U.S. online grocery sales totaled $11.2 billion in August, climbing nearly 14 percent year over year to reach a new monthly high, according to the latest Brick Meets Click Grocery Shopper Survey, sponsored by Mercatus. The study attributed the growth to YOY gains in household penetration, order frequency and average order values (AOVs). Results by […]
Category: National
Posted inAssociation News, National, News
IGA, Flashfood Partner To Help Independents Reduce Shrink, Feed Communities
The Independent Grocers Alliance has begun a Red Oval partnership with Flashfood, an app-based marketplace that will allow IGA retailers to offer fresh groceries in surplus or nearing their best-by date at significant discounts to shoppers. Through the partnership, IGA retailers can integrate Flashfood’s digital platform into their stores, gaining access to technology that reduces […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, National, News
FMI, NGA, NACS Call On Congress To Address SNAP EBT Transaction Fees
FMI – The Food Industry Association, the National Grocers Association (NGA) and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) sent a letter to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committees signed by more than 1,000 businesses and organizations calling on Congress to protect customers and retailers by prohibiting additional fees from being […]
Posted inBakery News, Association News, National, News
IBIE 2025: What To Expect At The Industry’s Largest Baking Event
The International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) returns to Las Vegas Sept. 13-17, bringing together more than 1,000 manufacturers and suppliers from around the globe to discover the latest advancements shaping the future of baking and food manufacturing. Education remains a cornerstone of IBIE, with its largest program yet featuring more than 250 IBIEducate sessions and […]
Posted inBakery News, National, News
Rise Baking Co. Plans To Remove Synthetic Colors By End Of 2026
Rise Baking Co. has commited to eliminate synthetic colors from products across its portfolio by the end of 2026. This milestone reflects the company’s focus on meeting evolving customer and consumer expectations without sacrificing quality, taste or performance. The majority of the company’s products don’t use synthetic colors, and the work is well underway to […]
Posted inDeli News, National, News
Mama’s Creations Acquires Fresh Protein Manufacturer Crown I Enterprises
Mama’s Creations Inc. has acquired all of the assets of Crown I Enterprises Inc., a full-service manufacturer of value-added proteins and ready-to-eat meals and wholly-owned subsidiary of Sysco Corp. Crown brings about $56 million in profitable annual revenue to Mama’s Creations based on results for the fiscal year ended June 28, increasing the company’s sales […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National, News, Private Label Brands
Lidl U.S. CEO To Keynote PLMA’s 2025 Trade Show
Joel Rampoldt, CEO of Lidl U.S., will deliver the keynote address at PLMA’s 2025 Private Label Trade Show, to be held Nov. 16-18 in Chicago. Themed “Store Brands Marketplace,” the show will feature more than 35,000 food and nonfood products, 3,100 booths and 2,000 exhibitors representing 65 countries. A business leader with a track record […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, National, News, Save A Lot
Save A Lot, Meals On Wheels Supporting Seniors Via Donation Campaign
In honor of National Grandparents Day on Sept. 7, Save A Lot is partnering with Meals on Wheels America to raise funds in support of local programs that deliver services to seniors experiencing hunger and isolation. Through Sept. 16, shoppers can donate $1, $3 or $5 to Meals on Wheels at checkout in participating locations […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, National, News, UNFI
UNFI Foundation Donates $1.8M To 80 Nonprofits
The UNFI Foundation has announced $1.8 million in impact investments and grants – the largest in its history – benefiting 80 nonprofits across North America that are driving change in the food sector. The 2025 grantee cohort represents a mix of national and local organizations across 32 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. “Since its […]
Posted inBakery News, National, News
IFF Tackles Top Challenges In Baking At IBIE 2025
IFF will showcase how it is helping the global baking industry overcome some of its toughest challenges during the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) 2025 in Las Vegas. From soaring cocoa and egg prices to stricter regulations and rising demand for healthier baked goods, IFF is stepping forward with science-led solutions designed to keep industrial […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, National, News
