The Latest

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  Computer vision beckons as grocers search for ways to reduce shrink

  Tech vendors say retailers are showing growing interest in using AI-based systems as a way to stop theft — and the solutions providers are stepping up with innovations.

  Technology

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  Hannaford pledges support to local organic dairy farms in new partnership

  The grocer has committed to promoting four New York- and New England-supplied dairy farms as part of a tie-up with the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership. 

  Fresh food

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  Kroger took a hard look at the past when crafting divestiture deal, CEO says

  The chain was determined to avoid a repeat of Albertsons’ ill-fated 2015 deal with Haggen as it developed plans to sell stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers, Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said.

  E-commerce

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  Grocers have a long way to go in data management: Ahold Delhaize USA CEO

  Food retailers have made significant progress on this front, but “I think that when we sit here 10 years from now, we’ll look back and say we weren’t that good at it today,” JJ Fleeman said.

  Corporate Operations

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  Kroger makes local sourcing pledge tied to Albertsons merger

  The grocery giant said it will increase the number of local products in its stores by 10% once the proposed mega-merger closes. 

  Center store

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  Sam’s Club, Giant Eagle beef up their retail media platforms

  New capabilities outlined by the companies aim to streamline and organize data gathered from ad campaigns and report relevant performance metrics to ad partners.

  E-commerce

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  Publix expands tech campus as digital investments ramp up in grocery

  The chain is spending tens of millions of dollars to upgrade facilities in its hometown of Lakeland, Florida, in an effort aimed at attracting tech talent to fuel its growing omnichannel capabilities.

  E-commerce

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  Instacart makes long-awaited public market debut

  The company’s shares on the Nasdaq started trading at $30 under the ticker symbol “CART” on Tuesday, putting its valuation at just below $10 billion. 

  Finances and Deals

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  Wakefern adds live tracking feature to grocery delivery

  The technology is available for orders from more than 200 stores under the ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer banners.

  E-commerce

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  DoorDash unveils 8 new grocery partners

  The tie-ups, which include deals with Cub, Eataly, El Super and Stater Bros. Markets, bring the company’s third-party e-commerce service to more than 400 regional and specialty stores.

  E-commerce

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  Walmart makes private label sustainability moves

  The retailer announced last week it has added compostable cutlery to its Great Value line.

  Center store

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  Gopuff rolls out discounted membership program for college students

  The new offering, known as Student Fam, provides access to all the benefits of the quick delivery company’s Fam subscription service for half the standard cost.

  E-commerce

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  Even with divestiture deal, Kroger-Albertsons merger faces challenging odds, analysts say

  The grocers’ plan to sell hundreds of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers increases the chance of the deal getting done, according to two Wall Street firms — though they still put the odds at only around 50%.

  Finances and Deals

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  Instacart lifts target IPO share price range

  The grocery tech company now expects its shares to fetch between $28 and $30 each, which would raise between $616 million and $660 million for the firm when it goes public.

  Finances and Deals

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  Column

  The Friday Checkout: FTC looms large as Kroger and Albertsons angle for approval to combine

  Recent comments by FTC Chair Lina Khan and work by the agency and DOJ to update their merger-review guidelines suggest the deal could face bruising resistance from regulators.

  Corporate Operations

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  Kroger Health tie-up offers medically tailored meals to people with chronic conditions

  The new partnership with Performance Kitchen expands the grocery company’s healthcare arm’s efforts to offer preventative care through food.

  Foodservice

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  Albertsons’ retail media standardization framework to be assumed by IAB

  The announcement comes a few months after the grocer released a white paper advocating for regimented specifications, methodologies, terminology and disclosures across retail media networks.

  E-commerce

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  Uber partners with Save Mart and The Fresh Market for grocery delivery

  As it expands its reach in online grocery sales, the e-commerce company will serve more than 190 Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx stores as well as all 161 of The Fresh Market’s locations. 

  E-commerce

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  Frictionless checkout company Grabango lays off employees across several departments

  The firm declined to specify the number of impacted team members, though multiple LinkedIn posts indicate cuts hit 40% of the company.

  Technology

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  Albertsons unveils 30-minute grocery e-commerce service

  The new Flash pickup and delivery options are available at more than 2,000 stores across the Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme and Tom Thumb banners.

  E-commerce

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  Walmart expands Express Delivery to 10 pm

  The retailer’s Live Shopper feature lets customers make last-minute changes while their order is being fulfilled.

  E-commerce

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  Sprouts plans to open 40 stores, roll out loyalty program in 2024

  The new store count, which executives detailed Tuesday at Goldman Sachs’ Global Retailing Conference, is a marked increase from the 30 stores the grocer is on track to add in 2023.

  Center store

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  Walmart CEO talks consumer spending, inflation predictions

  Inflation is on course to continue declining, but food prices are unlikely to return to their levels from two years ago, Doug McMillon said at an investor conference Tuesday.

  E-commerce

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  Mapping Kroger and Albertson’s store divestiture deal with C&S

  Three maps help outline the proposed $1.9 billion divestiture plan and show how the wholesaler could more than triple its footprint of retail locations.

  Finances and Deals

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  Grocery e-commerce sales jump 9% in August

  Sales totaled $9.3 billion for the month, with pickup orders accounting for three-quarters of the year-over-year gain, per the latest report from Brick Meets Click and Mercatus.

  E-commerce

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