Festival Foods shared two personnel moves Jan. 30, including the upcoming retirement of Randy Munns, EVP and COO, and the promotion of Adam Whitney to chief merchant. Munns will retire Feb. 13 after a 40-year career in the grocery industry, including 35 years with the Wisconsin-based chain. Munns joined Festival in 1991 as a third-shift […]
Category: News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
IGA Debuts Community Development Program To Address Food Desert Crisis
The Independent Grocers Alliance has launched IGA Community Development, a new initiative designed to expand access to fresh, affordable food in underserved urban and rural communities across the U.S. The new area of focus for IGA involves matching funding from communities, nonprofits and other developmental entities with independent retailers. This allows those retailers to open […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, National, News
Lidl U.S. Opening New Store Feb. 4 In Totowa, NJ
Lidl U.S. will open a new store Feb. 4 at 545 US-46 in Totowa, New Jersey, expanding the discount grocer’s presence in the state. The store will welcome customers at sunrise with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:40 a.m. The grand opening will feature freshly baked croissants and coffee. The Totowa location will feature Lidl’s curated […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Costco Wholesale, National, News
Costco Launches Same-Day Instacart Delivery Websites In France, Spain
Costco (Nasdaq: COST) members in France and Spain can shop online and receive same-day delivery through Costco’s first European websites powered by Instacart’s Storefront Pro commerce platform and fulfillment solutions services, the companies announced Jan. 30. The initial rollout includes delivery from all Costco locations in the two countries, including stores in the Paris metropolitan […]
Expert Article
Relationship Advice For Independent Grocers
How many times have you had an interaction and left feeling misunderstood? Experts say, communication and finances are the top downfalls in relationships. Now you may be thinking, this only applies in our personal lives. Your relationship with shoppers could be suffering here as well. For example, Craig never buys chocolate and is not likely […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger Expands Simple Truth Protein Line With 24 New Products
Kroger added 24 new Simple Truth Protein products to store shelves in January, expanding the line to more than 110 items as customers focus on wellness goals in the new year. The expanded line features protein-packed options designed to support nutrition goals, from establishing everyday habits to building strength. All products are free from unwanted […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Anniversary Issues, Finance News, News, Retailer of the Year, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
SoCal-Based Vallarta Supermarkets Charts Path Of Growth, Change
In 1985, the Gonzalez family opened a small market in Van Nuys, California, called Carnicería Vallarta. The family focused on selling traditional cuts of meats popular in their native Mexico. They worked hard to build a name for themselves by offering high-quality authentic products, providing a high level of customer service and treating employees as […]
Expert Article
Commercial Ripening 2026: An Interview With David Byrne
Commercial ripening has come a long way over the past 30 years. From air-stacking boxes in temperature-controlled holding rooms to today’s ultra-advanced, digitally controlled ripening room systems that can uniformly ripen multiple truckloads of palletized fruit to the exact same color at the exact same time. As the global leader in commercial ripening room design […]