Instacart and DoorDash wrestle with online grocery’s growing affordability problem

The Latest

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  Aldi to roll out first ready-made meals line

  The collection of single-serve and family-size meals adds a new dimension to the discount grocer’s lineup of store brand products.

  Store Operations

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  Grocery inflation is primed to rise

  Elevated fuel costs could soon start to wear down retailers and suppliers that have so far kept price increases contained for many products, industry experts said at an FMI briefing.

  Corporate Operations

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  GLP-1 drugs put $73B in global food value at risk, report finds

  PepsiCo’s Lay’s is the most exposed food brand, with Doritos, Hershey’s, Cheetos, Kellogg’s and Reese’s also vulnerable, Brand Finance determined.

  Store Operations

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  Column

  Number Sense: Major grocers see identical-store sales growth wither away

  The nation’s largest supermarket operators have all struggled to maintain momentum over the past few quarters, underscoring the tough conditions the industry is facing.

  Corporate Operations

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  How Kroger is reshaping its C-suite

  After welcoming Greg Foran as its CEO in February, the grocer has ushered in new top executives, including leaders who worked alongside Foran at Walmart.

  Corporate Operations

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  Wegmans invests $110M in its supply chain

  The grocer is building a new facility in its home base of upstate New York and consolidating operations to limit its reliance on third-party providers.

  Corporate Operations

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  Column

  The Friday Checkout: Kroger looks to energize its low-price image

  The grocery chain has stopped selling Red Bull’s products at some banners as it works with suppliers “to keep prices affordable.”

  Corporate Operations

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  Costco now offers nationwide delivery on Uber and DoorDash

  The wholesaler expanded its partnerships with both e-commerce providers at a time when same-day delivery is resonating with its shoppers. 

  Omnichannel

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  Schnucks offers ‘affordable indulgence’ with new Italian store brand

  The regional grocer’s newest private label line includes over 40 items sourced from Italy.

  Store Operations

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  Inside the market where Kroger and Giant Eagle will likely be under the antitrust microscope

  The grocers have a combined market share of more than 64% in the Columbus, Ohio, area, according to data from analysis firm RetailStat.

  Corporate Operations

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  Amazon boosts minimum hourly starting wage to $20

  The e-commerce company increased pay by $1 an hour for full-time employees in core operations and added new grocery discounts.

  Corporate Operations

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  Food Lion accelerates store fleet expansion

  The Ahold Delhaize banner plans to debut six locations across the Carolinas and Georgia before year-end, bringing its total new store openings in 2026 to 10.

  Corporate Operations

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  August was ‘a very tough month’ for grocery unit sales

  The month saw widespread volume declines, particularly in fresh foods like meat, produce and bakery, according to Circana data prepared by 210 Analytics.

  Store Operations

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  Natural Grocers eyes Texas for long-term growth

  The specialty grocer is reincorporating from Delaware to Texas, citing its existing footprint plus future expansion plans within the Lone Star State.

  Corporate Operations

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  Price Chopper/Market 32 launches low-price campaign

  The grocer emphasized that discounts on more than 1,000 products are not “short-term deals” and represent nearly every store department.

  Store Operations

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  Harris Teeter to spend $253M to upgrade, expand Charlotte-area stores

  The Kroger-owned grocer plans to develop three new locations in the Carolinas as part of the project.

  Corporate Operations

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  Harps CEO to retire

  Kim Eskew, who oversaw a significant expansion effort, will end his nearly 50-year career with the regional grocer in early 2027.

  Corporate Operations

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  Opinion

  Declining grocery volumes demand transformation of category management

  Merchants need to change how they set growth goals and approach funding to address shifts in grocery shopping, write Matt Hamory and Marco Di Marino of AlixPartners.

  Corporate Operations

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  Target to open 8 stores in October

  The new locations, including one in the Hamptons, are part of its strategic plan to launch over 300 new stores by 2035. 

  Store Operations

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  Illinois announces $26M grant funding for grocers

  The initiative includes $4.5 million to help reopen stores that closed in the last year.

  Corporate Operations

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  Target hires chief marketing and guest experience officer

  Mark Weinstein will be responsible for developing how consumers experience and connect with Target across channels, culture and community.

  Corporate Operations

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  Kroger records strong private label growth as shoppers stay focused on savings

  The retailer’s own brands growth outpaced national brands during the second quarter as it saw robust interest in “anything that is answering a customer’s question around value,” said CEO Greg Foran.

  Store Operations

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  Amazon invests $230M in benefits, pay for Whole Foods store employees

  As the company continues to merge its operations with the specialty grocer, this next investment focuses on its frontline workers.

  Corporate Operations

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  Sprouts nearly doubles HQ size as expansion efforts continue

  The grocer relocated to a 180,000-square-foot property that includes an office building, an on-site supermarket and additional retail space.

  Corporate Operations

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  Kroger’s comps slide to near zero as cyclospora outbreak eats into produce sales

  Multiple factors, including reduced spending on fresh food stemming from the public health crisis, hurt the grocer’s Q2 sales growth, executives said.

  Corporate Operations

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