U.S. Private Label spending is now 20% of the total market

Private label spending in grocery represents 20% of the total market and is projected to rise to 24% in the next few years, according to a new report. Those were the key findings in a recent report focused on private label growth from global professional services firm Alvarez & Marshal. The report looks at how private label continues to accelerate...Read More

Dollar General dominates new store openings in new SN Monthly Store Map

Discount grocers Dollar General and Dollar Tree had the biggest presence in the first edition of Supermarket News’ monthly store map with 87 combined store openings and seven closings. A total of 96 grocery stores opened and 18 closed in the U.S. between July 15 and Aug. 13.This interactive look at the grocery landscape comes via...Read More

Grocery Outlet cites Q2 pressures as profits drop 42.8%

Grocery Outlet said ongoing disruptions from the implementation of new technology platforms drove down its profitability in the second quarter, despite an 11.7% increase in sales, according to a conference call with investors on Tuesday. Comparable-store sales have also been under pressure from competitors’ aggressive pricing, the company said. Net income for the 13-week quarter, which ended June 29...Read More

Enhancing Retail Store Experience: Strategies Big Retailers Use to Improve Shopability

Despite the challenges some retailers are facing with self-checkout, traditional supermarkets and other big-box retailers will continue to leverage technologies and merchandising innovations to improve the in-store experience for customers, while minimizing labor costs, according to one analyst. “I think the days of standing in long lines are over,” Keith Daniels, managing partner at Carl Marks...Read More

Suppliers tell Canadian grocers that price hikes are on the way

Grocers in Canada have received a warning from suppliers that will not sit well with shoppers: expect price increases this summer and fall. The Waterloo Region Record has received 19 different notices from store owners about the price hikes as well as a plan to shrink product sizes while increasing the size of packaging. The Record received confirmation of the plan from the Canadian Independent...Read More

California ban on plastic bags likely to become law

It’s been about a decade since state lawmakers eliminated single-use plastic bags from stores, but heavier, reusable plastic bags were still allowed. Two new proposals in the California General Assembly aim to put an end to that, too. Senate Bill 1053 and Assembly Bill 2236, authored by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan...Read More

Exploring the Potential: Transitioning Grocery Stores into Cannabis Retailers

Legalized marijuana is spreading across the U.S. with nearly half of the states allowing recreational use, and its non-psychoactive companion CBD has an even broader reach into the U.S. market. A study released in 2022 from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health suggests that 16% of U.S. citizens over the age of 21 have used marijuana in the last month, a statistic that jumps to 26% for those between the...Read More

Walmart and Target Implicated in Laundry Detergent Recall

Procter & Gamble is recalling over 8 million laundry detergent packets because a manufacturing issue has made the packages containing the packets difficult to close. The voluntary recall involves Tide, Gain, Ace, and Ariel laundry detergent packets sold at stores like Walmart, Target, Big Lots, CVS, Family Dollar, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Amazon, and other major stores...Read More

February Online Grocery Sales: $7.9 Billion, Marking a 10% Decrease from Previous Year

The U.S. online grocery market finished February with total monthly sales of $7.9 billion, down 10.5% compared to 2023, according to the most recent Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey fielded February 28-29. Lower average order values were the central catalyst driving the...Read More

Grocery Outlet plans to open up to 60 stores in 2024

Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. experienced year-over-year net sales growth of 6.3% to $989.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, the company reported Tuesday in its Q4 earnings report.  Gross margins were flat for the quarter at 30.2%, while comparable store sales ticked up 2.7% year over year, a move that was driven by a 7.5% increase in transactions, the company reported.......Read More

Soups and sauces face a new frontier

Soups and sauces are going international. With a wide range of ethnic segments, and especially younger shoppers increasingly seeking more exciting eating, soups and sauces are becoming appealing fixtures in supermarket global food aisles. “The rising millennial population, which is always in search of exotic experiences, is increasingly positive to adopt new ingredients and flavors in their food palate,” reports San Francisco-based Grand View Research Inc.....Read More

