The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is urging the U.S. Senate to pass a comprehensive tax reform bill this week for businesses and consumers. “Our industry, the largest sector of American manufacturing jobs, calls on the Senate to quickly pass tax reform legislation,” said Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of GMA. “Tax reform is necessary […]
Category: National
Posted inCorporate Store News, Albertsons, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Online Grocery Technology, Store News
Albertsons Cos. Partnering With Instacart At 1,800+ Stores
Albertsons Cos. has entered into an agreement with on-demand grocery delivery service Instacart to offer same-day deliveries in as little as an hour. When the platform is fully developed, Instacart customers will be able to choose from Albertsons Cos. banner stores across key market areas. “Instacart’s extensive delivery network combined with Albertsons Companies’ existing home […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, National, Store News
Industry Orgs Urge House To Pass ADA Reform Legislation
The National Grocers Association (NGA), a trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, and 28 state trade associations this week urged the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the ADA Reform and Education Act of 2017 (H.R. 620) in a letter sent to lawmakers. According to the organizations, the legislation would “protect businesses from frivolous lawsuits brought […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, New Products, Nonfood Items, Private Label Brands, Store News
Kroger Introduces Sustainable ‘Our Brands’ Floral Line
The Kroger Co. has introduced Bloom Haus, a sustainable Our Brands floral line launching in its family of stores in time for the holidays. The move comes as the company looks to enhance its Our Brands offerings as part of its Restock Kroger Plan. “Customers can always count on our professional florists to help them […]
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Walmart Selects SAS Retail Services As A Preferred Service Provider
Walmart has selected SAS Retail Services, a provider of in-store merchandising services for retailers and consumer brands nationally, as one of five preferred service providers (PSPs). SAS will provide Walmart stores a range of services, including modular/category resets, display execution, stocking, product assembly, product recall, fixture/equipment installation, POS signage installation, quality control compliance and customer […]
Posted inEquipment & Technology, Amazon Fresh, C-Store News, Home Page Latest News, National, Store News, Whole Foods
7-Eleven Engages Customers Via Facebook Messenger Chatbot
7-Eleven launched a chatbot platform on Nov. 15 that company officials say is poised to propel the convenience retailing industry into a new era of “conversational commerce.” The 7-Eleven Bot on Messenger allows customers to engage with the brand from within Facebook. It is estimated that nearly 1.3 billion people use Messenger each month, and 7-Eleven […]
Posted inOrganic Natural, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Store News, Whole Foods
Amazon, Whole Foods Lowering Prices On Customer, Holiday Favorites
Whole Foods Market and Amazon are rolling out lower prices on additional best-selling grocery items and holiday staples at Whole Foods stores, including a new lower price on organic and no-antibiotic turkeys for all customers and a deeper discount for Prime members. According to the company, this offer is a sneak preview of the special […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Shelby Content
HR & Benefits News: Current Employee Handbook: A Must for Grocers
Editor’s note: HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Myth: Independent grocers really don’t need employee handbooks…no one reads them anyway. Reality: An employee handbook can help protect grocers who face lawsuits or discrimination charges if it’s up-to-date and well-written. Grocers of all sizes need […]
Posted inAssociation News, Amazon Fresh, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, National, Suppliers, Whole Foods
GMA Panelists Examine ‘The Future Retail Reality’
Louise Keely, global head of retail for Nielsen, Jay Nikolich, divisional VP of e-commerce at Pharmavite LLC and Jonathan Scherr, head of strategic partnerships at CircleUp, came together to discuss “The Future Retail Reality” at the Grocery Manufacturers Association Leadership Forum at The Greenbrier in West Virginia in September. Pharmavite offers vitamins, minerals and herbal […]
Posted inPackaging News, Food Service News, Industry News, National, Sustainability News
Eco-Products Honored For Compostable Foodservice Containers
Eco-Products has earned awards for two of its compostable containers: a snack cup and a take-out container that “make life easier for customers and venues alike.” Eco-Products was the only company to be honored for two separate products in this year’s QSR/FPI Foodservice Packaging Awards competition. The company’s Grip & Dip Snack Cup earned first place […]
