Inside the Store: Sprouts’ new small-format location in Virginia

The specialty grocer’s second Virginia location, which features revamped frozen, bulk and prepared meals departments, is part of a wave of openings under the new store model.

By Peyton Bigora • June 20, 2023

Why more grocers are bringing private label production in-house

While only a fraction of products are made this way, sources say they have seen vertically integrated production grow in recent years and expect it to continue as grocers ramp up their store brands.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • June 13, 2023

Grocery inflation continues rapid descent

Food-at-home prices were up in May at a 5.8% annual rate — the economic indicator’s slowest tempo since late 2021 — according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By Sam Silverstein • June 13, 2023

Innovation is next frontier for private brands: FMI

While 82% of surveyed food retail executives said they are planning more store brand investments, only 10% said their organizations are “very far along” with innovation, per the trade group.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • June 9, 2023

White House weighs in on ‘cooling’ grocery inflation

For the rest of 2023, the White House Council of Economic Advisers says it expects grocery inflation to continue to abate yet remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • June 8, 2023

How 9 food retailers are jazzing up their private brands

From expanding their store brand portfolios to creating new supplier partnerships, grocers and discounters are ramping up efforts to make their own products shine.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • June 5, 2023

PCC launches Inclusive Trade Program to highlight brand diversity

The new certification program is designed to increase the visibility of businesses owned by individuals part of “historically and currently excluded communities.”

By Peyton Bigora • June 2, 2023

On Special: Town & Country Markets rolls out private label sushi brand

The Seattle-area grocer has brought the staple supermarket food offering in-house, selling items like traditional rolls, hot rice bowls and fresh seafood under its new Maka store line.

By Peyton Bigora • May 30, 2023

Target expects $500M profit hit due to theft

The retailer is implementing additional preventive measures in stores, but expects a major impact to its bottom line if theft and organized retail crime trends continue.

By Peyton Bigora • May 18, 2023

Phasing out HFC refrigerants poses a major cost dilemma for grocers

Transitioning to new cooling systems that comply with federal and state laws can cost retailers $1 million or more per store. But delaying action could also be expensive, experts say. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • May 16, 2023

Alcohol purchasing trends are changing — here’s what the numbers say

As consumers increasingly opt for at-home drinking, many are leaning toward experimentation and more sophisticated nonalcoholic options.

By Sara Karlovitch • May 12, 2023

Amazon Fresh reportedly exiting Twin Cities stores as it reworks strategy

Six of the online retailer’s grocery chain locations that were set to open are now available for sublease, Axios reported Tuesday. 

By Peyton Bigora • May 10, 2023

Inflation eases again in April

Food-at-home prices rose in April at a 7.1% annual rate, down from 8.4% the month before, the federal government reported Wednesday.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • May 10, 2023

What does ‘local’ mean to shoppers?

The fact that a business is within close range of where they live doesn't necessarily mean consumers will consider it to be a true part of their community, according to research conducted by PDG Insights.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • May 1, 2023

Kroger phasing out mailed circulars across the country

Local news reports and social media posts outline at least four states where the grocer will cease delivering printed weekly ads to homes as it looks to cut costs.

By Peyton Bigora , Jeff Wells • April 27, 2023

How a regional grocer balances sustainable efforts with its bottom line

Harmons Neighborhood Grocer’s first-ever director of sustainability, Kate Whitbeck, shares how the supermarket chain turned its green mission into a C-suite and financial priority.

By Peyton Bigora • April 20, 2023

Prices may be up, but fewer shoppers are cutting down on grocery purchases

The proportion of food shoppers who bought fewer items to save money dropped nearly 10 percentage points in recent months, according to survey data from FMI - The Food Industry Association.

By Sam Silverstein • April 19, 2023

Private brand sales shine in Q1, report finds

After recording double-digit gains last year, food and non-food store brands combined are continuing the momentum in the first three months of 2023, per the Private Label Manufacturers Association.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • April 12, 2023

Grocery inflation in March continues months-long decline

Food-at-home prices rose last month at an 8.4% annual rate, down from 10.2% the month before, the federal government reported Wednesday.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • April 12, 2023

Personalized nutrition brand Gainful launches at Target

The arrangement, which marks the DTC brand’s first partnership with a retailer, puts the company’s products in 1,800 of the mass merchant’s stores.

By Howard Ruben • April 10, 2023

Natural Grocers swells private label offerings

The grocer recently welcomed new varieties of organic mustard and canned seafood and has plans to add sparkling spring water in non-BPA lined aluminum bottles to its store brands portfolio. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • April 7, 2023

Walmart to install EV chargers at thousands of stores by 2030

The big-box retailer already has around 1,300 chargers at 280 of its sites but plans to further leverage its vast network. 

By Jessica Loder • April 7, 2023

Target raises a glass to new wines

The retailer has added several brands from minority and women owners to its shelves and also debuted five varieties from a brand exclusive to Target.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • April 4, 2023

Natural Grocers rolls out personalized shopping in stores

The specialty grocer is now offering customers at some locations the option to have a free 30-minute walkthrough with a nutritional health coach.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 29, 2023

Wakefern brews up new private label coffee partnership

NuZee will bring three new single-serve coffee brew-bag items to roughly 250 ShopRite stores under the Bowl & Basket brand.  

By Peyton Bigora • March 17, 2023