Osaka Marketplace will hold a grand opening Dec. 12 at 919 Edgewater Blvd. in Foster City, California, bringing its Japanese grocery experience to the East Bay area. Located inside the Edgewater Place Shopping Center, the store is taking over the former Lucky Supermarket space. It will offer the extensive assortment, quality and service that have […]
Category: News
Posted inGrocery Research, National, News
FreshDirect Shares Top Food Predictions For 2026
FreshDirect’s 2026 food trends and predictions report reflects a growing demand for an expanded flavor palate, shift in consumer drinking habits, desire for products made in the U.S. and an expansion of chefs making meals for the home kitchen. In 2025, FreshDirect strengthened its customer connections through experiential events and activations in New York City, the […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Association News, Grocery Research, National, News
Winter Holiday Confectionery Demand Remains Strong, NCA Reports
According to a new survey from the National Confectioners Association (NCA), 95 percent of Americans plan to celebrate the winter holidays with chocolate and candy, reflecting the category’s continued strength as a holiday staple. The “big four” seasonal moments – Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and the winter holidays – remain key for the $54 billion […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Village Farms Greenhouse Grown Supports Publix Produce For Kids Campaign
The Healthy Family Project Fall Publix Produce for Kids cause marketing campaign wrapped Nov. 5, with Village Farms Greenhouse Grown participating as one of 13 produce sponsors. This season’s program helped provide about 875,000 meals to 35 Feeding America partner food banks across the Publix market area. Since its launch in 2002, the biannual effort […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, Executive News, News, Southwest, Walmart
Walmart SVP Morris To Keynote PLMA Annual Meeting, Leadership Conference
Walmart’s SVP of private brands food, consumables and manufacturing will deliver the keynote address April 15-17 during PLMA’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference. Scott Morris and his team are tasked with positioning Walmart’s private brands, strengthening their value proposition, developing quality core and innovative products and building customer loyalty and holistic cultural support. He […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Fareway, Midwest, News
Fareway Breaks Ground On New Store In Coal Valley, IL
Fareway Stores Inc. has broken ground on a new location in Coal Valley, Illinois, marking the beginning of construction on a 17,000-square-foot store at 1st Street and Route 6 that is slated for completion next fall. “Communities depend on a local grocer to offer high-quality products at affordable prices with unmatched service,” said Fareway CEO […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Associated Food Stores, News, West
AFS, Lee’s Marketplace Open Bella’s Market In Vineyard, UT
Bella’s Market drew more than 1,000 people to its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 17 at 875 N. Main St. in Vineyard, Utah, where it was welcomed as the first grocery store in the 700-acre mixed-use master-planned community on the eastern shore of Utah Lake. Vendors including Kodiak Cakes, Café Ibis, Certified Angus Beef […]
Posted inSustainability News, Midwest, News
Hormel Foods Names 2025 Class Of 10 Under 20 Food Heroes
Hormel Foods Corp. has announced its fourth cohort of 10 Under 20 Food Heroes, recognizing the efforts of young people across the U.S. who are working to create a more transparent, secure and sustainable food system. The Austin, Minnesota-based company will host the group at its global headquarters, where honorees will connect with Hormel Foods […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, News, Southeast
Buehler’s Fresh Foods Achieves Increased Basket Lift With ECRS LoyaltyBot
Buehler’s Fresh Foods reports that it has experienced a 30 percent increase in average basket size using ECRS LoyaltyBot Basket Lift Campaigns at checkout, a feature within the CATAPULT loyalty automation suite. “We’ve always known LoyaltyBot’s basket lift campaigns were special,” said James Councill, loyalty and promotions business unit manager at ECRS. “But seeing how […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, National, News
Dynamics Of Grocery Leadership Rooted In Fast-Paced, People-Driven Environment
by Paulo Goelzer For over three decades, I have lived and breathed the dynamic world of grocery retail – an industry where leadership is forged not in corner offices, but in backrooms, front ends and produce aisles. In those 30 years, I have had the opportunity to work with store management that navigated chaos on […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Fareway, Midwest, News
