Ibotta and Uber have signed a multi-year partnership that will bring Ibotta-powered digital promotions to Uber’s grocery and retail delivery ecosystem in the U.S. The deal marks the first time Uber has signed a multi-year exclusive agreement with a national digital promotions provider and gives CPG brands a new direct path to shoppers at the […]
Category: News
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Featured News, Independent Store News, News, Northeast, ShopRite
ShopRite Of Paramus Opens Electrify America Fast Charging Station
The ShopRite in Paramus, New Jersey, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 23 to mark the opening of a new Electrify America fast charging station in the store’s parking lot. The station features six Hyper-Fast chargers, each capable of delivering up to 350kW, among the fastest publicly available EV charging speeds on the market. Paramus Mayor Christopher […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Finance News, Health & Wellness, News, Southeast, West
Woman-Owned Pretzel Co. Gets Growth Investment
Pretzel maker Stellar Snacks has announced a minority growth investment from Main Post Partners that is expected to expand the better-for-you snack brand’s distribution footprint, production capacity and innovation. Carson City, Nevada-based Stellar Snacks was founded by mother-daughter entrepreneurs Elisabeth and Gina Galvin. Their company manufactures non-GMO, Kosher, vegan pretzels using clean ingredients and then […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Midwest, News
AWG Reports $293M Patronage Distribution During Annual Meeting
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) distributed a record $293.1 million in year-end patronage during its Annual Shareholders Meeting, capping a fiscal year in which the cooperative reported net sales of $11.6 billion and consolidated company sales of $12.2 billion – up 0.63 percent and 0.91 percent, respectively, on a comparable basis. The total distribution of cooperative […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Fareway, Midwest, News
Fareway Breaks Ground On Freezer Expansion At Boone Distribution Center
Fareway Stores has broken ground on a 105,000-square-foot freezer building expansion at its Boone, Iowa distribution campus, a project the company says will nearly double pallet capacity and lay the groundwork for future automation investment. Gleeson Constructors and Engineers is set to complete construction by summer 2027. The Boone campus has served as the operational […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, News, Southeast
AWG Invests $110M To Automate Gulf Coast Distribution Center
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) will invest $110 million to modernize its Gulf Coast Division Support Center in Pearl River, Louisiana, installing advanced automation in the facility’s ambient section to improve order accuracy and service reliability for independent grocery retailers across the Southeast. Construction begins in January, with automation installation in April 2027 and full operations […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News
IFPA To Spotlight Younger Consumer Trends Tn 2026 State Of Retail Session
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) will present The Pulse of Retail: IFPA’s 2026 State of Retail at The Retail Conference & Golf Tournament April 27-29 in Phoenix, delivering a forward-looking analysis of the trade shifts and consumer trends shaping the future of fresh. Designed as a fast-paced, insight-driven session, The Pulse of Retail will provide […]
Posted inDeli News, Featured News, News, Northeast, Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop Repositions Hot Bars As Dinner Destination For Shoppers
Stop & Shop is updating its in-store hot bars, transforming them into a meal solution center designed to make dinner easier for shoppers. The refreshed offering introduces new comfort-food favorites, globally inspired proteins and an expanded selection of sides available from 4-7 p.m. daily. New protein options include black pepper steak, Thai coconut chicken thighs, […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Featured News, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Opens New Store In Simpsonville, SC
Food Lion will open a new location March 25 at 2321 W. Georgia Road in Simpsonville, South Carolina, marking the brand’s fifth in the area and its fourth store opening in the first quarter of 2026. The opening will be followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The first 100 customers in line will receive a mystery […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, Featured News, National, News
WGA Names Maurer President, Zambo Vice Chair
Women Grocers of America (WGA) has appointed Kristie Maurer, owner of Maurer’s Urban Market, as its new president, and Donna Zambo, EVP and chief information and marketing officer at Allegiance Retail Services, as vice chair. The two succeed outgoing President Kristin Popp and Vice Chair Heidi Huff, whose tenure expanded WGA’s national presence and strengthened […]
Posted inExecutive News, Corporate Store News, Dollar General, Featured News, National, News
