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 […]
Category: News
Posted inAssociations, 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 […]