based family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer emphasized its differentiated nutrition education program in this year’s report. It showcases free one-on-one coaching, […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, News, Sustainability News, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
Smartway Deploys AI Waste-Reduction Tech Across 39 Vallarta Supermarkets
Smartway, a France-based food waste technology provider, completed deployment of its artificial intelligence-powered waste management system across 39 Vallarta Supermarkets locations in six months, marking the company’s entry into the North American market. The rollout included 34 stores in five weeks across center store grocery, deli, frozen and dairy departments. The deployment followed a three- […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast, Sustainability News
Publix Supports Coral Restoration Through Good Together Campaign
Publix Super Markets is expanding its environmental philanthropy by supporting coral restoration efforts in the Florida Keys, using donations from its Good Together campaign to install a field nursery with conservation partner FORCE BLUE. The project consists of 25 coral trees – tree-like underwater structures anchored to the ocean floor with floats – that provide […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Guest Contributors, National, News, Sustainability News
Building Resilience – Grocers Can Strengthen Insurability Through Climate Preparedness
What does it mean for a business to be resilient – and what is your business doing to get there? If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s how essential grocery stores are to the communities they serve. For many, it was the first time they fully recognized the critical role these businesses play – […]
Posted inSustainability News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, News
Wilson Family Named Niman Ranch’s 2025 Sustainable Farm Of The Year
Niman Ranch named the Wilson family of Iowa’s Seven W Farm as its 2025 Sustainable Farm of the Year, an honor coinciding with World Soil Health Day. The recognition highlights the family’s leadership in restoring soil health, protecting waterways and demonstrating how small, diversified farms can address the state’s water quality challenges. “The Wilson family […]
Posted inSustainability News, Midwest, News
Hormel Foods Names 2025 Class Of 10 Under 20 Food Heroes
Hormel Foods Corp. has announced its fourth cohort of 10 Under 20 Food Heroes, recognizing the efforts of young people across the U.S. who are working to create a more transparent, secure and sustainable food system. The Austin, Minnesota-based company will host the group at its global headquarters, where honorees will connect with Hormel Foods […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Meijer, Midwest, News, Sustainability News
Meijer Marks 90th Anniversary With Corporate Impact Report
Meijer surpassed its 2025 carbon emissions target a year ahead of schedule, according to the retailer’s latest Corporate Impact Report released to mark the company’s 90th anniversary. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based chain achieved a 57 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2018 levels, exceeding its original 50 percent goal. […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Sustainability News, West
Divert, General Produce Partner On Food Waste-to-Energy Plan
Divert Inc. and General Produce have formed a partnership that will convert unsold and non-donatable food into renewable energy and soil amendment for communities in Northern California. General Produce will send unused food from its Sacramento distribution center to Divert’s Integrated Diversion & Energy Facility in Turlock, California. There, the material will move through depackaging […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, H-E-B, News, Southwest, Sustainability News
H-E-B Partners With Chefs, Fishwise On Seafood Sustainability
H-E-B has partnered with celebrity chefs Andrew Zimmern and Barton Seaver to promote seafood sustainability and their new book, “The Blue Food Cookbook.” The retailer also is working with sustainable seafood consultancy Fishwise to strengthen its sourcing standards. The cookbook, released in October, was written by Zimmern, an Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, H-E-B, News, Southwest, Sustainability News
H-E-B Offers Free Nature Center Admission For Texas Recycles Day
In celebration of Texas Recycles Day, H-E-B is offering free admission to 18 nature centers across the state Nov. 14-16 in exchange for one recyclable plastic bottle or single-use plastic bag per person. Participating nature centers are: Border: Quinta Mazatlán and Sea Turtle Inc.; Central Texas: Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy, Meadows Center for Water and […]
Posted inSustainability News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Marks Donation Milestone With Sustainable Fisheries Partnership
As Publix celebrates National Seafood Month this year, the company also marks a donation milestone to Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP). Publix is entering its 15th year of working with the nonprofit as part of its commitment to environmental stewardship. SFP’s mission is to protect ocean systems, rebuild fish populations and support commercial fishers. “Publix is […]
Posted inSustainability News, News, UNFI, West
UNFI Completes Rooftop Solar Array At DC In Riverside, CA
UNFI has completed its eighth – and largest – rooftop solar array installation, helping reduce energy consumption at its distribution center in Riverside, California. Spanning nearly 1,000 yards, the 6.7MW array is expected to generate about 80 percent of the site’s electricity needs – enough to power about 1,500 homes every year. “Our onsite renewable […]