Posted inAssociation News, C-Store News, National, Store News
NACS Reveals The Best C-Store Concepts In 2017 Ideas 2 Go
The Ideas 2 Go program, an annual presentation at the NACS Show—this year held in October in Chicago—showcased emerging concepts that redefine convenience. Since 1994, Ideas 2 Go has provided a fast-paced video tour of some of the most creative and potentially profitable ideas in the convenience and fuel retailing industry. The eight featured segments as […]
Posted inNational, Association News, C-Store News
NACS Predicts Strong Thanksgiving Traffic, Shopper Spending
With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, a record 93 percent of Americans say they will be driving the same or more this month, and they anticipate spending more over that same time period, according a recent NACS Consumer Fuels Survey. Nearly three in four consumers (72 percent) say they will spend the same or […]
Posted inHome Page Latest News, National, Online Grocery Technology
Acosta Hires Expert To Expand E-Commerce Capabilities
Brian Christensen has joined Acosta as SVP of digital strategy and e-commerce. Acosta hopes to broaden its capabilities in the emerging frontier of CPG e-commerce, where 20-30 percent of CPG sales are expected to take place in the future, according to the firm. Christensen will lead the e-commerce division, including account teams, business analytics and partnerships. […]
Posted inGrocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National, Packaging News
Advantage Solutions, Daymon Worldwide To Offer Combined Services
Advantage Solutions and Daymon Worldwide are joining forces to create a suite of brand-centric and retailer-centric services for U.S. and international clients. Terms of the global transaction were not disclosed. Advantage, based in Irvine, California, is a North American provider of business solutions to consumer goods manufacturers and retailers, with a suite of technology-enabled services […]
Posted inExecutive News, Home Page Latest News, National, Suppliers
General Mills Board Chairman Retires, Successor Elected
Ken Powell will be retiring as General Mills’ chairman of the board, effective at the end of the year. The company’s board of directors has elected CEO Jeffrey Harmening to serve as chairman upon Powell’s retirement effective Jan. 1, 2018. Harmening will continue to serve as the company’s CEO. “Today’s announcement concludes a long and […]
Posted inNational
Beef Checkoff Launches #RethinkTheRanch To Educate Consumers
As part of its “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” branding relaunch, the Beef Checkoff is debuting a “#RethinkTheRanch” campaign to help consumers understand the care that goes into raising beef. “No one needs to tell you how much care, work and dedication goes into producing the world’s best beef! But you know who does need […]
Posted inNational
Pork Board Teams Up With Chefs For The Holiday Season
According to the National Pork Board (NPB), cooks are “craving new food inspiration, creative recipes and flavorful dishes—and want it all at a great price,” and it’s partnering with chefs this holiday season to “show cooks everywhere that all of this is happening right now with pork.” These chefs will highlight the extended “Taste of […]
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Industry Organizations Applaud Tax Reform Efforts
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the National Retail Federation (NRF) are welcoming the release of a tax reform proposal by the House Ways & Means Committee that moves the U.S. Congress one step closer to passing tax reform. “This is a critical step forward towards enacting the first major overhaul […]
Posted inGrocery News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Organic Natural, Store News
Sprouts Farmers Market Increases Net Sales By 16 Percent In 3Q
Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. has released its results for the 13-week third quarter ended Oct. 1, reporting significant sales growth. Net sales for the third quarter of 2017 were $1.2 billion, a 16 percent increase compared to the same period in 2016. Net sales growth was driven by a 4.6 percent increase in comparable store […]
Posted inEquipment & Technology, Corporate Store News, Grocery Store Equipment, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Online Grocery Technology, Store News, Supply Chain News
Target Investing In Store Technology To Improve Customer Experience
In an effort to improve shopper experience, Target has made what it calls a host of technology enhancements to its stores nationwide. “We’re using cutting-edge technology to make it easier, faster and more convenient for guests to shop Target stores,” said Mike McNamara, Target’s chief information and digital officer. “Technology is increasingly vital to make sure […]