The Hershey Company has appointed Kirk Tanner to succeed Michele Buck as president and CEO, effective Aug. 18. Buck, who announced her intention to retire from the company at the beginning of this year, will work with Tanner in a senior advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition. “I am thrilled to see Kirk step into the […]
Category: National
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Marketing News, National, News
IGA Partners With NWPB To Boost Watermelon Awareness
The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) has begun a partnership with the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) to launch a second-half 2025 shopper marketing and retailer education campaign designed to boost watermelon awareness, drive in-store engagement and support IGA retailers. Kicking off in July, the multimedia campaign leverages IGA’s retail media network, digital circulars and in-store […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National, News
SQFI Appoints Anderson VP, Business Development
The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), a division of FMI – The Food Industry Association, has added Rachel Anderson as VP of business development. Anderson brings more than two decades of leadership in strategic sales, marketing and supply chain operations, enhancing SQFI’s mission to offer food safety and quality certification programs worldwide. “Rachel brings a wealth […]
Posted inAssociation News, National, News
NGA Leads Charge To Preserve SNAP In Reconciliation Bill
The National Grocers Association (NGA) led the successful effort to curb changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) while securing critical pro-growth, pro-Main Street tax provisions that will benefit family-owned independent grocers. NGA shared its appreciation to Congress and President Donald Trump for taking action in the recently passed reconciliation bill to protect America’s […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Grocery Store Equipment, Guest Contributors, National, News
For Grocers, Refrigeration Management Is Often-Overlooked Lever For Profitability
by Jonathan Tan, co-founder of the Ratio Institute In 1916, Clarence Saunders opened the first self-service grocery store in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1930, the modern supermarket arrived in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York, in the form of King Kullen. These innovations birthed the need for the fourth utility in food retail – modern […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, National, News
Leadership: Learning To Lead Like A National Park Guide
We recently went on a graduation celebration trip with our oldest grandson, Dax Graham Black, to Mesa Verde National Park. We had two different guides take us through a couple of the main attractions there – the Cliff House and the Balcony House. I had this thought as they inspired and educated us on how […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National, News
Instacart’s FoodStorm Expands As Grocers Upgrade Fresh Counters
As more people seek out freshly prepared foods, Instacart says many grocers are turning to its FoodStorm order management system (OMS) to meet customer expectations and streamline perimeter counter operations. FoodStorm provides functionality for grocery perimeter counters to streamline order-ahead and foodservice operations, including made-to-order and catering. Over the first half of 2025, FoodStorm has […]
Posted inFeature, Association News, Bakery News, Dairy News, Deli News, National, News
Webinar Unpacks Trends From IDDBA 2025
Consumer anxieties, vibrant merchandising and the fast rising influence of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare topped the talking points during a June 12 International Dairy Deli Bakery Association-sponsored webinar, “Digesting All the Trends at IDDBA 2025.” Maeve Webster, president of the Bennington, Vermont-based consultancy Menu Matters, and Mike Kostyo, VP, sifted through what they saw on the show floor to […]