Fareway’s Kingma Named IGIA Volunteer Of The Year
Wesson Kingma, Fareway’s regional supervisor, has been named the 2025 Iowa Grocery Industry Association (IGIA) Volunteer of the Year, recognized for his commitment to service, leadership and community involvement across the state. Kingma’s journey with the Johnston, Iowa-based retailer began at age 16 when he started as a courtesy clerk at the store in Pella. […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, National, News
Honoring Uncle’s Legacy Of Leadership, Gratitude
Thanksgiving is a season of gratitude, reflection and intentional recognition of the people who have shaped our lives. As families gather around tables filled with food and laughter, we pause to remember not just for what – but whom – we are thankful. This year, my heart turns to one man whose life embodies leadership, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Guest Contributors, National, News
There IS A Future For Independent Grocery
Editor’s note: This is the third of a three-part series of articles intended to provide a view of the path to a brighter future for independent grocery as a whole and to independent grocers. Independent grocery is not in decline – it is in transition. The future will not belong solely to the largest players […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Northeast, The Giant Company
The Giant Co. Opens New Store In Allentown, PA
The Giant Company held a grand opening Nov. 21 for a new 68,000-square-foot store that is part of the South Mall Shopping Center at 3300 Lehigh St. in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The location replaces a previous store and fuel facility at 3015 West Emmaus Ave. that was shuttered Nov. 20. “At The Giant Co., exceeding the […]
Posted inBakery News, Hannaford Supermarkets, News, Northeast
Hannaford Partners With Local Bakery On Holiday Bread
Hannaford Supermarkets is celebrating the holiday season by partnering with Fireking Baking Co., a Massachusetts bakery, to offer an exclusive, limited-edition specialty bread in all 188 stores. Baked by Fireking Baking Co. in Braintree, Massachusetts, the White Chocolate Cranberry Boule blends white chocolate and cranberries for a seasonal treat designed for holiday gatherings and gifts. One […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Fareway, Midwest, News
Fareway Shares Leadership Transitions, Promotes 2 Executives
Fareway has shared several leadership transitions, as well as the promotion of two employees to officer roles. The personnel moves come as the company honors the retirements of executives who made lasting contributions to Fareway’s legacy. Mark DeYoung has been promoted to VP of retail construction and maintenance, while Roger Wirtz has been promoted to […]
Posted inPackaging News, Beverage News, National, News
Vitaminwater Debuts Packaging Redesign, New Flavors
Vitaminwater has debuted a revitalized packaging design and introduced two new flavors to help the brand stand out in the increasingly crowded enhanced water category. The updated packaging, which started rolling out in March, features a cleaner, bolder label design with flavor-forward colors, an enlarged and stacked logo with modernized typography, and flavor descriptions channeling […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
DCEO Official Discusses Illinois Grocery Initiative’s Efforts To Strengthen Food Systems
As Illinois continues its efforts to ensure every resident has access to fresh, affordable food, the Illinois Grocery Initiative is leading the way in revitalizing communities and combating food insecurity statewide. Established in 2023, the program takes a multipronged approach to addressing food deserts – areas where residents face barriers to accessing fresh groceries – […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, ShopRite
ShopRite Launches Check-Out Hunger Campaign For Food Banks
ShopRite has launched its annual Check-Out Hunger campaign, a holiday-season fundraiser inviting customers to support local food banks by adding donations at checkout through the second week of January at stores across the region. The campaign follows the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) 25th Annual Turkey Drive, which collected donated turkeys and food items […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, National, News, Private Label Brands, Stop & Shop
Survey: 55% Of Americans Prefer Canned Cranberry Sauce
Stop & Shop released survey results revealing that 55 percent of Americans prefer canned cranberry sauce with ridges at Thanksgiving, compared to 31 percent who favor homemade versions. The Quincy, Massachusetts-based retailer surveyed adults ages 18 and older across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey to gauge cranberry sauce preferences. The survey […]