Latest News From Retail

U.S. digital grocery sales fell 1% in 2023, survey finds
U.S. digital grocery sales fell 1% in 2023, survey finds

The year-end results highlight the challenge facing regional grocers in growing e-commerce in today’s competitive environment.

Inflation pushes higher in December
Inflation pushes higher in December

Though retail prices for fresh produce were down compared with a year ago, the inflation rate for all consumer prices ticked higher in December, the Commerce Department reports.

Upside debuts new dashboard
Upside debuts new dashboard

The new and improved Upside Dashboard redefines measurement, giving retailers data needed to make decisions regarding industry changes.

5 food trends The Fresh Market bets will be big in 2024
5 food trends The Fresh Market bets will be big in 2024

The Greensboro, N.C.-based grocer has named five food and beverage trends it predicts will be hot in the year ahead, with produce playing a role in each.

Edible Garden expands company’s distribution network
Edible Garden expands company’s distribution network

Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace will carry Edible Garden’s products in its retail locations throughout New York and New Jersey.

Report explores retail produce manager training and job satisfaction
Report explores retail produce manager training and job satisfaction

Retailers looking to better support and equip their produce managers have a new resource to explore.

Albertsons reports net sales, revenue increases in Q3
Albertsons reports net sales, revenue increases in Q3

The Boise, Idaho-based company reported that digital and identical sales helped buoy its third-quarter results for fiscal year 2023.

Honeybear Brands is touting EverCrisp as a late-season star for retailers
Honeybear Brands is touting EverCrisp as a late-season star for retailers

Honeybear Brands says it is delighting retailers and shoppers with its growing supply of the late-season EverCrisp variety. 

Albertsons Cos. to reward shoppers who achieve nutrition, activity goals
Albertsons Cos. to reward shoppers who achieve nutrition, activity goals

The Boise, Idaho-based company said it will offer double rewards for healthy choices and quadruple rewards for Own Brands purchases during January.

Inside Morton Williams’ west side glory
Inside Morton Williams’ west side glory

With an emphasis on local produce, the specialty supermarket — boasting 15 stores in New York and one in New Jersey — sources the majority of its produce from Hunts Point Market in the Bronx, N.Y.

Plenty of room to grow mushroom sales
Plenty of room to grow mushroom sales

Giving consumers more options is a good way to promote mushroom sales, marketers say.

Fresh From Florida shares strawberry promotion plans
Fresh From Florida shares strawberry promotion plans

Print, digital and retail promotions such as grocery cart ads, weekly circulars, social media campaigns, shoppable ads and more will be used to spread the word about the Sunshine State’s juicy red strawberries.

Iconic Holiday Road Trip Stop Returns to Its Georgia Pecan Farm Roots
Iconic Holiday Road Trip Stop Returns to Its Georgia Pecan Farm Roots

A few decades back, stopping at a Stuckey's during a holiday road trip wasn't uncommon. Today the company is eyeing a business comeback by focusing on its farming roots and leveraging quality Georgia pecans.

Kanzi apples show explosive growth
Kanzi apples show explosive growth

CMI Orchards said this managed variety shows a 613% growth in volume for the 13 weeks ending Dec. 2, according to Nielsen scan data.

Survey: Nearly 1 in 3 artichoke consumers report buying organic only
Survey: Nearly 1 in 3 artichoke consumers report buying organic only

The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 data shows younger shoppers, higher-income households, those with more kids at home were among those reporting the highest organic artichoke purchase rates.

Heritage Grocers Group gives back, spreads fun this holiday season
Heritage Grocers Group gives back, spreads fun this holiday season

The Ontario, Calif.-based Hispanic food retailer says it’s brightening the holidays for residents in the communities where Heritage banner grocery stores operate.

Fresh Trends: Consumers turn to potatoes to battle inflation
Fresh Trends: Consumers turn to potatoes to battle inflation

The versatile potato is one fresh produce commodity that consumers turn to when they are faced with grocery price inflation, The Packer's Fresh Trends 2024 survey reveals.

Fairway Market launches 30-minute delivery service powered by Instacart
Fairway Market launches 30-minute delivery service powered by Instacart

Instacart and Fairway Market have announced the launch of "Fairway Now," a new fast home delivery service powered by Instacart.

