Sara Lee Frozen Bakery has appointed Peter Laport as CEO, succeeding Craig Bahner, who is stepping down from the role. Laport brings more than three decades of experience to the Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based frozen baked goods manufacturer, having led consumer and food businesses across North America and global markets. He is recognized for building resilient organizations, […]
Category: News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Featured News, Finance News, News, Southeast
Houchens Industries Names Jordan White As EVP
Houchens Industries has appointed Jordan White as EVP, the Bowling Green, Kentucky-based company announced Feb. 26. White will work with executive leadership and subsidiary management teams to support strategic growth initiatives, capital deployment and operational excellence across Houchens’ portfolio of companies. “I am excited to have Jordan join the Houchens team,” said Dion Houchins, chairman […]
Posted inExecutive News, Center Store, Finance News, National, News
J.M. Smucker Appoints Two Independent Directors Following Elliott Agreement
Orrville, Ohio-based The J.M. Smucker Co. has appointed Woo-Sung “Bruce” Chung and David Singer to its board of directors effective April 15. The appointments follow engagement with Elliott Investment Management, with whom the company has entered into an information-sharing agreement to facilitate collaboration toward driving sustainable value for all shareholders. With the addition of Chung and […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, Bakery News, Dairy News, Deli News, Featured News, Finance News, National, News
Schwass Takes Helm At IDDBA As Haaf Departs
International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) CEO David Haaf has stepped down from his position effective Feb. 26, the organization’s board of directors announced. Chris Schwass, the association’s CFO, has been appointed acting CEO. Schwass, who has 28 years of experience at the Madison-Wisconsin-based organization, will lead operations while the board begins the search for […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, H-E-B, News, Southwest
Plans Unveiled For H-E-B Store, Joe V’s Smart Shop In Garland, TX
H-E-B has announced plans for two new developments in Garland, Texas, including an H-E-B store and Joe V’s Smart Shop. The first project will revitalize a vacant shopping center at Centerville Road and LBJ Freeway. The 7-acre site will become home to North Texas’ fourth Joe V’s Smart Shop, a price format that focuses on […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Grocery Store Equipment, News, Northeast
NRS, Krasdale Foods Form Partnership To Support Independent Bodegas
National Retail Solutions and Krasdale Foods have announced a strategic partnership, combining NRS’s point-of-sale technology with the grocer’s distribution network to serve independently owned bodegas and small-format stores across the Northeast. Developed over several years, the collaboration integrates NRS’s store-management platform with Krasdale’s supply-chain capabilities to deliver operational efficiency, data insights and profitability tools for […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Grocery Store Layout, News, Northeast, Tops Friendly Markets
Tops Markets Completes $2.3M Store Remodel In Tonawanda, NY
Tops Friendly Markets completed a $2.3 million remodel of its store at 890 Young Street in Tonawanda, New York, marking the company’s 50th major site renovation in six years. The project is part of Tops’ capital improvement project, which has included more than $100 million invested across its three-state footprint of New York, Pennsylvania and […]
Posted inProduce News, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Begins Annual Orange Bag Donation Campaign
Food Lion launched its annual three-week Orange Bag campaign Feb. 25, inviting customers to turn purchases of fresh navel oranges into meals for communities through its Food Lion Feeds hunger-relief platform. The campaign, which runs through March 17, benefits Feeding America and partner food banks throughout the retailer’s 10-state footprint. Since it began in 2019, […]
Posted inGrocery Research, Featured News, National, News, Packaging News
Acosta Group Study: Shoppers Worried About Artificial Ingredients In Food
Fifty percent of U.S. shoppers are worried about health risks from artificial ingredients, chemicals and preservatives in foods, with that number rising to 79 percent among health-focused shoppers, according to a new study from Acosta Group released Feb. 24. The ingredients-focused shopper study found that 58 percent of all shoppers read labels all or most […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Finance News, Midwest, News, Schnucks
Schnucks Springboard Seeks Third Cohort For Emerging Business Accelerator
Schnuck Markets Inc. is accepting applications for the third cohort of its Schnucks Springboard accelerator program for emerging suppliers, with a deadline of April 25. Midwest business owners must meet specific criteria to qualify. Applicants must have annual consumer product goods revenue of less than $1 million, fewer than 10 years in the CPG business […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Midwest, News
Busch’s Fresh Food Market Offers Traditional Irish Food For St. Patrick’s Day