FMI Launches GroceryLab To Invest In Industry Innovation
FMI – The Food Industry Association has launched GroceryLab, a hands-on event designed to bring together merchants, operators, technologists and brand leaders to design a zero-friction grocery ecosystem June 2-4 at the Gem Theatre in Detroit. The launch of GroceryLab comes at a pivotal moment, as FMI’s The State of Technology report reveals that food retailers and […]
Posted inCenter Store, Merchandising News, National, News
The Kraft Heinz Co. To Separate Into 2 Companies
The Kraft Heinz Co.’s board of directors has unanimously approved a plan to separate the company into two independent, publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off designed to enable stronger performance while preserving the scale to compete in today’s environment. The separation aims to maximize Kraft Heinz’s capabilities and brands while reducing complexity, allowing both […]
Posted inBakery News, Feature, National, News
Bimbo Bakehouse Unveils Bakery Innovations To Meet Everyday Occasions
Bimbo Bakehouse is expanding its innovation pipeline to meet the needs of younger consumers and drive growth in the in-store bakery. The Griffin Report recently caught up with Mollie Crudden, senior director of marketing for Bimbo Bakehouse, and Dana Strain, senior marketing manager at Bimbo Bakeries USA, about additions to the company’s lineup. “We have […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, IGA, National, News
IGA, Flipp Offer Tech Solutions To Support Independent Grocers
The Independent Grocers Alliance is partnering with Flipp, a merchandising and media platform that powers the digital shopping experiences for more than 1,600 retailers and brands, to give IGA’s 7,500 global independent grocers a competitive edge in today’s evolving shopper landscape. “This partnership brings together two organizations deeply committed to supporting local communities and empowering […]
Expert Article
If This Happened In Your Store Today, Could You Stop It?
Your store is busy. A cart loaded with merchandise rolls past checkout – calm, confident, no hesitation. Gone. What used to be rare is now disturbingly routine for many grocers. Pushout Theft on the Rise Pushout theft – when unpaid merchandise is wheeled straight out the front doors – is one of the fastest-growing loss […]
Expert Article
Coming Soon To A DC Near You: Fully Automated, AI Assisted Banana Ripening
When Thermal Tech pioneered the TarpLess ripening room system back in the mid 1990s, it changed the way bananas are handled at retail distribution centers (DC’s), allowing truckloads of palletized fruit to be uniformly ripened to a predictable color with precision control for the very first time. The resulting increase in ripening efficiency and […]
Expert Article
Labor Pressures Rising: How Independent Grocers Can Control Costs Without Cutting Corners
Labor has always been essential to operations and one of the biggest factors influencing the bottom line. However, in fiscal 2024, labor and benefits costs climbed to new highs, putting even more pressure on already thin margins. According to the 2025 Independent Grocers Financial Study by FMS and NGA, total expenses increased to 25.8 percent […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Ahold Delhaize, National, News
Ahold Delhaize USA Enhances Made-To-Order Capabilities With FoodStorm
Ahold Delhaize USA has expanded its partnership with Instacart to leverage the FoodStorm order management system. The technology will enable participating Ahold Delhaize USA brands to elevate the shopping experience when customers request made-to-order items like fresh bakery platters, customizable deli meat and cheese trays, dessert flights, floral arrangements and balloons. The FoodStorm solution is […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Merchant Distributors, National, News
MDI, Instacart Offer E-Commerce Solutions For Independent Grocers
Merchants Distributors LLC (MDI) has begun a partnership with Instacart to offer e-commerce solutions to the wholesale grocery distributor’s network of independent stores. Participating MDI grocers are joining the Instacart app to offer customers same-day delivery and enabling Storefront Pro, Instacart’s end-to-end fully-customizable e-commerce solution built specifically for grocers. “We’ve long admired MDI and how, for over […]
Posted inProduce News, National, News
B&G Foods Sells Le Sueur Brand To McCall Farms
Parsippany, New Jersey-based B&G Foods has sold the Le Sueur brand of premium sweet peas, green beans and carrots to McCall Farms. “Our sale of the Le Sueur brand represents continued progress in our ongoing efforts to reshape our portfolio, sharpen focus on our core brands and reduce long-term debt,” said Casey Keller, president and […]