Posted inProduce News, Affiliated Foods, Independent Store News, Lowes Markets, News, Southwest

Lowe’s Markets, EmpowerFresh Expand Produce Partnership

Lowe’s Markets, a Texas-based grocery chain, has expanded its partnership with EmpowerFresh, an AI-powered ordering and analytics platform built for independents’ produce departments. Building on the success of an initial six-store pilot, the rollout will extend EmpowerFresh’s solutions to 68 locations across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Kansas. The produce department – often considered […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Dairy News, News, Northeast, Tops Friendly Markets

Tops Friendly Markets, Garelick Farms Partner On Milk Donation Program

Throughout September, for every gallon of Garelick Farms’ milk purchased at 10 participating Tops locations, a carton of Giving Cow milk will be donated to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The donations come in cartons featuring playful cow characters. The single-serve, 8-ounce packs of ultra-high temperature (UHT) pasteurized milk have a shelf-life […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast

Publix Recognized As A 2025 Best Workplace By Fortune

Publix Super Markets has been named to the Best Workplaces in Retail list by Fortune for the 12th consecutive year, ranking third of the 20 best large retail workplaces for 2025. Employees reported that the company’s welcoming and promote-from-within culture, customer service and dedication to community outreach are some of the reasons they enjoy working […]

Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southwest, Whole Foods

Whole Foods Market Preps To Open Store In Parker, CO

The new 43,000-square-foot store Whole Foods Market is opening Oct. 9 at 8665 Kings Point Way in Parker, Colorado, will feature more than 700 products from across the state. Features of the Parker store include: An array of certified organic, conventional and Sourced for Good local options such as carving pumpkins from Hirakata Farms, hard […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Food City, News, Southeast

Food City Donates $548K To Breakthrough T1D

Food City donated more than $548,000 to Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) on Sept. 3 at its store at 123 West Hwy. 25-70 in Dandridge, Tennessee. Each year, Food City hosts a company-wide “sneaker” fundraising campaign to benefit Breakthrough T1D. The 2025 promotion ran from April 30-May 27. Food City shoppers could make […]

Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Dairy News, Natural Grocers, News, Southwest

Natural Grocers Introduces Private Label Organic Yogurt

Natural Grocers has introduced private label organic yogurt in three flavors from a proprietary recipe that is packed with probiotics and offers 6-7 grams of protein per serving. The new additions to the company’s house brand are certified organic, non-GMO and made without artificial sweeteners, flavors and preservatives (as defined by its standards). “Good yogurt […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, News, Stater Bros. Markets, West

McNiff To Succeed Van Helden As Stater Bros. CEO

Stater Bros. Markets President and COO Greg McNiff has been appointed CEO and president of the company while his predecessor, Pete Van Helden, will remain in the role of executive chairman of the board of directors. Both appointments will be effective on Sept. 29. All functional areas of the company will report to McNiff. “I’ve […]

Posted inWholesaler/Distributor of the Year, Anniversary Issues, Associated Grocers, Inc., News, Southeast

Outgoing EVP: From Get-Go, Associated Grocers Has Been ‘All About Service’

Carl Marks, EVP and chief strategy officer at Associated Grocers, will retire in October, marking the close of 27 years with the company across two distinct tenures. Marks initially joined Associated Grocers in 1988, having started his career in the grocery industry “sort of accidentally” at a small wholesaler in Alexandria, Louisiana, followed by a […]