Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) is celebrating a year of progress in 2023 toward its mission to offer a full suite of supply chain assurance programs to the fresh produce industry. The group celebrated a new program launch, grew its staff and streamlined certification to make it more cost effective for growers starting in 2024. EFI […]
Category: National
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Feature, National
IGA CEO Says Quality, Marketing Help Lift Private Label Offerings
The perception of private label or store brand products in the grocery industry has changed over the years. Many shoppers think of private labels as items that sit next to national brands on the grocery shelf but cost less. IGA President and CEO John Ross views them as “anything that you manufacture or sell to your […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
Survey Highlights Rising Use Of Coupons, Retail Apps
Despite a slowdown in inflation, a recent survey by Swiftly shows that grocery shopping remains a financial burden for many, with two-thirds of consumers still struggling to afford groceries. The annual “True Cost of a Grocery Shop” report also sheds light on how pricing, customization and convenience shape shopping behaviors, offering retailers insights that can […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
Report Touts Instacart’s Economic Impact On Grocery
In its first Economic Impact Report, Instacart reports that it has added more than 231,000 brick-and-mortar grocery jobs and nearly $8 billion in incremental revenue for the U.S. grocery industry since its founding in 2012. In addition, the company has generated more than $15 billion in earnings for shoppers and saved them more than 700 […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
Acosta Group Releases Top 5 Retail Predictions For 2024
Acosta Group has announced its 2024 retail predictions, identifying how brands and retailers can win shopper loyalty, drive sales and achieve efficiencies in another year of anticipated marketplace disruption. “While we expect 2024 to remain as complex as 2023, brands and retailers will have opportunities to better understand and meet the evolving demands of their […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Key Wins, Grassroots Support Highlight NGA’s Advocacy Year In Review
by Max Wengroff / NGA Coordinator, Government Relations and Membership This has been a busy year for the National Grocers Association (NGA’s) Government Relations team in Washington. We faced a torrent of new regulations from the Biden administration and, despite Congressional chaos, we managed to put some points on the board. We have faced both […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, National
IGA Launches Family Meals Made Easy Recipe Platform
The Independent Grocers Alliance has launched a new, enhanced “Family Meals Made Easy” recipe platform on the IGA website. Powered by Grocery Shopii, the new platform provides curated recipes designed to make meal planning more accessible and convenient for shoppers and more impactful for IGA’s independent grocery retailers who can share the shoppable content across […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., National, Online Grocery Technology, Retailers
Kroger Customers Can Now Shop Via Oven Touchscreens
Kroger and GE Appliances have introduced a feature for select WiFi-connected wall ovens and ranges that will allow consumers to view recipes and shop for ingredients via the appliances’ LCD screens. With this over-the-air update, shoppers with select GE Profile, CAFÉ and Monogram wall ovens and slide-in ranges can click on a recipe to view […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
November Online Grocery Sales Up 5% From Year Ago
The U.S. online grocery market posted $8.1 billion in total monthly sales for November, up 5.2 percent compared to last year’s $7.7 billion, according to the monthly Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery shopping survey. While all three receiving methods contributed to the year-over-year sales growth, delivery reported the largest gain driven by a significant jump in […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Houchens Insurance Group Becomes IGA Red Oval Partner
Houchens Insurance Group, an insurance and risk management agency with national prominence and local service, has joined the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) as a Red Oval Partner. The partnership will allow IGA members the opportunity to create customized insurance solutions to protect their businesses, employees and communities on a level unavailable to independent retailers. “Like […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National
Niemann Foods Is 2024 NGA Student Case Study Retailer
The NGA Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the National Grocers Association, has announced that Quincy, Illinois-based Niemann Foods will be the participating retailer in the 2024 Student Case Study Competition. The annual Student Case Study Competition brings college students pursuing degrees in food and retail programs from across the country to The NGA Show, where […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI Foundation Awards 2023 Food Safety Auditing Scholarships
The FMI Foundation, in partnership with The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), a division of FMI – The Food Industry Association, has awarded 15 food safety scholars with a 2023 Food Safety Auditing Scholarship. Recipients receive a $3,000 scholarship and an educational travel grant to SQF Unites, an event for the global food safety and […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
How To Get Ready For FDA-Enforced Food Traceability
Traceability of high-risk food is now the law under the Food Safety Modernization Act, and time is running short to get into compliance. The deadline for compliance is January 2026 – by the calendar, that’s two years away, but when you subtract weekends, days off and the annual holiday rush periods when operators typically avoid […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Albertsons, Association News, National
Google Cloud Executive To Keynote FMI Midwinter Conference
Jose Luis-Gomes, managing director of retail and CPG with Google Cloud, will give a keynote address on artificial intelligence and future applications for food industry C-suite executives during FMI’s 2024 Midwinter Executive Conference. “Nearly one in four food retailers and two out of three suppliers are currently using AI for their business solutions,” said Leslie […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
Report Highlights Challenge Of Retaining Online Customers
Composite-level sales across 25 U.S. grocery banners dropped 13.5 percent during a 12-week period ending Sept. 20 versus the same period last year, according to the “eGrocery Performance Benchmarking” report from Brick Meets Click and sponsored by Mercatus. The year-over-year sales decline was driven by a higher rate of lapsed customers who shifted back to […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
Success May Lie Outside Your Comfort Zone – Find Out At NGA Show
I’ve said many times that the events hosted by the National Grocers Association are opportunities to take time away from your business – as busy as I know you all to be – in order to spend some time working on your business. But perhaps it’s also an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
What A.I. Can Do For Independent Grocers?
As a grocery retailer, are you using artificial intelligence? You probably are and may not realize it. AI is already a part of many of the functions of e-commerce as well as other tech functions that many grocers are using. But what’s the next step – what else can AI do for independent grocers to […]
Posted inAssociation News, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
What Instacart’s IPO Says About E-Commerce Growth, Retail Grocery
In late September, Instacart launched its initial public offering. The e-commerce company offers online ordering fulfillment, plus an online marketplace for retailers. (We have many IGA stores as Instacart partners.) Their IPO offers a lot of insights into the e-commerce market in the U.S., starting with its value. During COVID-19, when shoppers were forced out […]
Posted inCenter Store, National
NAOOA To Begin Olive Oil Testing Study
The North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA) has announced plans to commission a comprehensive olive oil testing study. The association has also invited other industry stakeholders to provide strategic and financial support for this project. The announcement comes as drought in Europe and elsewhere in the Mediterranean has caused lower yields and tightening global olive oil supplies. These market […]
Posted inAsk The Experts, Association News, National
The Future Of Retail Grocery: What To Expect In 2024
Sponsored content In preparation for the upcoming 2024 NGA Show, NGA President and CEO Greg Ferrara discusses the future of retail grocery and highlights how The NGA Show can help retailers prepare for future growth through educational sessions and networking opportunities. Q: What will the supermarket industry look like in the coming years? Grocers navigate […]