Deep Dive

Industry insights from our journalists

  • People grocery shopping
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Organized retail crime is growing. Here’s what grocers are doing about it.

    Retailers have seen a recent increase in these incidents, and grocers are particularly at risk because of the wide variety of sought-after items they sell.

    Peyton Bigora • March 27, 2023
  • Exterior of a Whole Foods store.
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    Catherine Douglas Moran/Grocery Dive
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    What grocers can learn from Whole Foods’ controversial exit from a Chicago neighborhood

    The chain’s tenancy in the Englewood community highlights the opportunities and pitfalls grocers can face in areas with limited access to affordable and healthy foods.

    Catherine Douglas Moran • Feb. 2, 2023
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    Courtesy of Shopreme
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    Grocers weigh the pros and cons of scan-and-go

    Despite Wegmans’ decision to abandon the technology last year, other retailers continue to offer the convenience-focused service — and more are showing interest in it, industry officials said.

    Sam Silverstein • Jan. 24, 2023
  • A person holding a green shopping basket checks their phone in the freezer isle.
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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    8 trends that will shape the grocery industry in 2023

    The lingering impacts of inflation, the growth of retail media and the full return of the store shopping experience will have a significant impact in the year ahead, experts predict.

    Grocery Dive Staff • Jan. 4, 2023
  • Albertsons
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    Courtesy of Albertsons
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    Will the Kroger-Albertsons deal get past regulators?

    Success will depend on how the FTC defines competition and whether the companies can satisfy the agency’s increasingly intense scrutiny of store divestitures, experts say.

    Jeff Wells • Oct. 20, 2022
  • Kroger OptUp
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    Courtesy of Kroger
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    Inside Kroger Health’s food-as-medicine playbook

    As it expands its nutrition scoring, food prescriptions and dietitian-focused approach, the health solutions arm of the grocery company aims to tie healthy eating to disease prevention. 

    Catherine Douglas Moran • Oct. 3, 2022
  • "Black Owned Business" sign in a window
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    Wachiwit via Getty Images
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    How Black-owned grocers are filling industry gaps

    From a cashierless store in Atlanta to health-focused pop-up markets in Los Angeles and Chicago, grocery concepts from Black entrepreneurs are making the changes they want to see in food landscapes.

    Catherine Douglas Moran • Sept. 14, 2022
  • Grocery worker in supermarket
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Have grocers and workers entered a new chapter in their relationship?

    As stores struggle with staffing and unionization efforts expand, workers are pushing retailers for better conditions. How the dynamics will play out remains far from settled, labor experts said.

    Sam Silverstein • July 5, 2022
  • Heinen's Personal Nutrition Clinic
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    Courtesy of Heinen's
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    Personalized health programs are coming to grocery stores

    Advancements in medical and digital technology are allowing retailers to offer services that strengthen the connection between food and health for consumers.

    Jeff Wells • April 25, 2022
  • Person with finger on a phone perusing consumer goods
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    oatawa via Getty Images
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    Can retailers grab more CPG ad dollars without repeating digital media's mistakes?

    While firmly in a boom time — U.S. spending on retail media doubled between 2020 and 2021 — the category contends with saturation and bumpy transitions.

    Peter Adams • Jan. 28, 2022
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    How grocers are managing the twin pressures of inflation and supply chain disruption

    Companies are turning to personalized promotions, private label and plain-old resourcefulness as they closely monitor the habits of their frustrated customers.

    Jeff Wells • Jan. 24, 2022
  • Self-checkout area Safeway store at 415 14th Street, SE, Washington, D.C., on Aug. 11, 2020. Store opened Aug. 12, 2020.
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    Sam Silverstein/Grocery Dive
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    Automation beckons retailers as labor challenges endure

    Technologies like self-checkout and ordering kiosks are offering relief to grocers unable to hire enough workers to handle essential functions.

    Sam Silverstein • Jan. 19, 2022
  • A woman is checking her receipt thoroughly, after she'd stored her catch in the trunk. She bought everything she needs, time to go home.
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    LukaTDB via Getty Images
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    Grocers are experimenting with delivery fees. Here are 8 key factors to consider, experts say

    Speedier service, customer loyalty and labor demands are some of the things grocers need to weigh when determining fees, order minimums and subscriptions.

