Huck’s Market has gone live with an artificial intelligence-native point-of-sale system at its flagship location in Carmi, Illinois, becoming the first c-store chain to deploy the technology in-store. The employee-owned 135-store Midwest chain partnered with Tote, an AI-native POS platform built for fuel and convenience retail, with a chainwide rollout planned for completion by the […]
Category: News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Merchant Distributors, News, Online Grocery Technology, Southeast
Swiftly, MDI Bringing Digital Circular, AI Targeting To Independent Grocers
Swiftly has partnered with Merchants Distributors (MDI), a Hickory, N.C.-based wholesale grocery distributor, to expand digital capabilities across MDI’s network of more than 600 independent retailers in the Southeast. Under the agreement, MDI retailers will gain access to three Swiftly products – a modern retail website platform, SmartCircular for digitizing the weekly circular experience and Audience […]
Posted inProduce News, Featured News, News, Northeast, Wakefern
Wakefern Opens Applications For Local Produce Supplier Summit
Wakefern Food Corp. is accepting applications from growers to participate in its annual Local Produce Supplier Summit on July 15 at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison, New Jersey. Qualified applicants will be invited to present to Wakefern’s procurement teams, participate in panels and explore retail partnerships across the cooperative’s eight supermarket […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, National, News
Edible Arrangements Partners With Mars On Limited-Time Candy Fruit Bouquets
Edible Arrangements, an e-commerce retail hub and gift destination under the Edible Brands portfolio, has partnered with Mars on a limited-time spring and summer collection featuring M&M’S and Skittles candies. Available exclusively at Edible stores across the U.S. and Canada, the new candy arrangements pair Edible’s fruit bouquets with pastel-colored M&M’S milk chocolate candies and […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Finance News, News, West
Oliver’s Market Plans Fifth Store In Santa Rosa, CA
Oliver’s Market, an employee-owned independent grocer, is under contract to purchase Farmer’s Lane Plaza at 1501-1591 Farmer’s Lane in Santa Rosa, California, where it will open a fifth location in a 35,500-square-foot space formerly occupied by Rite Aid. The deal is expected to close April 1, with construction beginning immediately and a 2027 opening targeted. […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Association News, Featured News, Finance News, National, News
NCA Report: U.S. Confectionery Sales Climb To $55B In 2025
Americans spent a record $55 billion on chocolate, candy, gum and mints in 2025, and the category shows no signs of slowing down, according to the National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) 2026 State of Treating report. Sales are projected to grow an additional $7.3 billion over the next five years, reaching $62.2 billion across all outlets […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Midwest, News
AWG’s Save-A-Label Program Directs $106K To Nonprofits In 2025
Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc.’s (AWG) Save-A-Label program contributed $106,508 to nonprofits and schools in 2025, supporting 997 organizations across a 17-state footprint. The program, which has run since 1987, converts UPC labels from AWG’s Best Choice Family of Brands into direct cash donations for qualifying organizations. How the program works Shoppers collect UPC labels from […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southwest
The United Family, Mrs Baird’s Honor 12 TX Teachers
The United Family and Mrs Baird’s Bread named 12 educators across Texas as December and January winners of their Teachers on the Rise programs, recognizing outstanding educators in the South Plains and North Texas regions. South Plains: United Supermarkets’ 15th Year The Lubbock-area program, now in its 15th year, has received more than 800 nominations […]