Minnesota’s grocery industry navigated significant challenges and changes in 2025, with new leadership at major chains, a cyberattack disrupting operations, federal SNAP funding uncertainty threatening rural stores and continued pressure from state labor mandates. United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) appointed David Best as president and CEO of retail effective Aug. 17, leading the company’s two […]
Category: News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
NGA Shares 2026 Creative Choice Award Winners
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has shared the winners of the 2026 Creative Choice Awards, recognizing top marketing and merchandising programs in the independent grocery industry. The awards, supported by Cheez-It and Unilever, will be presented during The NGA Show, which runs Feb. 1-3 at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. A Unilever […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Midwest, News
RSA America Expands Support Team, Previews AI Platform At The NGA Show
RSA America has strengthened its retail customer support operations, introduced new artificial intelligence-driven capabilities and will debut a fully integrated in-store kiosk at The NGA Show Feb. 1-3 in Las Vegas. The Chicago-based digital marketing solutions provider also promoted Mark Osborne from VP to SVP of retail execution. Osborne leads customer launch strategy, ad planning, […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, News, Sustainability News, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
Smartway Deploys AI Waste-Reduction Tech Across 39 Vallarta Supermarkets
Smartway, a France-based food waste technology provider, completed deployment of its artificial intelligence-powered waste management system across 39 Vallarta Supermarkets locations in six months, marking the company’s entry into the North American market. The rollout included 34 stores in five weeks across center store grocery, deli, frozen and dairy departments. The deployment followed a three- […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Taylor Bros. Construction Builds Business Through Meijer Grow Program
Taylor Bros. Construction Co., a Columbus, Indiana-based construction company, has expanded its operations through participation in the Meijer Grow program, which supports local businesses within the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer’s footprint. Taylor Bros., established in 1933, previously worked on Meijer stores through other general contractors. “We were part of the team, just not working with […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, National, News, Walmart
Walmart Raises Pharmacy Technician Pay, Creates 3K Leadership Roles
Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart has elevated 3,000 pharmacy technician positions to pharmacy operations team lead roles with increased pay and created expanded earning potential for techs across nearly 4,600 locations nationwide. The pharmacy operations team lead positions pay an average of $28 per hour, with the possibility to earn up to $42 per hour plus bonus […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, National, News
NFRA Announces Second Class Of First Penguin Leadership Program
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has announced the 30 participants for its 2026 First Penguin Leadership Program. The year-long offering aims to address a growing industry need for structured, cross-sector leadership development that builds strategic perspective, strengthens collaboration and accelerates readiness among rising talent in dairy and frozen foods. It recognizes those […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, C-Store News, News, Southeast
ECRS Launches CATAPULT Fuel For Independent Retailers
Boone, N.C.-based ECRS has released CATAPULT Fuel, a fuel management system that integrates operations into the company’s CATAPULT point-of-sale platform. The system allows independent retailers to manage fuel operations through CATAPULT Web Office, creating a single unified platform for store and fuel management. The release marks a departure from complex fuel software systems that require […]