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.
As more and more consumers take GLP-1 medications, grocers are positioning themselves as go-to sources for the drugs as well as the products and guidance that can support users. Publix and Kroger are touting savings programs to help people afford GLP-1s, while Hy-Vee has developed a line of medically tailored meals.
ShopRite’s new program for customers taking GLP-1s for the first time provides “starter kits” to new users that include product samples, coupons and a wellness guide from the company’s dietitians. What’s notable about this initiative is that it neatly ties the pharmacy and grocery sides of its business together.
Research shows that new GLP-1 users often lack helpful guidance at the start of their wellness journey. Who better to provide that than the grocers that have everything they need under one roof? ShopRite’s message is clear: We don’t just have the medication, but also the groceries and expertise you need.
“[W]e want to make sure they feel supported from the moment they fill that first prescription,” said Aaron Sapp, vice president of pharmacy and wellness for parent company Wakefern Food Corp., in a statement.
Grocers that can also address price concerns with GLP-1s may be in the best position to win. More than half of consumers who have taken the drugs say they were difficult to afford, according to a KFF poll published in November. Kroger, for its part, participates in several savings programs and promotes its dietitians and personalized counseling resources as tools for users.
The biggest impediment to taking an integrated approach like ShopRite’s may be a lack of pharmacies. Over the years, numerous grocers have sold off or scaled back their pharmacy operations, allowing them to reduce their exposure to a complex aspect of their operations.
In case you missed it
Consumers want to limit their spending on snacks
The majority of consumers determine the kinds of snacks they intend to buy and how much money they will devote to those treats before they shop, according to 84.51°, Kroger’s data analytics subsidiary. But people are more likely to settle on the brand and quantity of snacks they will purchase when they’re in the store, 84.51° found through a January poll of 400 consumers who had made a purchase from Kroger over the past three months.
Factors that influence buying decisions around snacks include whether an item is made with “real ingredients,” has added sugar or is high in protein, or is a significant source of fiber.
Hungryroot’s revenue soars
The health-focused online grocer, which refers to itself as a “consumer wellness company,” announced last week that it brought in $700 million in net revenue in 2025, representing growth of 55%. Hungryroot, which uses artificial intelligence to suggest groceries to shoppers based on their health objectives, budget and other characteristics, said that it served almost 700,000 households and generated almost half of its revenue from sales of its own branded products last year.
A healthy share of consumers are worried about what they eat
Half of shoppers are concerned about the health risks posed by artificial ingredients, chemicals, and preservatives in foods, according to data published Tuesday by Acosta Group. More than a third of all consumers say they try to eat healthy foods most of the time, and almost 60% of shoppers read labels most or all of the time when buying something new, the marketing collective said.
In addition, 15% of Generation Z shoppers and about a fifth of millennials say they make a point of looking for healthy foods, avoiding processed items and making health a priority in almost every food choice, regardless of price.
Impulse find
The cold never bothered Publix anyway
The Florida-based grocer is paying no mind to the arctic temperatures most of the East Coast has weathered in recent weeks. In fact, Publix thinks now is the perfect time for a sweet frozen treat!
The supermarket chain announced a lineup of limited-edition ice cream flavors for the season, inspired by fan-favorite cookies, cakes and drinks.
Publix’s dozen half-gallon ice cream flavors are all returning favorites. They include Buckeyes and Fudge, The S’more the Merrier, Cold Brew Cookies and Creme, Home Run Caramel Popcorn andr Hula Hula Macadamia. Seven pint-sized ice cream flavors are also available, with the grocer introducing four new varieties: Bavarian Crème Hot Honey Praline, Bourbon Praline Crumble, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Root Beer Float.
Publix is known for unique ice cream flavors and promised customers more limited-edition flavors in the spring.
