The Save Mart Companies CARES Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2025 Feeding Forward grants, awarding $201,000 to four California and Nevada food organizations. The grants focus on addressing infrastructure needs at food banks that handle retail recovery food items. Recipients include Central California Food Bank ($100,000), Second Harvest of the Greater Valley ($50,000), […]
Category: West
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, West
Grocery Outlet Embarks On Informed Store Refresh
Improving the in-store experience as well as product mix and inventory levels have been guiding decisions at Grocery Outlet this year. President and CEO Jason Potter, who has been at the helm of the Emeryville, California-based grocer since Feb. 3, outlined Grocery Outlet’s priorities during a Nov. 4 earnings call covering third-quarter results. “We’ve spent […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, West
Central Oregon Grocers Match $32.5K In Donations For Food Banks
Three employee-owned grocery stores in Central Oregon have launched their annual Food for February fundraiser, matching customer donations dollar-for-dollar up to $32,500 to support local food banks during a critical time of year. Newport Avenue Market, Oliver Lemon’s and Ollie’s Kitchen are collecting donations at checkout throughout December to benefit Family Kitchen and Sisters Kiwanis […]
Posted inProduce News, Supply Chain News, West
Arizona Farmer Named 2025 Organic Grower of the Year
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 […]
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 […]