The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation awarded nearly $1 million in “Nourishing our Neighbors” grants to more than 280 nonprofits during its 2026 spring/summer grant cycle. Since its inception in 2001, the foundation has distributed more than $25 million in grants to support community feeding partners in the grocer’s 10‑state operating area. “Our local feeding […]
Category: News
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, News, Northeast
PFMA Adds Altria Group’s Akhand To Board Of Directors
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) has appointed Abir Akhand, industry engagement manager for Altria Group Distribution Co., to its board of directors. Akhand, who leads Altria’s advocacy efforts in Pennsylvania and the Northeast, brings eight years of industry experience, including recent work efforts in the Midwest. He previously managed retail and wholesale accounts based […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Balls Foods, Featured News, Midwest, News
Balls Food Stores Names Campbell President
Balls Food Stores has named Ryan Campbell president as David Ball, third-generation leader, transitions to the role of chairman of the board of directors, where he will focus on growth through acquisitions and mergers. Balls Food Stores is a 100 percent teammate-owned company and one of the largest locally owned grocery retailers in the Kansas […]
Expert Article
Non-Food For Thought: Home Field Advantage
By Naomi Sleeper, President, Imperial Distributors Inc. Non-Food for Thought is back. After a few-year hiatus, we are relaunching this column as a forum for sharing perspective on the trends, opportunities and challenges shaping non-food merchandising in the grocery channel. There may not be a more relevant time to renew these discussions than Summer 2026 […]
Expert Article
Know Your Numbers: The Financial Habits Behind Independent Grocery’s Top Performers
Jon Cline knows the grocery business from the ground up. He started bagging groceries at Safeway in high school, managed a 7-Eleven while earning his accounting degree at the University of Oklahoma, and went on to build a career spanning some of the industry’s biggest names: Arthur Andersen, Scrivner, Fleming and Supervalu. At FMS Solutions, […]
Expert Article
Independent Grocers Don’t Need More Technology, They Need Better Integration
With more than 50 years of combined experience in grocery POS and retail technology, Farrell McKenna and Ed Sepelak have worked closely with independent grocers, navigating everything from changing consumer expectations to rapidly evolving store technology. With decades of hands-on experience supporting independent grocery retailers, they share a practical perspective on why integration, operational simplicity, […]
Expert Article
The Fresh Bakery Renaissance: Why In-Store Bakeries Are Grocery’s Secret Weapon In 2026
Fresh FMI data shows the in-store bakery is one of grocery’s strongest growth engines — and a clear roadmap for retailers heading into 2026. The in-store bakery is having a moment. According to FMI’s Power of Foodservice at Retail 2025 report, in-store bakery sales reached $21 billion in the 52 weeks ending Aug. 9 — […]
Posted inCenter Store, Featured News, Health & Wellness, News, Northeast
Unilever Investing $270M For R&D Hub In New Haven, CT
Unilever has unveiled plans to develop a new Global Innovation Center in New Haven, Connecticut, representing a $270 million investment. The facility, set to open by spring 2029, will serve as a hub for the company’s research and development (R&D) for personal care, beauty and well-being businesses in the U.S. and worldwide. The center will […]