Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have invested more than $1 million in grants, product donations and e-gift cards to support communities across the Southeast following winter storms that caused damage and power outages across the region. The combined investment has provided support to more than 30 city governments and local organizations through $500,000 in grant […]
Category: News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News
Mom’s Organic Market To Enter Chicago With Naperville, Mount Prospect Stores
Mom’s Organic Market will enter the Chicago market with stores in Naperville and Mount Prospect, Illinois, scheduled to open by the end of 2026, marking the organic grocer’s expansion into the Midwest. The Rockville, Maryland-based retailer will open a location at 1163 E. Ogden Ave. in Naperville this fall, with a Mount Prospect store to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Independent Grocers Face Pricing Pressures, Rural Store Closures In ND
Independent grocers across North Dakota face mounting pressure from several directions, according to John “Jiggs” Dyste, president of the North Dakota Grocers Association. “Independent grocers are being squeezed by big-box stores and food manufacturers,” Dyste said. “Unfair pricing is the main problem driving consumers to big-box stores.” The challenges come as North Dakota’s economy undergoes […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, National, News
UFCW Launches Campaign To Ban Surveillance Pricing On Groceries
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union on Feb. 12 launched the “Affordable Groceries and Good Jobs Campaign,” a national effort to ban surveillance pricing and electronic shelf labels in grocery stores while targeting artificial intelligence-driven technology encroachment. The campaign arrives alongside federal legislation introduced by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Sen. Jeff […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Albertsons, News, West
Albertsons Joins OpenAI Advertising Pilot To Test ChatGPT Ad Formats
Albertsons Companies will be participating in the OpenAI Ad Pilot Program, testing how new advertising formats in ChatGPT can create personalized experiences for consumers ahead of Valentine’s Day. The Boise, Idaho-based grocer will explore how relevant ads unlock value for users and brands in conversational experiences as an early pilot partner for the program, which […]
Posted inExecutive News, Center Store, National, News
J.M. Smucker Eliminates COO Role, Expands CFO, Supply Chain Leadership
The J.M. Smucker Company has announced a leadership restructuring that eliminates the chief operating officer position and expands responsibilities for its chief financial officer and newly created chief product supply officer. The Orrville, Ohio-based food manufacturer said the changes, effective Feb. 9, are designed to advance long-term growth strategy, further momentum among its brand portfolio […]
Posted inGrocery Research, National, News
Tastepoint Identifies 10 Flavor Trends Expected To Shape 2026 Market
Philadelphia-based Tastepoint by IFF has identified 10 flavors expected to trend in the North American retail and foodservice throughout 2026, based on data-driven market analysis, menu tracking, social listening and changes in consumer behavior. “To continue delivering product development solutions that meet consumers’ unique and changing needs, we stay attuned to industry and market trends, keeping […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Hannaford Supermarkets, News, Northeast
Hannaford Charitable Foundation Commits $1.16M To Northeast Nonprofits
Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford Supermarkets’ charitable foundation committed $1.16 million in 2025 to nonprofits across Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. The funding reflects the foundation’s focus on combating food insecurity, supporting learning and workforce readiness and promoting healthier lifestyles across the Northeast. “At Hannaford, we understand food, health and opportunity are critical to building strong […]