The National Grocers Association has named Kristin Popp, president of Women Grocers of America (WGA) and EVP of Woodman’s Food Markets, as the 2026 WGA Woman of the Year. Popp was honored during The NGA Show in Las Vegas. Established by the WGA Board of Directors in 1996, award recognizes women who exemplify leadership, passion […]
Category: News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Finance News, News, West
Ridley’s Family Markets To Acquire Terrel’s Markets In UT
Ridley’s Family Markets, a family-owned grocery retailer serving the Intermountain West, has entered into an agreement to acquire Terrel’s Markets. The transaction is expected to close on or near the first week of April. All six Terrel’s Markets locations – in Fillmore, Gunnison, Mount Pleasant, Nephi, Payson and Santaquin, Utah – will transition to the […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast
ARS Launches AI-Powered Meal Planning Platform PrepPal
Allegiance Retail Services has launched PrepPal, an AI-powered meal planning platform that converts weekly circular promotions into shoppable five-day meal plans with integrated grocery lists. At the center of the experience is Aiden, PrepPal’s branded digital chef created by Allegiance. Leveraging artificial intelligence, Aiden analyzes weekly promotional items and assembles budget-conscious meal plans built entirely […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, National, News, Online Grocery Technology
DoorDash Adds 5 Grocers, Expands SNAP/EBT Access Across 7 Chains
DoorDash added five grocery partners and expanded SNAP/EBT payment capabilities to seven additional merchants on Feb. 2, broadening access to on-demand grocery delivery across multiple categories, regions and payment options. The new partners include Berkeley Bowl, Cermak Fresh Market, Harmons Grocery, JONS Fresh Marketplace and Pete’s Market. Consumers who have uploaded their SNAP cards to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Midwest, News
Walt Churchill’s Market Receives NGA’s Peter J. Larkin Award
The National Grocers Association (NGA) presented the Peter J. Larkin Award for Community Service to Ohio-based Walt Churchill’s Market during the opening session of The NGA Show in Las Vegas on Feb. 1. The award honors independent grocers that exemplify exceptional dedication to community engagement and service. For more than 100 years, Walt Churchill’s Market […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop Lowers Chicken Prices In CT, NJ, NY
Stop & Shop has reduced prices on chicken at all its stores in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, with the price reductions taking effect before the Big Game. The lower prices apply to a range of products from national brands like Perdue and Bell & Evans to private brands like Stop & Shop’s Nature’s […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, H-E-B, News, Southwest
H-E-B Buys Land For Supply Chain Campus In North Texas
H-E-B finalized a land purchase of more than 600 acres in Valley View, Texas, where the San Antonio-based retailer plans to build facilities in multiple phases to support its supply chain operations. Situated along Interstate 35 and E. Lone Oak Road, the property in Cooke County is about 60 miles north of Fort Worth. The […]
Posted inAssociation News, National, News, Nonfood Items
Inspired Home Show 2026 Set For March 10-12 In Chicago
The Inspired Home Show 2026 will take place March 10-12 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, bringing together more than 2,000 brands and 300,000 products for North America’s largest home and housewares industry event. The show, organized annually by the Rosemont, Illinois-based International Housewares Association (IHA), will feature key retailers and brands from around the globe. Major […]
Posted inExecutive News, Finance News, National, News, Snacks Brands
Rise Baking Co. Names McNeil As CEO
Rise Baking Co. has appointed Mark McNeil as CEO, succeeding Brian Zellmer, who led the Minneapolis-based manufacturer over the past five years. McNeil is a seasoned food and beverage executive with more than 30 years of cross-functional leadership experience across retail, foodservice and manufacturing. He most recently served as CEO of Shearer’s Foods, the largest […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Finance News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Opens New Store In Locust Grove, GA
Publix opened a new store Jan. 28 in the Shops at Indian Creek, 4518 Hwy 42 S. in Locust Grove, Georgia. The 48,387-square-foot store features traditional departments, including a full-service deli counter with a variety of meats and cheeses, an international selection of olives, antipastos, hummus and more than 200 artisan cheeses from the United […]
Posted inAssociation News, Independent Store News, National, News
NGA Recognizes Creative Choice Awards Winners At 2026 Show