Dollar General Names Fleeman As CEO, Succeeding Vasos
Dollar General Corp. has appointed JJ Fleeman as its next CEO, effective Jan. 1, succeeding Todd Vasos, who has led the discount retailer for a combined 10 years across two terms. The appointment comes the same day Ahold Delhaize confirmed Fleeman will depart as CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA at the end of June to pursue […]
Posted inExecutive News, Ahold Delhaize, Featured News, News, Southeast
Ahold Delhaize USA CEO Fleeman Leaving Role In June
Ahold Delhaize has announced that JJ Fleeman will depart from his role as CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA, effective at the end of June, to become CEO of Dollar General Corp. Fleeman has spent his entire 36-year career in grocery retail in Ahold Delhaize companies, including Food Lion, the grocer’s largest U.S. brand. Frans Muller, […]
Posted inGrocery Research, Featured News, National, News
Survey: Price Surpasses Taste, Brand Loyalty As Top Grocery Purchase Driver
Price has become the dominant factor in grocery purchasing decisions, with 70 percent of consumers citing price or value as the top influence when shopping for snacks and beverages, according to new findings from Zappi’s CPG Mega-Trends Report. The nationally representative study of 2,000 U.S. consumers found that more than 90 percent have adjusted their […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Midwest, News, SpartanNash
Family Fare Completes Full-Store Remodel In Paw Paw, MI
The Family Fare supermarket in Paw Paw, Michigan has completed a full-store remodel, expanding its fresh food offerings and refreshing key departments at one of the community’s longest-standing grocery locations. The renovation focused on high-priority areas for shoppers, including expanded produce, an upgraded hot bar, enhanced beer, wine and liquor selections and a nostalgic candy […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Finance News, Harps Food Stores, National, News
Harps To Deploy SmartMeals AI Shopping Assistant
Harps Food Stores will deploy SmartMeals, AWG’s artificial intelligence-powered shopping assistant built by Breez AI, across its network of more than 150 stores. The announcement came during the AWG Innovation Showcase, where independent grocers gathered to explore technologies shaping the future of grocery retail. The rollout makes Harps one of the largest operators in the […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, National, News, Nonfood Items
Inspired Home Show 2026 Draws Buyers From More Than 100 Countries
The Inspired Home Show 2026 wrapped its three-day run at Chicago’s McCormick Place on March 12, bringing together more than 1,000 exhibitors, thousands of brands and attendees from some 100 countries. U.S.-based buyers represented more than 100,000 retail locations and nearly $75 billion in buying power. The show, produced annually by the International Housewares Association […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, Midwest, News
AWG Celebrates 100th Anniversary At 2026 Innovation Showcase
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) launched its centennial celebration during its 2026 Innovation Showcase, marking 100 years since independent retailers united in 1926 to compete against the growing power of chain stores. Today, the cooperative serves 1,100 member companies and 3,500 locations across 33 states, making it the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler. The Innovation Showcase […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Featured News, News, Northeast
Wawa’s Edwards Joins PFMA Board Of Directors
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) has added Christopher Edwards, director of store operations for Wawa, to its board of directors. Edwards, who brings more than 20 years of hospitality and retail leadership experience to the board, leads Wawa’s store operations across Delaware County through Central Pennsylvania. Since joining Wawa in 2014, he has held […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Volunteer Registration Open For Meijer LPGA Classic For Simply Give
Volunteer registration is open for the 12th Annual Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, set for June 18-21 at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan. The tournament is seeking more than 1,400 volunteers to support the event, which combines LPGA Tour competition with hunger-relief fundraising through Meijer’s Simply Give program. The fee to volunteer is […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Anniversary Issues, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Feature, Featured News, Finance News, Midwest, News, Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
AWG’s Cooperative Strength Positions Independent Grocers For Future
As Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, the cooperative is reflecting on a century defined by independent spirit, shared success and an unwavering commitment to its members – while keeping its focus firmly on what comes next. Founded in 1926 by a group of independent grocers who believed they were stronger […]