Arnott Duncan, founder of Duncan Family Farms, received the Grower of the Year award during the recent 2025 Organic Grower Summit in Monterey, California. The John Deere-sponsored recognition honors Duncan’s three-decade transformation from small-scale agritourism operator to organic farming innovator managing 3,850 acres across three states. Duncan’s path to organic leadership began with an accidental […]
Category: West
Posted inCorporate Store News, Smart & Final, West
Smart & Final To Debut New Store Dec. 10 In San Diego, CA
Smart & Final will open a 25,000-square-foot location Dec. 10 at 3705 Rosecrans St. in San Diego’s Midway District, a neighborhood that is transforming into a walkable entertainment, retail and residential hub. The Los Angeles-based retailer specializes in delivering value to household and business customers through a hybrid model that combines everyday grocery sizes with […]
Posted inBakery News, West, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Strictly From Scratch Marks 30 Years, Eyes Growth In 2026
Strictly From Scratch, a Phoenix-based commercial bakery specializing in sweet and savory breads and pastries for wholesale distribution, celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025. The company is now positioning itself for expanded capacity and new product categories heading into 2026. The bakery, founded in 1995 by Rudy DePaola, has grown into the largest niche commercial […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Albertsons, News, West
Albertsons Cos. Introduces AI Assistant For Faster, Personalized Experience
Albertsons Cos. reports that it has reached a milestone in its digital transformation journey with the launch of the Albertsons AI shopping assistant, a web browser experience designed to make grocery shopping faster and more personalized. The Boise, Idaho-based retailer aims to reduce shopping time from an average of 46 minutes to four minutes. As […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, International Foods, News, West
New Japanese Specialty Market To Debut Dec. 12 In Foster City, CA
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 […]
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 inProduce News, News, Sustainability News, West
Divert, General Produce Partner On Food Waste-to-Energy Plan
Divert Inc. and General Produce have formed a partnership that will convert unsold and non-donatable food into renewable energy and soil amendment for communities in Northern California. General Produce will send unused food from its Sacramento distribution center to Divert’s Integrated Diversion & Energy Facility in Turlock, California. There, the material will move through depackaging […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, West
T&T Supermarket Plans For Third Bay Area Store In Millbrae, CA
T&T Supermarket will open a 52,000-square-foot location in Millbrae this winter, marking its third Bay Area store. The store will serve communities across the San Francisco Peninsula, including Millbrae, Palo Alto, San Bruno and San Mateo. It will create 350 jobs, with the company hiring for office and in-store positions across California. “Finding large retail […]