Posted inAssociation News, National

IRI Shares Upcoming Holiday Report Discussing Inflation, Sales

IRI has updated its Thanksgiving Tracker, showing the latest year-over-year inflation figures by category and examining the historical sales by category in the runup to the holiday. This year, consumers are concerned about inflation, but not worried about shopping earlier to spread out the expense.  Thanksgiving is the second-largest holiday in terms of sales uplift […]

Posted inThe Kroger Co., Albertsons, Amazon Fresh, Association News, Guest Contributors, National, Whole Foods

When The Big Get Bigger: Reflecting On Albertsons-Kroger Merger

The biggest recent news in our industry was the announcement that Albertsons and Kroger plan to merge. This isn’t the first time that bigger players have decided to combine forces with an aim to create leverage and scale.  Those terms are code for anticipated better pricing from suppliers, reducing costs in infrastructure, converting to common […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National

Grocery Chains Add Power Of Preparedness To Worker Training

FMI – The Food Industry Association and The Power of Preparedness, a Michigan-based online training platform specializing in active shooter preparedness and de-escalation techniques, has announced partnerships with three U.S. food retail chains: Dierbergs Markets, Heinen’s Grocery Store and Schnucks Markets. With the introduction of TPOP training, management and employees at these Midwest chains are receiving customized […]

Posted inAssociation News, National

Prices Remain Above Pre-Pandemic Levels As Rail Strike Looms

The Consumer Brands Association cautioned that the wholesale prices in the Bureau of Labor Statistics readout show ongoing production cost pressures for consumer packaged goods manufacturers. The October Producer Price Index rose 8 percent over last year and 0.2 percent since September. The CPG industry still faces steep prices for commodities that remain above overall […]

Posted inAssociation News, National

NGA: FDA’s Traceability Rule Will Impact Smaller Grocers

The National Grocers Association has responded to the final ruling on the proposed U.S. FDA’s rule, “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods.” The rule aims to establish additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for persons who manufacture, process, pack or hold foods the FDA has designated for inclusion on the Food Traceability List. Specifically, the […]

Posted inAssociation News, Frozen Food, National

AFFI Finds Shoppers Purchase More Frozen Fruits, Vegetables

A new survey from the American Frozen Food Institute finds that more than a quarter of shoppers are buying more frozen fruits and vegetables than three years ago and identify many benefits with them. The AFFI commissioned 210 Analytics to survey a diverse range of households modeled to the U.S. Census to better understand shopper perceptions, […]

Posted inAssociation News, National

Nominations Open For Annual NGA Awards 

The National Grocers Association is now accepting nominations for three awards to be presented at the 2023 NGA Show at Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas. The Thomas K. Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, sponsored by Mondelēz International, was created in 2009 to honor former NGA President and CEO Tom Zaucha’s legacy to the independent […]