The Kraft Heinz Co. has appointed Carlos Abrams-Rivera as CEO and a member of the board, effective Jan. 1. Abrams-Rivera will take over from Miguel Patricio, who has served as CEO since 2019 and chair of the board since 2022. Patricio will transition to the role of non-executive chair of the board. Until then, Abrams-Rivera […]
Category: National
Posted inAssociation News, National
Landcastle Joins NGA As PAC Coordinator
Wengroff promoted to manager of government relations and membership The National Grocers Association, the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, has hired Julia Landcastle as its coordinator of political and government relations. Additionally, NGA has promoted Max Wengroff to manager of government relations and membership. Landcastle recently moved to the Washington, D.C., area after […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, National
Nine Save A Lot Stores Under New Ownership, Management
Save A Lot, a large St. Louis-based discount grocery chain, has shared that grocery owner Richard Gunn is the new owner of nine Save A Lot locations across Tennessee and Oklahoma. The stores are located at: 1113 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, Tennessee; 2400 Clarksville Pike, Nashville, Tennessee; 1134 Gallatin Pike Road S., Madison, Tennessee; 4679 Knight […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Albertsons, National
Instacart To Accept SNAP Payments Online Across U.S.
Instacart has announced that EBT SNAP can now be used to buy groceries online in every state, making Instacart the first and only online grocery marketplace to accept SNAP payments in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The company recently launched online SNAP acceptance in Alaska with Albertsons Cos. banner Safeway, completing the commitment it made in 2022 as part […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, National
Market Intel: 5 Areas Supercharged By Competitive Pricing
Sponsored content While traditionally a time-consuming and costly endeavor, competitive pricing intelligence is set to undergo a radical transformation thanks to the advancement of retail technologies and software services. Grocers, in particular, are on the brink of a new era of business improvement, with pricing intelligence integrated into every aspect from customer attraction and product […]
Posted inPackaging News, National
Consumer Brands Offers Local Recycling Data Through SmartLabel
The Consumer Brands Association and The Recycling Partnership are providing consumers with up-to-date, localized recycling instructions on product packaging through the CBA’s SmartLabel digital QR code labeling platform. Consumers can scan the thousands of products that use SmartLabel to access The Recycling Partnership’s Recycle Check, a package-specific, data-driven solution to help navigate the system. “Consumer […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
July U.S. Online Sales Decline Versus Year Ago
The U.S. online grocery market posted $7.2 billion in total sales, down 7 percent compared to last year, according to the latest Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey fielded July 29-30. This month’s downtrend was evident across all three receiving methods, driven by a pullback in order frequency plus constrained spending, despite a larger base […]
Posted inAssociation News, National, Produce News
How To Get Ready For Organic Certification
The USDA has published a new regulation to “Strengthen Organic Enforcement” (SOE). The SOE states that “more types of businesses in the organic supply chain must be certified organic.” Among the new provisions is the requirement that facilities that “handle” or store organic products, such as distribution centers and warehouses, must be organic certified. USDA […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
5 Questions For Kent Montgomery
The SVP of industry relations and multicultural development at PepsiCo shares his thoughts about the state of the industry for independent grocers and his outlook for the coming months. Challenges of the past year continue to linger into 2023, and despite a gradual easing of inflation, operators as well as consumers are still feeling the […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Merchandising News, National
Study: Families Skip Meals Due To Financial Reasons
Thirty-six percent of U.S. families have skipped meals due to financial reasons in the last year, according to the fourth wave of the dunnhumby Consumer Trends Tracker study released Aug. 2. The quarterly study – now completing its first year – also found that 30 percent of Americans across all age groups reported they have skipped […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
22 Students To Receive NGA Foundation Scholarships
As part of its effort to promote careers in the grocery industry, the National Grocers Association Foundation is awarding scholarships, provided by donors and affiliate groups, to 22 students for the 2023-24 academic year. “We are impressed by the dedication of these students to the food industry. The career plans many of them shared with […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Shoppers Focused On Produce Deals, Buying Less In June
After several months of flat and lower prices, fresh produce experienced a jump in year-on-year inflation in June, according to Circana, 210 Analytics and the International Fresh Produce Association. Fresh fruit prices increased 6.8 percent in comparison to June 2022. Vegetable inflation averaged 2.7 percent in June, which was down from the 52-week levels that […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Lunchables To Feature Fresh Fruit Offerings
Lunchables, in partnership with Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., has debuted its first fresh fruit offering, featuring pineapple, clementines, grapes and apples. Part of the brand’s effort to offer more better-for-you options, the company hopes the new product line will get kids accustomed to eating fruit by appearing in a product they already enjoy. After […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
New Fees, Restrictions On SNAP Would Stifle Efforts To Help Food Insecure
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, is a public-private program that works as it was designed – to help feed the food insecure. And in many rural and urban areas, where independent community grocers often are the only convenient source of fresh groceries and other essential goods, SNAP has been an effective […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Engage Series Store Operations Summit Impresses Attendees
Nearly 100 operations-focused grocery leaders came away with actionable insights and first-hand perspectives from the Store Operations Summit, the latest signature event in the National Grocers Association’s Engage Series. Designed for store leaders who are focused on store operations and merchandising, the summit was held July 24-26 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown in Kansas […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Understanding The Evolving Dynamics Of Food Decisions
“Taste is king,” according to decades of data from the International Food Information Council’s annual Food and Health Survey. But taste isn’t the only factor that influences our food choices. By understanding the interconnections of factors that drive consumer food decisions, grocers and retailers can adapt to meet the demands of conscious consumers, communicate more […]
Posted inIndustry Leaders Speak, National
Harnessing Perpetual Inventory For Independent Grocers
Sponsored content In the fast-paced and competitive grocery industry, independent grocers must continuously seek innovative strategies to thrive. One such method, although a familiar strategy, is the implementation of perpetual inventory. This process provides real-time visibility into product levels, enabling grocers to optimize their inventory management processes and enhance operational efficiency. This article will help […]
Posted inPackaging News, National, Sustainability News
Kraft Heinz Shares New Goals To Reduce Virgin Plastic Use
The Kraft Heinz Co. has announced a new goal to reduce the use of virgin plastic in its global packaging portfolio by 20 percent by 2030. This is a step in decreasing its use of fossil fuels and finding more sustainable product packaging options. The change is estimated to reduce the use of about 100 […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National
NGA Promotes Matzen To Foundation’s VP
The National Grocers Association has promoted Chelsea Matzen to VP of the NGA Foundation, as she continues to lead the nonprofit arm of the trade association. “In her three-plus years at the NGA Foundation, Chelsea has embraced numerous challenges and opportunities, including taking over leadership of the foundation a year ago,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Albertsons, Association News, Beverage News, Gelson's, National
Retailers Uncork Big Sales With Private Label Wine
Dollar sales of private label wine in all U.S. outlets jumped 9.1 percent to $52.2 million for the 52 weeks ending June 18, versus the same period in 2022, according to new data from Circana. Unit sales grew 8 percent for the same period. Store brand spirits are another strong segment, with dollar sales up […]