The Friday Checkout is a weekly column providing more insight on the news, rounding up the announcements you may have missed and sharing what’s to come.
Lidl might be one of the world’s strongest food retailers, but when it comes to its quest to duplicate its remarkable European success in the U.S., the company seems perennially to be on unstable ground.
Exhibit A is the never-ending upheaval in Lidl US’ C-suite. The grocer is about to move on to its fifth permanent chief executive since opening its first stateside stores in 2017, a trend that suggests it has been unable to find the right leader for its operations on this side of the Atlantic. Add to that the fact that Lidl US’ incoming CEO, Alan Barry, will be accompanied by a new chief operating officer and chief customer officer when he puts his imprint on the company, and you have a recipe for yet another round of turbulence.
In addition, Lidl US has spent much of its life under the direction of bosses steeped in the European grocery scene instead of leaders seasoned in the U.S. supermarket industry. Those CEOs came to the U.S. after holding senior posts at Lidl’s operations in countries like Sweden, Poland and Romania, and none stayed atop Lidl US for more than three or so years. Lidl US’s most recent CEO, Joel Rampoldt, brought years of experience working in the U.S. to the job when he arrived in 2023, but his resume up until that point did not include actually running a grocer.
Barry will bring a new mix of experience to the well-worn role of Lidl US’ chief executive, but his path to the top comes with a significant twist. Unlike his predecessors, Barry is moving into the CEO role through a promotion instead of coming directly from outside. He worked for Lidl in Great Britain and Ireland before becoming chief operating officer of Lidl US in 2024.
Could Barry’s combination of experience elsewhere in the Lidl empire and time at Lidl US be just what the company needs to finally find its footing in the United States.
In case you missed it
Natural Grocers prepares to enter 22nd state
The specialty grocer announced that the grand opening celebration of its inaugural Wisconsin store, located in Lake Geneva, will take place on June 10. Earlier this year, Co-President of Natural Grocers Kemper Isely told investors that the company aims to open between six and eight new stores during fiscal year 2026.
BJ’s readies for wave of club openings
The retailer announced late last week that it plans to debut five locations across Kentucky, Florida and Indiana — all of which are set to open within fiscal year 2026. The new clubs will be in Frankfort, Kentucky; Ocala, Lecanto and Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Portage, Indiana.
These upcoming clubs are part of BJ’s ongoing strategy of opening between 25 and 30 new locations every two years. The announcement noted that BJ’s aims to open a dozen new clubs this year alone and has already debuted four stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Food City parent company selects digital e-commerce platform
K-VA-T Food Stores announced Wednesday it has selected Homesome to power its digital commerce transformation, according to an emailed announcement. Homesome is designed for regional grocers and provides K-VA-T Food Stores with a singular, integrated platform suite that will support 140 Food City locations across Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.
The partnership equips Food City with a complete website and mobile app, per the press release.
Impulse find
Kroger has Mary Poppins at home
The grocery company took to LinkedIn on Wednesday to introduce Mary Webb, its Popcorn Queen and on-site Mary Poppins.
Kroger’s Central Division has a unique in-store offering — fresh popcorn — and Webb is the heart behind the offering, according to the grocer.
Webb is shown in a video clip surrounded by containers of popcorn with the popping machine behind her. She aims to create a new popcorn flavor every week based on customer suggestions, noting that listening to shoppers keeps them coming back.
“After all, I am the popcorn queen — and they call me Mary Poppins,” Webb said.
