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 […]
Category: National
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 […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National, News
SNAP Incentives, Fresh Innovation And The Role Of Independent Grocers
In June, the independent grocery industry came together in force for the 2025 NGA Fresh Summit in Milwaukee, where fresh food innovation met community commitment. From fresh-forward merchandising strategies to discussions about food safety, traceability and technology, the summit underscored what independent grocers already know – fresh food is not only a driver of growth […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National, News
Uber Eats Expands Delivery Partnerships With Local Grocers
Uber Eats has expanded its grocery delivery service to include new partnerships with Big Y and King Kullen in the Northeast; Superlo Foods, Lunds & Byerlys and Foxtrot in the Midwest and Texas; and Vallarta Supermarkets in California. The latest additions build on Uber Eats’ momentum in the grocery space, complementing the platform’s national partnerships […]
Expert Article
Independent Grocers Show Resilience: Key Takeaways From The 2025 FMS/NGA U.S. Independent Grocers Financial Study
The 2025 FMS/NGA Financial Study highlights how independent grocers responded to economic uncertainty, rising costs and shifting consumer spending. Robert Graybill, president and CEO of FMS Solutions, brings decades of expertise in grocery financial performance. With the release of the 2025 U.S. Independent Grocers Financial Study – developed in partnership with the National Grocers Association, […]
Posted inBakery News, National, News
BGL Sells Specialty Bakers Brand To HC Private Investments
Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) has sold Specialty Bakers, a provider of branded and private label baked goods for the in-store bakery section and a portfolio company of Stonebridge Partners, to HC Private Investments. HC Private Investments will combine Specialty Bakers and Snackwerks together to create Artisan Bakery. Founded in 1901 and based in Marysville, […]
Posted inBakery News, National, News, Snacks Brands
The J.M. Smucker Co. To Remove FD&C Colors
The J.M. Smucker Co. has committed to remove FD&C colors from all consumer food products by the end of 2027. While the majority of the company’s consumer foods are already free of FD&C colors, this removal will impact its sugar-free fruit spreads and ice cream toppings as well as certain products from its Hostess brand portfolio. […]
Posted inCenter Store, National, News, Packaging News
Seed Oil Free Certified Products See Triple-Digit Growth
Seed Oil Free Certified, the world’s first certification for products made without seed oils, has entered a strategic data partnership with SPINS, a provider of data and analytics for the wellness-focused CPG industry. This collaboration provides the first empirical look into an emerging consumer preference: the growing demand for products made without industrial seed oils. […]
Posted inProduce News, National, News
GrubMarket Acquires Coast Citrus Distributors
GrubMarket, an AI-powered technology and digital transformation company in the food supply chain, has acquired Coast Citrus Distributors. GrubMarket‘s largest acquisition to date, the move enhances the company’s national produce distribution capabilities, particularly for high-demand tropical fruits and specialty root vegetables. Founded in 1950 by Roberto Alvarez, Coast Citrus Distributors has a 75-year legacy of […]
Posted inAssociation News, National, News, Specialty
Specialty Food Association Names Fancy Food Rising Stars
The Specialty Food Association has selected the inaugural roster of its Fancy Food Rising Stars program for buyers and investors. Recognizing emerging leaders in the specialty food industry age 35 and younger, the Rising Star initiative sought nominations from across the buying and business-financing communities, with SFA making the final selections. They receive complimentary badges […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, National, News
Study: Consumers Purchase Private Label Products Without Knowing
First Insight has released findings from its latest study, “The Quiet Takeover of Private Label,” revealing that the traditional distinctions between private and national brands have become so subtle that most consumers can’t tell the difference. Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of consumers surveyed believed they could recognize a private label when making a purchase, yet […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
FMI, NGA Support EBT Act To Prohibit SNAP Processing Fees
The grocery industry, primarily the National Grocers Association (NGA) and FMI – The Food Industry Association, is again sharing its support for the Ensuring Fee-Free Benefit Transactions (EBT) Act. Bipartisan legislation led by Congresswoman Shontel Brown (D-OH) and Congressman Tony Wied (R-WI), the act would prohibit processing fees on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) electronic […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, National, News
Study Explores How Consumers Navigate Economic Uncertainty, Tariff Concerns
The new “State of the Shopper” survey from Acosta Group offers a nuanced view of today’s consumers, revealing how they’re navigating economic uncertainty and tariff concerns with resilience and adaptability. Key trends are highlighted for brands and retailers based on insights from the study, conducted with Acosta Group’s proprietary U.S. shopper community. “The latest findings underscore […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Midwest, National, News, Northeast, SpartanNash
C&S Wholesale Grocers To Acquire SpartanNash
C&S Wholesale Grocers and SpartanNash have entered into a definitive merger agreement, which was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. C&S will acquire SpartanNash for a purchase price of $26.90 per share of SpartanNash common stock in cash, representing total consideration of $1.77 billion, including assumed net debt. The transaction price represents […]
Posted inBakery News, National, News
HC Private Investments Establishes Artisan Bakery
HC Private Investments, a Chicago-based family office, has established Artisan Bakery, a premium baked goods and snack manufacturer, through the acquisitions of Snackwerks and Specialty Bakers. With a combined heritage dating back to 1901 and a national manufacturing footprint, Artisan Bakery is positioned to deliver premium, indulgent bakery products across retail and co-manufacturing channels. Terms […]