National Labor Relations Board hears complaints from a Trader Joe's store

As workers at a Trader Joe’s in Hadley, Mass., contemplate leaving a union that was formed in 2022, the National Labor Relations Board heard complaints on Tuesday against the store. There appears to be several allegations that the store has retaliated against employees due to the forming of the union. The Hadley location was the first Trader Joe’s where workers voted to unionize......Read More

Publix sees Q3 gains via new store openings, 4.3% comps

New store openings and comparable-store sales gains of 4.3% helped fuel a 16.2% increase in adjusted net income for the third quarter at Publix Super Markets. On an unadjusted basis, net income more than doubled for the three-month period ending Sept. 30, to $833 million, vs. $394 million in the year-ago quarter....Read More

The Fresh Market named best grocery store in America by USA Today

The Fresh Market has once again been named the “Best Grocery Store in America” by USA Today. The honor is a part of USA Today’s “10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.” A panel of local experts and contributors nominated their favorite American grocery stores based on value, selection, and service. The top 10 winners were determined by popular vote over a 28-day period through the 10Best website. The Fresh Market took the No. 1 spot for Best Grocery Store in America....Read More

Today’s Beef Consumer – Insights on Beef’s Performance at Retail

This insightful webinar offers a comprehensive exploration of the ever-evolving landscape of beef demand. Hear from industry experts as they dissect the most up-to-date research findings, providing invaluable insights into consumer preferences, emerging trends, and market dynamics. Discover key factors influencing beef purchasing decisions and gain a deeper understanding of consumer perceptions towards different beef cuts and sourcing practices.......Read More

SNAP recipients can now get Walmart+ at a discounted rate

Walmart is giving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients a little more help through its Walmart+ program. The cost of the subscription service has been reduced from $98 a year (or $12.95 monthly) to $49 a year ($6.47 monthly). Walmart said about a quarter of Walmart+ members receive SNAP, and the move could increase Walmart+ shoppers significantly.......Read More

Walgreens will close 150 stores

Walgreens has announced that it will close 150 stores in the U.S. this year — this comes on the heels of posting a disappointing Q3. During its third quarter financial call earlier this week, Walgreens Boots Alliance softened its fiscal year projections after the demand for COVID-19 immunizations and tests, as well as respiratory seasonal sales, was not as high as expected.......Read More

Target wants to grow grocery revenue

Take a closer look at Target’s sales bag over the last quarter, and you will see a lot more groceries. It’s a trend the retailer is determined to cash in on as more shoppers become more finicky with their purchases during times of inflation. The essentials are what’s selling......Read More

Is Texas ready to offer ready-to-drink cocktails in supermarkets?

There are bills in the Texas state House and Senate that would make the sale of ready-to-drink cocktails and seltzers mixed with distilled spirits available in grocery and convenience stores. Beer, wine and malt liquor that have an alcohol content of 17% or lower can be found on the shelves of markets in Texas, but so far ready-to-drink cocktails following the same restrictions are prohibited........Read More

Grocery stocks outperformed market in 2022

The stock prices of publicly traded food retailers had mixed performances in 2022, but most fared better than the market overall. Many grocery stocks started the year strong, but as inflation ramped up quickly in the first half of the year — and the economic outlook became gloomier amid rising interest rates and the fear of a possible recession — several companies’ stock prices faltered.......Read More

Publix unveils winners of top employee awards

Publix Super Markets has announced the winners of this year’s George W. Jenkins Award and President’s Award, which were presented at the company’s retail operations conference earlier this month in Orlando, Fla. Each of the 12 employee awards was presented to one retail leader from each of the company’s five divisions and one support leader, the Lakeland, Fla.-based company said...........Read More

Grocery stores help lift U.S. retail sales in October

U.S. retail sales picked up slightly for October, with grocery stores among the leading drivers. October retail and foodservice sales totaled $694.52 billion (seasonally adjusted), up 1.3% from September but up 8.3% from October 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau reported in advance estimates on Wednesday........Read More