Lowes Foods, Healthy Family Project partner to integrate health-conscious brands across store
Lowes Foods, Healthy Family Project partner to integrate health-conscious brands across store

This holiday season, Healthy Family Project and Lowes Foods partnered with 21 health-conscious brands for the first-ever Season of Sharing, providing 525,000 meals to local Feeding America food banks.

Whole Foods introduces new pollinator policy for fresh produce and floral
Whole Foods introduces new pollinator policy for fresh produce and floral

In a move to support pollinators and the critical role they play in the food system and the environment, the Austin, Texas-based grocer has introduced a new pollinator policy.

Tops Friendly Markets to host citrus extravaganza
Tops Friendly Markets to host citrus extravaganza

A California-based citrus brand is gearing up for a zestful celebration Dec. 20-23 at Tops Friendly Markets as part of its nationwide "Peelz on Wheelz" Citrus Road Tour.

Online grocers posted $8.1B in sales for November 
Online grocers posted $8.1B in sales for November 

In its November grocery shopping survey, Brick Meets Click/Mercatus found more U.S. households turned to mass retailers for major grocery purchases.

Products that can help enhance retailers' avocado category
Products that can help enhance retailers' avocado category

Retailers can add to the excitement of the Super Bowl by enhancing their avocado categories with some innovative product tie-ins.

Inside Wegmans' world-class Astor Place market
Inside Wegmans' world-class Astor Place market

From the moment shoppers enter the 87,500-square-foot Astor Place Wegmans — the Rochester, N.Y.-based grocer's newest store — the fresh produce storytelling begins.

Inflation slows again in November
Inflation slows again in November

Consumer retail prices in November were up 3.1% compared to a year ago, down slightly from the 3.2% annual inflation rate reported in October.

How Avocados From Mexico is supporting Super Bowl promotions
How Avocados From Mexico is supporting Super Bowl promotions

The trade organization says it recognizes the dominance of Mexican avocados during this time of year and goes all out to help retailers score big returns by promoting the fruit.

Avocado suppliers and retailers kick off Super Bowl plans
Avocado suppliers and retailers kick off Super Bowl plans

It’s still December, but suppliers of avocados and avocado-related products say it’s not too early to start making plans for 2024 Super Bowl promotions.

Fresh Del Monte and Mann Packing want you to build a produce snowman
Fresh Del Monte and Mann Packing want you to build a produce snowman

The contest challenges contestants to build a snowman out of Fresh Del Monte Produce and Mann Packing Co. fruits and vegetables, with a chance to win a prize.

Heritage Grocers Group to expand its Nevada footprint
Heritage Grocers Group to expand its Nevada footprint

Heritage Grocers Group, an Ontario, Calif.-based Hispanic food retailer, is expanding its Las Vegas footprint with a new Cardenas Markets location slated to open Dec. 6.

Fruit World debuts citrus packaging for start of season
Fruit World debuts citrus packaging for start of season

The company said the new packaging, introduced to mark the start of the California citrus season, highlights its growing practices.

PMG's Best of 2023: Products, promos and more
PMG's Best of 2023: Products, promos and more

Who doesn’t love a best of (insert year) list? Learn about some of the year’s best produce products, promotions, packages, retailer social accounts and merchandising.

How to make the most of the plant-based boom
How to make the most of the plant-based boom

Fresh produce is the original plant-based food. How can growers, suppliers and retailers make the most of this healthy eating trend?

What’s hot in specialty produce? Flavor leads the way
What’s hot in specialty produce? Flavor leads the way

Baldor Specialty Foods’ Kenneth Bower shares insights on specialty produce trends for retail and foodservice customers.

7 merchandising tips to maximize sales for the winter holiday season
7 merchandising tips to maximize sales for the winter holiday season

The holidays have plenty of hustle and bustle for shoppers, so convenience, the right variety and value (more than ever) will be at the top of their lists. Give the gift of ease in picking produce to fill their carts.

Produce and the city: In Mexico's capital, fruit and veg are stars
Produce and the city: In Mexico's capital, fruit and veg are stars

With this pictorial of Mexico City’s Soriana supermarket, we launch Market Crush, a new series featuring retail produce purveyors who are crushing it when it comes to dynamic displays that drive shoppers to buy.

