How many times have you had an interaction and left feeling misunderstood? Experts say, communication and finances are the top downfalls in relationships. Now you may be thinking, this only applies in our personal lives. Your relationship with shoppers could be suffering here as well. For example, Craig never buys chocolate and is not likely […]
Category: News
Posted inCorporate Store News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger Expands Simple Truth Protein Line With 24 New Products
Kroger added 24 new Simple Truth Protein products to store shelves in January, expanding the line to more than 110 items as customers focus on wellness goals in the new year. The expanded line features protein-packed options designed to support nutrition goals, from establishing everyday habits to building strength. All products are free from unwanted […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Anniversary Issues, Finance News, News, Retailer of the Year, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
SoCal-Based Vallarta Supermarkets Charts Path Of Growth, Change
In 1985, the Gonzalez family opened a small market in Van Nuys, California, called Carnicería Vallarta. The family focused on selling traditional cuts of meats popular in their native Mexico. They worked hard to build a name for themselves by offering high-quality authentic products, providing a high level of customer service and treating employees as […]
Expert Article
Commercial Ripening 2026: An Interview With David Byrne
Commercial ripening has come a long way over the past 30 years. From air-stacking boxes in temperature-controlled holding rooms to today’s ultra-advanced, digitally controlled ripening room systems that can uniformly ripen multiple truckloads of palletized fruit to the exact same color at the exact same time. As the global leader in commercial ripening room design […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southeast
The Fresh Market Adds South Miami Store To Florida Footprint
The Fresh Market opened its first store of 2026 in South Miami on Jan. 28, marking the grocer’s eighth location in the Miami-Dade area and 172nd store overall. The ribbon-cutting welcomed customers to a store featuring premium meats and seafood, fresh seasonal produce, local offerings and international products. To mark the occasion, the store contributed […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Produce News, Tops Friendly Markets
Tops Markets Launches 2026 Produce Winter Olympic Games
Tops Markets has launched its 2026 Produce Winter Olympic Games, a four-week, company-wide competition Feb. 1-28 that challenges store teams to showcase produce displays, innovative merchandising and strong sales performance. Throughout the competition, stores participate in weekly themed events designed to highlight freshness, presentation and promotional creativity within the produce department. Teams compete for thousands […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Albertsons, News, Northeast
Albertsons Media Collective Opens NYC Office, Unveils Brand Refresh
Albertsons Media Collective has opened its first New York City office in Midtown Manhattan and launched a brand refresh as part of the retail media network’s expansion strategy. The new office positions the retail media division at the center of the advertising industry to enable closer collaboration with agency partners, advertisers and industry leaders. It […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Reaches Milestone In Florida Everglades Projects
Publix recently completed two wetland restoration projects in the Florida Everglades, restoring more than 1,300 acres and an estimated 173 million gallons of water annually to the region. In 2021, the Lakeland, Fla.-based company committed $2 million to the National Audubon Society and the National Park Foundation to support restoration efforts at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Expands Pickup, Delivery To 36 Additional Stores
Food Lion has expanded Food Lion To Go online ordering to 36 additional stores in Georgia, Maryland and North and South Carolina. The expansion provides more customers access to online grocery pickup and home delivery services through foodlion.com and the Food Lion app. The rollout builds on continued e-commerce growth for the Salisbury, North Carolina-based […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southwest
United Supermarkets, Cheez-It Donate $10K To Extra Yard For Teachers Initiative
United Supermarkets and Cheez-It recently presented $10,000 in grant funding to nearly two dozen educators across the South Plains of Texas as part of the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative. Grants ranging from about $200-900 will support classroom projects through DonorsChoose. The CFP Foundation is the largest sports entity dedicated to […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Equipment & Technology, National, News
LOC Software, Local Express Partner On Unified Commerce Solution For Grocers
LOC Software and Local Express launched a unified commerce solution allowing grocers to manage in-store, online and marketplace sales through one platform, the companies announced Jan. 29. The partnership addresses a key operational challenge for grocers struggling with labor shortages and inventory management. According to research for LOC’s 2026 Exploring Grocery Technology Trends Survey, 57 […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, News, Northeast, UNFI
UNFI Celebrates 50th Anniversary With $2M Foundation Grant Initiative
As part of its “50 for 50” initiative marking the company’s 50th anniversary, United Natural Foods Inc. and the UNFI Foundation will award $2 million in grants to 50 nonprofits across all U.S. states in 2026. The announcement came during UNFI’s first Spring and Summer Selling Show of 2026 in Long Beach, California, honoring the […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest, News, UNFI
Minnesota Grocery Industry Faces Expansion, Closures, Federal Funding Uncertainty
Minnesota’s grocery industry navigated significant challenges and changes in 2025, with new leadership at major chains, a cyberattack disrupting operations, federal SNAP funding uncertainty threatening rural stores and continued pressure from state labor mandates. United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) appointed David Best as president and CEO of retail effective Aug. 17, leading the company’s two […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
NGA Shares 2026 Creative Choice Award Winners
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has shared the winners of the 2026 Creative Choice Awards, recognizing top marketing and merchandising programs in the independent grocery industry. The awards, supported by Cheez-It and Unilever, will be presented during The NGA Show, which runs Feb. 1-3 at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. A Unilever […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Midwest, News
RSA America Expands Support Team, Previews AI Platform At The NGA Show
RSA America has strengthened its retail customer support operations, introduced new artificial intelligence-driven capabilities and will debut a fully integrated in-store kiosk at The NGA Show Feb. 1-3 in Las Vegas. The Chicago-based digital marketing solutions provider also promoted Mark Osborne from VP to SVP of retail execution. Osborne leads customer launch strategy, ad planning, […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, News, Sustainability News, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
Smartway Deploys AI Waste-Reduction Tech Across 39 Vallarta Supermarkets
Smartway, a France-based food waste technology provider, completed deployment of its artificial intelligence-powered waste management system across 39 Vallarta Supermarkets locations in six months, marking the company’s entry into the North American market. The rollout included 34 stores in five weeks across center store grocery, deli, frozen and dairy departments. The deployment followed a three- […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Taylor Bros. Construction Builds Business Through Meijer Grow Program
Taylor Bros. Construction Co., a Columbus, Indiana-based construction company, has expanded its operations through participation in the Meijer Grow program, which supports local businesses within the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer’s footprint. Taylor Bros., established in 1933, previously worked on Meijer stores through other general contractors. “We were part of the team, just not working with […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, National, News, Walmart
Walmart Raises Pharmacy Technician Pay, Creates 3K Leadership Roles
Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart has elevated 3,000 pharmacy technician positions to pharmacy operations team lead roles with increased pay and created expanded earning potential for techs across nearly 4,600 locations nationwide. The pharmacy operations team lead positions pay an average of $28 per hour, with the possibility to earn up to $42 per hour plus bonus […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, National, News
NFRA Announces Second Class Of First Penguin Leadership Program
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has announced the 30 participants for its 2026 First Penguin Leadership Program. The year-long offering aims to address a growing industry need for structured, cross-sector leadership development that builds strategic perspective, strengthens collaboration and accelerates readiness among rising talent in dairy and frozen foods. It recognizes those […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, C-Store News, News, Southeast
ECRS Launches CATAPULT Fuel For Independent Retailers
Boone, N.C.-based ECRS has released CATAPULT Fuel, a fuel management system that integrates operations into the company’s CATAPULT point-of-sale platform. The system allows independent retailers to manage fuel operations through CATAPULT Web Office, creating a single unified platform for store and fuel management. The release marks a departure from complex fuel software systems that require […]