CPG manufacturers, retailers adjust pricing game plans

Shopper cost sensitivity amid elevated inflation is leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers and retailers to keep a tighter rein on pricing, new research from Advantage Sales shows. Just 38% of manufacturers polled plan to enact price hikes in response to increased costs, according to the October 2022 Advantage Sales Outlook. Of those companies, 13% aim to implement a first or second price increase, 18% a third increase, 6% a fourth increase and 1% a....Read More

Bold Commerce brings checkout lane impulse buys to online grocery

Bold Commerce, the ecommerce technology company that powers checkout and subscription experiences for leading retailers and DTC brands, today announces its newest curbside checkout feature for brick-and-mortar and omnichannel retailers. Curb Up enables retailers to recapture the high-margin impulse purchases lost with the growth of curbside checkout by introducing upsell and cross-sell opportunities after an order has been placed and during pick-up......Read More

Fresh food sales on the rise, especially online

Some 40% of online sales are being generated by fresh foods departments, suggesting a major change from previous trends. Food retail sales for many fresh departments were up significantly from 2019 to 2021, based on IRI data. Seafood experienced particularly strong growth over those two years, at 31%. Fresh foods (perishables) outperformed non-perishables in the past year.....Read More

Retailers can tame inflation with intelligent pricing

Matthew Pavich is a contributor to Supermarket News and senior director of retail innovation at Revionics, an Aptos Company, an Austin, Texas-based provider of science-based solutions for pricing, promotions, markdowns and competitive insights to help enterprise retailers with price optimization.......Read More

Online grocery shoppers spend more but less loyal

U.S. online grocery consumers spend more than in-store customers but shop at more retailers, according to the latest dunnhumby Consumer Trends Tracker. Omnichannel shoppers spend one-and-a-half times more on groceries than their in-store-only counterparts but spread their dollars at up to twice as many retailers, dunnhumby said in the .....Read More

Costco posts 13% comp-sales gain in second quarter

Food and e-commerce were among the bright spots as Costco Wholesale Corp. posted double-digit sales gains for February and its fiscal 2021 second quarter. Quarterly earnings missed Wall Street’s projections, however, as Costco recorded significant COVID-19 costs, mainly from pandemic-related pay hikes........Read More

Walmart’s omnichannel game plan yields fiscal 2021 sales boost

CEO Doug McMillon says retail giant will ‘stay ahead’ with investments in e-commerce, supply chain, wages Walmart tallied robust sales gains, including strong U.S. comparable-sales growth, for its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter and year, despite missing Wall Street’s adjusted earnings forecast and posting a quarterly GAAP net loss.......Read More

Lidl offers extra pay to U.S. workers receiving COVID-19 vaccine

Arlington, Va.-based Lidl US said Wednesday that the additional payment will help offset  employee costs related to receiving a coronavirus vaccine, including travel expenses and child care. Workers’ schedules also will have flexibility to accommodate appointments for the vaccine, the company added......Read More

Stater Bros. extends $2 hourly wage bonus into January

San Bernardino, Calif.-based Stater Bros. said Tuesday that all hourly employees in its store, distribution, transportation and construction operations and corporate offices will receive an extra $2 per hour worked for another two weeks, effective as of the work period starting Dec. 27..........Read More

Walmart sells off its Argentina business to Grupo de Narváez

As it continues to restructure its international presence, Walmart Inc. has agreed to sell its business in Argentina to Grupo de Narváez, a South American retail group. No financial terms were released. Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart said it will continue to support the business through transition services and sourcing agreements under the new ownership, but will not retain an equity stake.........Read More

Southeastern Grocers eyes more effective promotions

Southeastern Grocers is building on efforts to personalize customer engagement by making its promotions more effective.The parent of Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo, Harveys and Fresco y Más supermarkets, Southeastern Grocers in June implemented the Eagle Eye Solutions AIR Platform to create a central hub for continuously capturing customer data and interactions across retail channels,....Read More

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