The National Grocers Association honored the winners of its annual Creative Choice Awards at The NGA Show on Feb. 1 in Las Vegas, recognizing outstanding marketing and merchandising programs from independent grocery retailers across the country. Houchens Food Group received two national awards this year. The Bowling Green, Kentucky-based, 100-percent employee-owned company received the Unilever […]
Posted inAssociation News, Finance News, Independent Store News, National, News
NGA Honors Hugo’s Magnuson Nelson With Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award
The National Grocers Association named Kristi Magnuson Nelson, president of Grand Forks, North Dakota-based Hugo’s Family Marketplace, as the 2026 recipient of the Thomas K. Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. One of the most prestigious honors in the independent grocery industry, the award honors the legacy of Zaucha, NGA’s first president and CEO, whose career was […]
Expert Article
Real-Time Insight For Real Results: Giving Independent Grocers Control Over The Decisions That Drive Profit
Independent grocers operate in one of the most demanding areas of retail. Margins are tight, labor is unpredictable and vendor costs can change without warning. Yet many store leaders still rely on month-end reports or spreadsheets that arrive long after the moment to adjust has passed. That delay makes it harder to lead with confidence. […]
Expert Article
Ask The Experts: Ryan Draude, Giant Food
Ryan Draude has spent nearly 15 years building nationally-recognized loyalty programs at brands like Choice Hotels, RITE AID, and now Giant Food — where he currently serves as the head of loyalty. But as cross-shopping, value-seeking behavior becomes the norm, earning loyalty from grocery shoppers is getting harder every day. We spoke with Ryan about […]
Expert Article
How Independent Retailers Can Maximize Refrigeration Performance, Profitability
Independent retailers face tight budgets and rising operational costs. These pressures are felt even stronger these days as consumers remain hyper-focused on grocery prices and affordability. Refrigeration equipment – critical for merchandising fresh and frozen products – represents a significant investment for retailers. Getting the most out of that investment starts with investing in the […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, National, News
NFRA Penguin Pitch Spotlights Emerging Frozen, Refrigerated Brands
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association’s (NFRA) Penguin Pitch: Emerging Brand Contest is returning for its third year, recognizing innovative frozen and refrigerated food brands redefining their categories through product development, creative packaging and strategic market execution. Launched Jan. 1, Penguin Pitch provides emerging brands with an opportunity to gain visibility among retailers, distributors […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Festival Foods, Midwest, News
Festival Foods’ Munns Retiring, Whitney Promoted To Chief Merchant
Festival Foods shared two personnel moves Jan. 30, including the upcoming retirement of Randy Munns, EVP and COO, and the promotion of Adam Whitney to chief merchant. Munns will retire Feb. 13 after a 40-year career in the grocery industry, including 35 years with the Wisconsin-based chain. Munns joined Festival in 1991 as a third-shift […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
IGA Debuts Community Development Program To Address Food Desert Crisis
The Independent Grocers Alliance has launched IGA Community Development, a new initiative designed to expand access to fresh, affordable food in underserved urban and rural communities across the U.S. The new area of focus for IGA involves matching funding from communities, nonprofits and other developmental entities with independent retailers. This allows those retailers to open […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, National, News
Lidl U.S. Opening New Store Feb. 4 In Totowa, NJ
Lidl U.S. will open a new store Feb. 4 at 545 US-46 in Totowa, New Jersey, expanding the discount grocer’s presence in the state. The store will welcome customers at sunrise with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:40 a.m. The grand opening will feature freshly baked croissants and coffee. The Totowa location will feature Lidl’s curated […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Costco Wholesale, National, News
Costco Launches Same-Day Instacart Delivery Websites In France, Spain
Costco (Nasdaq: COST) members in France and Spain can shop online and receive same-day delivery through Costco’s first European websites powered by Instacart’s Storefront Pro commerce platform and fulfillment solutions services, the companies announced Jan. 30. The initial rollout includes delivery from all Costco locations in the two countries, including stores in the Paris metropolitan […]