The Friday Checkout is a weekly column providing more insight on the news, rounding up the announcements you may have missed and sharing what’s to come.
Kroger and Safeway made Placer.ai’s list of the 10 most-visited grocery banners across the U.S. in 2023 based on foot traffic data, yet regional grocers such as H-E-B, Meijer, Publix and ShopRite also commanded a “significant” share of visits.
But even those 10 most-visited chains together only comprise 42.6% of total grocery visit share for last year, the data firm found.
An analysis of foot traffic by state found that while banners under Kroger, Albertsons and Ahold Delhaize dominate the coasts, regional and local grocers are drawing customers into stores across the middle of the country.
Hy-Vee topped the list of visits in Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa, while Cub Foods did so in Minnesota and Pick ‘n Save in Wisconsin. Schnuck Markets was the top visited grocer in Missouri and H-E-B reigned in Texas.
The data also highlights where customers might be shopping at more or fewer stores. Hy-Vee, for example, claims nearly 40% of annual visit share in Nebraska and H-E-B nabs 43% of market share in Texas, while Safeway has just 10% in California.
In case you missed it
ShopRite offers salad harvested by autism program participants
A Chester, New Jersey, store in the Wakefern Food supermarket chain has started carrying salad grown, selected and packed by young adult students who attend a local program that provides people who have autism with career training and helps them find job opportunities. The Somerset Hills Learning Institute students work at Three Meadows Farm, which is run by the non-profit organization, to produce the hydroponically grown salad, which includes lettuce, sorrel, radish microgreens and nasturtium.
SpartanNash kicks off food traceability effort
The grocery company has launched a program that requires suppliers to provide its retailer partners with information about where products originate and their movements through the supply chain. The program, known as the ReposiTrak Traceability Network, will help identify safety issues with items on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Traceability List before they reach stores or shoppers, according to SpartanNash.
Tops Friendly Markets unveils specialty pharmacy program
The New York-based grocery chain is stepping up its efforts to help people with chronic and complex medical conditions obtain medicine, manage their insurance benefits and access other services. The program focuses on handling specialty medications, which Tops said can require special storage conditions, be difficult to administer and be especially expensive. Tops will also provide customers with educational resources and help dealing with financial assistance programs.
Number of the week: $50 million
That’s the amount that U.S. Sen. Kristin Gillbrand wants the federal government to provide annually to the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), a USDA program that provides incentives for grocers to bring stores to underserved areas. The New York Democrat included the funding proposal in legislation she introduced this week
Impulse find
Dear Trader Joe’s
A recent TikTok video has gained traction among college students who are craving a Trader Joe’s in their college town.
The video showed a website where anyone can submit a request for a Trader Joe’s to be opened in their community. The “Request a Trader Joe’s in My City” form asks for a name, email address and specifics about the city or neighborhood they should set up shop.
“There are no guarantees, but being wanted matters to us,” Trader Joe’s writes on the site.
