Kroger Board of Directors Raises Quarterly Dividend by 24%

The Kroger Co's Board of Directors approved a dividend increase from $0.84 to $1.04 per year. The next quarterly dividend of 26 cents per share will be paid on September 1, 2022, to shareholders of record as of close of business on August 15, 2022.

Kroger's quarterly dividend has grown at a 14% compounded annual growth rate since it was reinstated in 2006. This marks the 16th consecutive year of dividend increases. The company continues to expect, subject to board approval, an increasing dividend over time...

Meijer Redirects More Than 1M Pounds of Food Waste Through Flashfood Program

Meijer announced today its customers have diverted more than 1 million pounds of potential food waste through its Flashfood sustainability initiative.

Since the program's expansion across the Meijer footprint in 2021, customers have purchased more than 1 million pounds of food nearing its sell-by date at a discount, preventing it from potentially entering landfills. The initiative represents the retailer's commitment to offering both sustainability and value to its customers.

"We're pleased to see that customers are taking advantage of the Flashfood program," said Todd Weer...

Mark Irby Joins Publix Board of Directors

During Publix’s annual stockholders’ meeting today, Mark Irby, retired Publix vice president of marketing, was elected to the company’s board of directors.

“We congratulate Mark on his election to the board,” said Chairman Ed Crenshaw. “His extensive experience in helping build and promote our Publix brand will bring a valuable perspective.”

Irby began his Publix career in 1973 in the sign shop in Lakeland, Florida. After working in various capacities within that department, in 1983, he transferred into the advertising department as a marketing and research manager. In 1988, he...

eGrowcery and DoorDash Partner To Provide On-Demand Delivery for Supermarkets and Other Retailers

eGrowcery, developer of the leading retail food industry eCommerce platform, announces a partnership with DoorDash Drive, DoorDash's white label fulfillment platform that powers direct delivery for businesses, to provide supermarkets with access to an expansive delivery fleet and a flexible delivery solution directly from the eCommerce experience. With the new DoorDash Drive integration, retailers using the eGrowcery platform can now benefit from the scale of DoorDash’s logistics network, all while retaining full autonomy around the eCommerce experience and, critically, owning their own shopper data...

Natural Grocers® Invites the Cañon City Community to Celebrate its Grand Opening on April 13, 2022

Natural Grocers®, the largest family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer in the U.S., is pleased to announce the opening of its Cañon City, CO store on Wednesday, April 13th, with doors opening at 8:30 AM. The store, located in the downtown area, at 121 N. 16th St. will be Natural Grocers' 42nd location in its home state of "Colorful Colorado". The community and Natural Grocers' good4u® Crew will celebrate the Grand Opening with discounts, gift card giveaways, prize sweepstakes...

Albertsons Companies Helps Expand Affordable Access to Fresh Food and Wellness Products

Albertsons Companies announced today that customers can now use supplemental benefits to purchase over-the-counter medications and fresh produce in the company’s stores. The new program provides convenient access to customers using pre-paid cards funded by Medicare Advantage plans, employer incentives, healthcare providers, or local governments, furthering the company’s commitment to support the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

“We are committed to offering solutions that deliver access to healthy produce and meals, reduce food insecurity and provide solutions for..."

The Save Mart Companies Announces Acquisition by Kingswood Capital Management

Today, The Save Mart Companies announced that Kingswood Capital Management LP ("Kingswood") has acquired the company. Kingswood is an operationally-focused private equity firm based in Los Angeles, with significant experience in the retail sector. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Modesto, California, The Save Mart Companies is committed to sourcing a wide variety of local products across approximately 200 stores and serves communities throughout California and Northern Nevada. The company operates stores under the banners of Save Mart, Lucky California, and FoodMaxx. In addition to...

BJ’s Wholesale Club Partners with DoorDash

BJ’s Wholesale Club, a leading membership warehouse club in the Eastern United States, today announced a partnership with DoorDash, the local commerce platform, to offer on-demand grocery delivery from 226 BJ’s locations across 17 states. BJ’s is the first wholesale club available on the DoorDash marketplace, providing consumers with access to home essentials and grocery needs on-demand. BJ’s products can be purchased directly on the DoorDash app, offering members and non-members alike access to thousands of BJ’s items on-demand. BJ’s members can also link their wholesale club card to receive...

Giant Eagle Extends Its Leadership in Food Safety With Adoption of SmartSense IoT Framework

SmartSense by Digi®, part of Digi International – a leading global provider of Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity solutions – today announced it has expanded its relationship with Giant Eagle, Inc., one of the nation’s leading food, fuel and pharmacy retailers. SmartSense protects Giant Eagle’s 215 pharmacies and provides digital task management for its 175 grocery properties and 92 convenience stores. With the latest phase of IoT deployment including 32,000 new SmartSense digital temperature monitoring devices to remotely, automatically and continuously monitor its critical food assets...

Amazon Partners with Universities and Colleges to Fully Fund Tuition for Hourly Employees

Amazon announced today that it is further expanding the career advancement opportunities it offers its 750,000 hourly employees in the U.S. by partnering with more than 140 national and local universities to provide fully-funded college tuition. The announcement is part of the company’s ongoing enhancements to Career Choice—an Amazon upskilling program designed to help frontline employees grow their skills for career success at Amazon or elsewhere.

Today’s announcement brings into the program dozens of local colleges and universities and four new national nonprofit education providers...

CHKN Not Chicken Launches Plant-Based Chicken Across Sprouts Farmers Market Stores Nationwide

CHKN Not Chicken, the delicious plant-based chicken alternative that makes it easy to eat less meat, live healthier, and be kinder to the planet, announced today its launch into all 370+ Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide. Shoppers can now find the delicious and healthy plant-based chicken products in the frozen plant-based meat section.

Sprouts will offer customers 4 delicious flavors of CHKN Not Chicken that replicate all the juiciness, texture, and flavor of chicken. Flavors available include: Naked CHKN (original), Zen CHKN...

Protein Association Taps Officers and Newly Appointed Board Members

The National Protein and Food Distributors Association Board of Directors met on Monday, January 24, 2022, in Atlanta, GA.

Jeff Paschall, VP of Sales at Fieldale Farms Corporate in Baldwin, GA succeeded Tammy Vige, Director Marketing of Pacific Agri-Products of South San Francisco, CA, as the chairperson of NPFDA. Judson “Jud” Guest moved into the Vice Chair role after serving as Treasurer. Newly elected to the NPFDA Executive Committee is Laure Pate as treasurer. She is President of Foodlinx in Brentwood, CA.

As chair, Paschall will lead the board of...

Ghost Kitchen Brands Opens U.S.-Based Wow Bao to Locations Across Canada