The grocery industry is on the precipice of even more change.

After several years of weathering rapid-fire disruptions — the COVID-19 pandemic, high food inflation and SNAP policy changes, to name just a few — grocers are now facing a much different consumer and operational landscape. 

So far this year, uncertainty is the new status quo. 

The grocery industry is eagerly awaiting to see who Kroger’s incoming CEO is and how they will steer the grocery juggernaut, which has been working over the past year to regain its footing in the wake of its failed attempt to merge with Albertsons. 

Meanwhile, Amazon has made it clear that it’s not going away in the grocery space, even though its brick-and-mortar Amazon Fresh chain and in-store tech didn’t pan out as expected. Instead, the company is shifting its focus to its grocery delivery offerings as well as continuing to innovate with Whole Foods Market. 

A continued rise in consumer demand for multicultural cuisine is not only fueling the growth of chains like H Mart and 99 Ranch, but also providing traditional grocers a prime opportunity to make their assortments more relevant to the communities they serve. 

Below are three in-depth stories looking at what the grocery industry should keep an eye on throughout 2026.