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Busch’s Fresh Food Market is featuring traditional Irish food and beverages March 9-22 at its 16 southeastern Michigan stores. Ready-to-eat meals freshly prepared by Busch’s deli team will include corned beef with roasted redskin potatoes, carrots and cabbage, portioned for two. Irish soda bread, made in-house at the company’s bakehouse […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Featured News, Grocery Research, National, News
NFRA Survey Finds Price Is Biggest Factor In Grocery Decisions
Seventy-eight percent of consumers cite price as the biggest factor in their grocery decisions, driving increased adoption of frozen foods as Americans seek to curb food costs, according to the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association. Recent findings from the USDA Consumer Price Index for Food show food away from home rose 4.1 percent over […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Corporate Store News, Featured News, Fresh Thyme, Midwest, News
Fresh Thyme Market Relaunches Own Brand Portfolio
Downers Grove, Illinois-based Fresh Thyme Market has relaunched its Own Brand portfolio with expanded products, updated packaging and a strategy designed to make better-for-you and local choices more accessible. The grocer is focusing on increasing Own Brand penetration and growing its natural and organic assortments across key departments, including grocery, produce and frozen. All Fresh Thyme […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Fareway, Featured News, Finance News, Midwest, News
Fareway Promotes 7 Corporate Officers To New Positions
Fareway Stores Inc. has promoted seven corporate officers for what the Johnston, Iowa-based grocer described as outstanding leadership and contributions to its success. “These promotions reflect the exceptional talent and dedication of our team,” said Fareway CEO Reynolds Cramer. “Each individual has demonstrated leadership and commitment to Fareway’s mission of being the best in meat […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Feature, Featured News, News, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
The Present: Kroger Texas Division Understands What Shoppers Want
Texas has always been one of the most dynamic, competitive markets Kroger has competed in. To try and keep a competitive edge, the grocer focuses heavily on offering customers value and savings. Savings come in the form of extensive digital coupons, personalized offers, Fuel Rewards (including a variety of 4x gas points offers throughout the […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Health & Wellness, News, Nonfood Items, Northeast, Wakefern
ShopRite Launches Free GLP-1 Wellness Starter Kits For Pharmacy Customers
Keasbey, New Jersey-based ShopRite has introduced Wellness Your Way Starter Kits, a free and limited-time offering designed to support customers beginning GLP-1 medications for weight management. While supplies last, customers filling their first GLP-1 prescription at a ShopRite pharmacy will receive a kit, which includes product samples and nutrition tips to help them build healthy […]
Posted inGrocery Research, National, News, Nonfood Items
IHA Survey: Consumers Plan To Host More At-Home Gatherings In 2026
Twenty-eight percent of consumers anticipate hosting more at-home gatherings in 2026, a four-point increase from 24 percent last year, according to the 2026 International Housewares Association‘s (IHA) At-Home Entertaining Survey released Feb. 23. The survey illustrates how hosting at-home gatherings – whether to celebrate life moments or for no reason at all – continues to […]
Posted inExecutive News, News, Produce News, West, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Giumarra Companies Promotes Carmona, Lorusso To VP Roles
Los Angeles-based The Giumarra Companies has promoted Sebastian Carmona to VP of international development and Kristina Lorusso to VP of retail partner services. “As we continue to increase Giumarra’s capabilities and plan for long-term growth, I am pleased to congratulate Sebastian and Kristina in expanded leadership roles that will bring impactful value to our operations,” […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Finance News, News, Online Grocery Technology, Southwest, Walmart
Walmart Data Ventures Launches Scintilla In-Store For Supplier Field Reps
Walmart Data Ventures has introduced Scintilla In-Store, a platform designed to help reduce out-of-stocks, improve execution and deliver a seamless omni-shopping experience. Scintilla In-Store builds on the Scintilla platform – Walmart’s first-party insights offering that transforms granular data into intelligence for suppliers and merchants – and brings that ecosystem into Walmart stores. While Scintilla and […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, Finance News, News, Northeast
NJFC Re-Elects Read As Board Chair, Celebrates Record Growth
The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) re-elected Jason Read of Wawa as board chairman and announced record growth in membership and sponsorship as it installed its 2026 directors. Mike Styer of ACME/Kings continues as vice chairman. The board elected Gary Capozzi of Pepsi Beverages Co. as associate vice chairman, Ron Murphy of Murphy’s Fresh Markets […]