    Catherine Douglas Moran • Jan. 12, 2022
  • Close-up of a hand holding a phone with a grocery app open while inside a supermarket.
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    Edwin Tan via Getty Images
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    For grocers and food CPGs, finding harmony online is a difficult dance

    With digital shopping now a priority for millions of consumers, both parties are trying to find faster, more efficient ways to manage their e-commerce listings.

    Sam Silverstein and Christopher Doering • Jan. 10, 2022
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    7 trends that will shape the grocery industry in 2022

    Labor and inflation challenges will test retailers this year, but experts also see opportunities like new e-commerce services, more personalized offerings and a booming digital ads space.

    Jeff Wells, Catherine Douglas Moran and Sam Silverstein • Jan. 4, 2022
  • A grocery aisle at the Wegmans store in Tysons, Virginia
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    Catherine Douglas Moran/Grocery Dive
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    How retailers are modernizing the center store

    The pandemic has injected new life into many packaged goods departments. Here's how grocers are trying to build on that momentum and make center store a more compelling place to shop.

    Nov. 18, 2021
  • Image of Giant Food app showing loyalty program information
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    Courtesy of Giant Food
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    Grocers chase the promise of e-commerce personalization

    Customization tools like shoppable recipes and product recommendations are helping consumers cut through the clutter of center store. But retailers are only scratching the surface of what's possible.

    Sam Silverstein • Nov. 16, 2021
  • Local shelf tag in the coffee section at a Whole Foods in Silver Spring, Maryland.
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    Catherine Douglas Moran/Grocery Dive
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    How local products can unlock potential in center store

    Grocers are turning to local to hit key corporate goals and liven up their packaged goods aisles. But experts say they must stay mindful about pricing, placement and providing support to small brands.

    Catherine Douglas Moran • Nov. 11, 2021
  • Instacart shopper buying groceries
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    Courtesy of Instacart
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    Examining Instacart's emerging next chapter

    On the heels of two technology acquisitions, a deeper move into digital ads and fulfillment-as-a-service, analysts weigh in on what the e-commerce company is building.

    Catherine Douglas Moran • Oct. 26, 2021
  • Plant-based meat at a Giant Food in Washington, D.C.
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    Catherine Douglas Moran/Grocery Dive
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    6 ways to boost plant-based products in grocery stores

    From category managers to dedicated shelf space, grocers have several areas to explore to make merchandising easier for alternatives to animal-based items.

    Catherine Douglas Moran and Megan Poinski • Oct. 18, 2021
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Albertsons' stock price has doubled since it went public. Can it keep the momentum going?

    The grocery chain has made significant strides in recent months, particularly on the digital front, but still faces challenges as it looks to keep pace with rivals, analysts said.

    Sam Silverstein • Oct. 4, 2021
  • Hy-Vee Grimes
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    Jeff Wells/Grocery Dive
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    Inside Hy-Vee's 'reimagined' physical-meets-digital store

    Located in an up-and-coming northwest suburb of Des Moines, Iowa, the festive prototype features a lineup of new departments and partnerships, with digital touchpoints woven throughout.

    Jeff Wells • Sept. 15, 2021
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Grocers grapple with digital accessibility as e-commerce grows

    The online shopping boom has brought more attention to how accessible websites and apps are to people with disabilities, but a lack of federal regulations and oversight poses challenges.

    Catherine Douglas Moran • Updated Sept. 1, 2021
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Labor shortage pressures grocers to take a hard look at worker benefits

    Companies are offering hefty signing bonuses, but they also need to examine scheduling flexibility, advancement opportunities and other incentives, labor experts and retailers say.

    Jeff Wells, Catherine Douglas Moran and Sam Silverstein • July 14, 2021
  • H-E-B food hall
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    Courtesy of H-E-B
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    Food halls, ghost kitchens and the future of in-store restaurants

    The pandemic hasn’t dampened grocers' enthusiasm for dining experiences, and many are looking to new formats and digital services to spice things up.

    Jeff Wells • May 24, 2021