At this time last year, tariffs dominated the conversation among Michigan retailers. This spring, the pressures look different: severe weather across the northern part of the state, gas prices pulling extra spending money to the pump and a retail index that has fallen to 43.7 from 59.4 a year ago, according to Victoria Veda, VP […]
Category: News
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, West
Save Mart CARES Foundation Raises $420K During Golf Tournament
The Save Mart Companies’ CARES Foundation raised more than $420,000 at its 25th Annual Golf Fundraiser on June 26 at Chardonnay Golf Club in Napa, California. The event, which featured 73 foursomes, surpassed last year’s total of $379,000 and is the company’s largest annual fundraiser. “The golf tournament has grown into a powerful tradition of […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Meijer To Open New Supermarket In Livonia, MI
Meijer will open a new 75,000‑square‑foot grocery format store on Aug. 19 at 33500 Seven Mile Road in Livonia, marking the fourth Meijer Grocery location in Michigan. The new store complements the retailer’s 125 supercenters and market format stores across the state and follows the opening of a 47,000‑square‑foot Meijer Grocery in Rochester Hills in […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Association News, Featured News, National, News
ROFDA Fall Conference To Follow Sold-Out Spring Event
Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) soon will open applications and registration for its fall 2026 conference, set for Nov. 3-7 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Indian Wells, California, part of the Palm Desert area. The announcement follows a sold-out spring event that drew record attendance, with ROFDA citing strong early demand for […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, National, News
Crossroads: Future Of Independent Grocery – Growing Next Generation Of Owners
I recently had the privilege of speaking at the IGA Coca-Cola Institute in Atlanta. In the room were some of the brightest young leaders in independent grocery – selected by their organizations because of their talent, commitment and potential. Representing stores and communities from around the world, they and those like them are the future […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Midwest, News
AWG Adds 64 Private Label Items, Targets GLP-1 Trends, Grilling Season
AWG Family of Brands is adding 64 new items to its private brand portfolio in the second quarter of 2026, expanding across Best Choice, Hello World by Best Choice, Crav’n Flavor and Wide Awake Coffee Co. brands. The new items target health-conscious trends, seasonal demand – including grilling – and consumer preference for quality at-home […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Associated Food Stores, Featured News, News, West
AFS’ Pettit Named To Utah Food Bank Board Of Directors
Sarah Pettit, director of public affairs at Associated Food Stores (ARS), has been named to the Utah Food Bank Board of Directors. Her appointment comes as the Utah Food Bank continues expanding its reach across the state to meet growing demand. Pettit leads government affairs and public affairs efforts for AFS and has long been […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Central Market, Featured News, Food Service News, News, Southwest
Central Market Opens Renovated Food Service Area In San Antonio, TX
Central Market celebrated the opening of its renovated food service area June 26 at its store at 4821 Broadway St. in San Antonio, Texas. The remodeled section includes expanded production areas, as well as new departments, fixtures and equipment across deli, bakery, sushi and chef-prepared food cases. “We are eager to start introducing pieces of […]
Posted inCenter Store, Association News, Featured News, National, News, West
Grocery Buyers To Emerging Brands: Come Ready And Be Willing To Listen
Editor’s note: The CPG Convergence Conference was dedicated to the memory of Navigator Lighthouse Foundation co-founder Allen Pierce, who died unexpectedly the week before the event. Read our remembrance here. Getting a product onto a grocery shelf is hard. Keeping it there is harder. That was the throughline as a group of Southern California retail […]
Posted inBakery News, Food Service News, National, News
Europastry Acquires Highland Baking Co., Expanding U.S. Foodservice Footprint
Europastry has reached an agreement to acquire Highland Baking Co., a family-owned U.S. producer of premium breads for the foodservice channel. Highland Baking Co. will continue to operate under its current brand and management team. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Meijer Donates $280K To Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup
Meijer has announced a $280,000 contribution to the Council of the Great Lakes Region Foundation to continue supporting the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup initiative in 2026. The investment builds on Meijer’s ongoing commitment to protect the Great Lakes and the communities that depend on them by helping bring innovative cleanup technologies to the Great Lakes […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Northeast
Giant Eagle, Sparkling Ice Sponsor Service Dog For Veteran
Giant Eagle and Sparkling Ice are partnering to sponsor the training of a service dog for a U.S. military veteran through K9s For Warriors.
Posted inAssociation News, Bakery News, Dairy News, Deli News, National, News
What Grocers Should Be Focusing On Post-IDDBA
The trends from IDDBA 2026 point to several opportunities for independent grocers from expanded offerings to permissible indulgence.
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, News, Northeast, Weis Markets
Weis Markets Unveils New Store In Millsboro, DE
Weis Markets opened a new store June 26 at 30250 Commerce Drive in Millsboro, Delaware – the second location in the city and the fifth store in the state. “We are extremely pleased to open in Southern Delaware, which is a dynamic, fast‑growing region,” said Jonathan Weis, chairman, president and CEO of Weis Markets. “This […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, News, Northeast
MOM’s Organic Market Selects RELEX To Unify Pricing, Promotions
The retailer chose the technology for its ability to unify pricing, promotional planning, vendor deal management and shelf space optimization in a single platform.
Posted inExecutive News, Affiliated Foods, Featured News, News, Southwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Carlino Joins Affiliated Foods Inc. As COO
Affiliated Foods Inc. has named Nick Carlino as its new chief operating officer, bringing more than two decades of wholesale and retail grocery experience to the Amarillo, Texas-based wholesale grocery cooperative. Carlino joins Affiliated Foods from Merchants Distributors LLC in Hickory, North Carolina, where he spent more than 12 years in progressive leadership roles, most […]
Posted inExecutive News, News, Northeast, Snacks Brands
The Hershey Co. Names Hoytink As President, U.S.
The Hershey Company has named Heather Hoytink as president, U.S., effective July 8. Hoytink brings more than 20 years of sales, operations and commercial leadership experience to the role, most recently serving as SVP and chief commercial officer, U.S. Away From Home Beverages at PepsiCo. “We’re thrilled to welcome Heather to Hershey,” said Kirk Tanner, […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Northeast, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market To Open First Store In Salem, NH
Whole Foods Market will open a new 34,900‑square‑foot store July 22 in Salem, New Hampshire, marking the retailer’s first location in the city and its fifth in New Hampshire. The Salem location features more than 800 local items from New England, sourced with the help of John Lawson, forager for local and emerging brands at […]
Posted inExecutive News, Beverage News, News, Southeast
Coca‑Cola N.A. President To Step Down; CFO To Lead On Interim Basis
The Coca‑Cola Co. announced that Jennifer Mann will step down from her role as EVP and president of the North America Operating Unit, effective Aug. 1. John Murphy, president and CFO, will assume responsibility for the North America Operating Unit on an interim basis. Mann will stay with the company through April as senior advisor […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southwest
The United Family Debuts New Supermarket In Andrews, TX
The United Family opened its first United Supermarkets location June 26 in Andrews, Texas, following a ribbon‑cutting ceremony and store tours for media and community members on June 25. The almost 50,000‑square‑foot store brings the company’s modern supermarket format to the Andrews community for the first time. “We are excited and proud to open this […]