FreshDirect reveals 5 food trend predictions for 2024
FreshDirect reveals 5 food trend predictions for 2024

From flavor and function to sustainability and small plates, FreshDirect has revealed its 2024 food trend insights curated by the company’s merchant team of category specialists. 

Market Crush: Food Lion in Raleigh, N.C.
Market Crush: Food Lion in Raleigh, N.C.

A produce professional was stocking the department shelves on a summery mid-morning Monday at Food Lion in Greystone Village in North Raleigh, N.C.

California Walnut Board, Commission launch direct-to-consumer holiday campaign
California Walnut Board, Commission launch direct-to-consumer holiday campaign

With the aim of increasing walnut consumption this holiday season, the California Walnut Board and Commission have launched a direct-to-consumer marketing campaign highlighting the role walnuts play in festivities.

Walmart touts Sam’s Club Thanksgiving feast for 8 for less than $100
Walmart touts Sam’s Club Thanksgiving feast for 8 for less than $100

Items in this year’s affordable menu are all part of Sam’s Club’s private brand, Member’s Mark, and include fresh produce such as potatoes, Brussels sprouts and baby spinach salad.

Thanksgiving Food Costs Reflect A Healed Supply Chain
Thanksgiving Food Costs Reflect A Healed Supply Chain

A traditional Thanksgiving feast reflects two current trends in food-at-home economics: increased retail food costs vary by category and the supply chain is back to pre-COVID patterns.

Kroger lowers prices on Thanksgiving
Kroger lowers prices on Thanksgiving

The Cincinnati-based grocer says it’s offering a holiday meal at less than $5 per person — making celebrations even more affordable than last year.

Giant Food’s Rob Nickels on making your supermarket a destination for fresh
Giant Food’s Rob Nickels on making your supermarket a destination for fresh

The featured guest on this "Tip of the Iceberg" podcast episode is Rob Nickels, who handles category management, procurement and merchandising of fresh produce and floral for Giant Food.

Loblaw to launch Small Supplier Program
Loblaw to launch Small Supplier Program

Canadian Produce Marketing Association President Ron Lemaire says the new Loblaw program can be a "catalyst" to the success of small fresh fruit and vegetable businesses.

Kroger holiday campaign — with produce cameo — inspires multicultural mealtime gathering
Kroger holiday campaign — with produce cameo — inspires multicultural mealtime gathering

The Kroger Co. has found a recipe for animated holiday success with its recently released film campaign that encourages consumers to “Bring a new recipe to the table.”

Upside partners with Associated Wholesale Grocers, aims to grow member profits
Upside partners with Associated Wholesale Grocers, aims to grow member profits

The Upside partnership is expected to open new opportunities for profit generation for AWG members and further expand the Washington, D.C.-based company's rapidly growing network of 100,000 retailers nationwide.

Vallarta Supermarkets launches first ‘La Fruteria’ in newest store
Vallarta Supermarkets launches first ‘La Fruteria’ in newest store

Vallarta Supermarkets’ newest store location in Carson, Calif., is taking an innovative and customizable approach to value-added fresh fruit with the introduction of La Fruteria, a fresh fruit bowl destination.  

What produce retail needs to know about the ‘just-in-time’ shopping trend
What produce retail needs to know about the ‘just-in-time’ shopping trend

Inflation, the sky-high cost of goods and the ever-changing retail landscape in America has triggered a seismic shift in the way consumers shop for produce — presenting both new opportunities and new challenges.

Ahold Delhaize to sell FreshDirect, focus on omnichannel business
Ahold Delhaize to sell FreshDirect, focus on omnichannel business

Ahold Delhaize USA has entered into an agreement to sell its FreshDirect business to ultrafast grocery delivery provider Getir, a move the company says will allow it to focus investments on its omnichannel businesses.

Envy continues Hallmark Channel partnership to promote ‘Ultimate Holiday Apple’
Envy continues Hallmark Channel partnership to promote ‘Ultimate Holiday Apple’

With an extensive marketing campaign with Hallmark Channel, the Envy apple once again expects to be the “The Ultimate Holiday Apple.”  

Turnkey meal solutions one key to volume growth for produce, report says
Turnkey meal solutions one key to volume growth for produce, report says

Modest food and beverage volume growth is expected next year after three consecutive years of volume declines, according to a new report from retail data firm Circana.