Grocery Outlet, an extreme-value grocer, has selected Afresh for store ordering across every department – center store, general merchandise, meat and produce – at its more than 500 stores run by independent operators. The partnership will provide each operator with intelligent ordering that balances shrink, out-of-stocks, labor and margin while maintaining the operator autonomy that […]
Category: News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Merchandising News, News, Southeast
Sedano’s Launches ‘Where Superstitions Are Born’ Fútbol Campaign In Miami
As Miami prepares to host multiple international soccer matches this summer, Sedano’s Supermarkets is launching a new campaign, “Where Superstitions Are Born,” spotlighting the traditions, foods and rituals that bring fans together. The campaign is built on the premise that soccer fans are known for their superstitions, showcasing with humor how match-day rituals – from […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Big Y Foods, News, Northeast
Big Y Opens First Of 2 New Massachusetts Stores In Pembroke
Big Y is now open at 24 Mattakeesett St. in Pembroke, Massachusetts, the first of two new locations slated to debut in the company’s home state this year. “As Big Y continues to grow, each new store is an opportunity to bring our purpose to life in a meaningful way,” said Michael D’Amour, president and […]
Posted inFinance News, National, News, Online Grocery Technology
Ottimate Launches First MCP Integration Among AP Platforms
Ottimate, an artificial intelligence-powered accounts payable automation platform serving invoice-heavy industries including grocery and foodservice, has announced the first Model Context Protocol integration in the market, enabling finance leaders to bring AP data directly into large language models for financial insights. The announcement is part of Ottimate’s 2026 summer release, which also includes enhancements to […]
Posted in, Association News, Featured News, National, News
NGA Criticizes Preliminary Approval Of $38B Swipe Fee Settlement
The National Grocers Association expressed disappointment after a federal judge granted preliminary approval to a revised $38 billion settlement between Visa, Mastercard and U.S. merchants over credit card interchange fees, calling on Congress to pass legislation the association says would deliver more meaningful reform. U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan in Brooklyn, New York, ruled June […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Opens New Store At Northchase Center In Bradenton, FL
Publix Super Markets opened a new 55,701-square-foot store store June 11 in Bradenton, Florida, marking the grocer’s 13th location in the area. Anchoring the Northchase Center at 16642 State Road 64 East, the location features the Lakeland-based grocer’s redesigned store format, which includes wider aisles, additional self-checkout lanes and expanded deli, bakery, meat and seafood […]
Posted inSoutheast, Beverage News, Corporate Store News, News
Sprouts To Add Local Coffee Cafés Inside 10 FL Stores
Sprouts Farmers Market will open 10 Buddy Brew Coffee cafes inside select stores in Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida this summer, the companies announced June 10. The cafés will launch in Sprouts stores in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties and more than doubling the Tampa-based coffee roaster’s total cafe footprint. Enhancing the in-store experience […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, Midwest, News
Missouri Extends Healthy SNAP Timeline; MRGA Applauds Decision
Missouri grocers and retailers will have more time to prepare for the state’s Healthy SNAP initiative. The Missouri Department of Social Services announced an updated implementation timeline for the program, establishing a new launch date of Feb. 15, 2027, according to the department. The extension is intended to give DSS time to continue collaborating with […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, News, Southwest
Upshop Unveils AI Innovations At Altitude 2026 Conference
Upshop, an Austin, Texas-based provider of artificial intelligence-powered retail operations software, announced several innovations at its Altitude 2026 conference in Denver. The company said the new solutions are designed to help retailers of all sizes streamline operations, predict customer needs with greater precision, act faster in-store and turn better decisions into stronger financial results. According […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Midwest, News, Schnucks
Schnucks’ ‘Fresh Guarantee’ Features Full Refunds, Exchanges
Schnuck Markets Inc. has announced “Fresh Guarantee,” a promise to customers that purchases from the grocer’s fresh departments are guaranteed fresh. If customers are not satisfied with the freshness of a perishable item bought from the floral, produce, bakery, deli, meat, seafood or dairy departments, Schnucks will exchange it or issue a full refund with […]
Posted inFeatured News, Grocery Research, National, News
Gen X Wants Global Flavors, Stores Aren’t Stocking Them
Grocery retailers may be underestimating one of their most valuable customer groups, according to new research from Cashew, a Calgary, Alberta-based consumer insights firm. The study found Generation X shoppers are more interested in international and specialty foods than conventional grocery assumptions suggest, yet many feel mainstream stores have not caught up. In a survey […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News
Produce Coalition For USMCA Launches To Protect Tariff-Free Trade
A new industry group formed to protect tariff-free agricultural trade and consumer access to affordable fresh produce has announced its official launch. The Produce Coalition for USMCA represents growers, packers, shippers, distributors and sellers of fresh produce in the United States. The group said it will advocate for maintaining the market access provisions established under […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, News, Northeast, ShopRite, Wakefern
Wakefern, ShopRite Donate $150K To Special Olympics NJ Summer Games
More than 300 volunteers – including Wakefern team members, ShopRite associates and their families – lent their time and energy throughout the event, continuing a nearly 40-year tradition at the games.
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Featured News, News, Stater Bros. Markets, West
Robinson To Lead Fresh Sales, Merchandising For Stater Bros.
Stater Bros. Markets has appointed Bruce Robinson VP of sales and merchandising – fresh, reporting to EVP and Chief Marketing Officer Rebecca Calvin. Robinson will lead the strategic vision, development and execution of the company’s fresh department, which includes meat, seafood, produce, floral, service deli and bakery. He also will work across store operations, marketing […]
Posted inFinance News, News
Thin Margins, Rising Fraud: Why Grocers Are Automating The Back Office
Grocery retailers are facing cost pressures from nearly every direction, and according to Dan Kim, chief financial officer of accounts payable automation platform Ottimate, too many of them are absorbing those costs without the visibility to see where the money is going. Kim, who has served as Ottimate’s CFO since 2023 after a career spanning […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, Finance News, Grocery Store Equipment, National, News
Hidden Profit: The Power Of Knowing Your Store
My colleague Peter Cooke and I are approaching a combined 40 years of helping food retailers improve their operations and, ultimately, their profit. For many of these years, this was represented by best sustainable practices or a similar vernacular. Regardless of the outside wrapper, we helped real retailers – real people – identify and capture […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Featured News, News, Northeast
UNFI Reports Q3 Results With Net Sales Of $7.7B
United Natural Foods Inc. has reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 (13 weeks) ended May 2, including net sales of $7.7 billion, net income of $33 million, adjusted EBITDA of $183 million, and adjusted earnings per share of $0.77. The company also narrowed its full-year outlook, now projecting net sales of […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Executive News, Featured News, News, West
Grocery Outlet Adds 2 Executives To Leadership Team
Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: GO) has appointed Paul Miller as EVP, chief purchasing and merchandising officer, and Ian Ferry as EVP and chief financial officer, both effective June 9. The company also affirmed its financial outlook for the second quarter and fiscal year 2026 originally provided May 13. Miller, a former key executive in […]
Posted inSustainability News, Independent Store News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Highlighting Marine Debris Removal Efforts
Publix Super Markets celebrated World Ocean Day by marking at total of 56,000 pounds of marine debris removed from Florida waterways.
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, News, Southwest, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Marks Van Donation Milestone In San Antonio
Whole Foods Market celebrated the donation of its 100th Nourishing Our Neighborhoods refrigerated van to the San Antonio Food Bank on June 3. The milestone event took place at the Whole Foods Market Vineyard store and included a “stuff the van” moment, in which employees filled the vehicle with donated pantry staples and fresh produce […]