Closures come as parent Amazon revamps physical-store base   As parent company Amazon adjusts its brick-and-mortar retail operations, Whole Foods Market plans to close six stores in four states. Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods on Monday confirmed published reports that stores in Montgomery and Mobile, Ala.; the DePaul section of Chicago; Tarzana, Calif.; and Brookline, Mass., … Continued

From targeting net zero emissions to reducing or eliminating single-use plastics use and creating innovative ways to fight food waste and promoting recycling, grocery retailers and wholesalers are fighting the good fight for the environment while being keenly aware of social issues facing the communities they serve and the workers they employ. Indeed, throughout the … Continued

A newly revamped store in Washington shows how thoroughly Amazon has woven itself into the grocery shopping experience.   “Would you like to sign in with your palm?” Biometric scanning devices at the newly opened Whole Foods Market in the Glover Park neighborhood of Washington.   That was the question a cheerful Amazon employee posed … Continued

Washington, D.C., store is 1st of many to get cashierless tech Amazon has finally brought Just Walk Out technology to its Whole Foods Market banner. The company has opened its first Whole Foods Market store — at 2323 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. in Washington, D.C.’s Glover Park neighborhood — with cashierless technology. The 21,500-square-foot store opened on Feb. 23 and … Continued

Innovation wasn’t stalled by the pandemic and the industry is sticking to fundamental values When the natural products community gathers in Anaheim in March for the first in-person Natural Products Expo West in three years, the first minutes will be a rush of the familiar and the new through post-pandemic eyes. And then the eyes … Continued

Mark Hamstra | Feb 02, 2022 From breakfast to baby food, organic grocery products continue to grow in sales Increased consumer interest in health and wellness has helped drive sales of organic center store products during the pandemic, and the trend is expected to continue. In addition, the expansion of retailers’ private label organic assortments is making … Continued

The newly formed Raley’s Companies to include Raley’s, Bashas’ and other divisions   Raley’s announced Wednesday the completion of its acquisition of The Bashas’ Company, a deal first announced in October. The Bashas’ Company, which operates more than 100 grocery stores in Arizona (and two in New Mexico), will now join a newly formed enterprise, The Raley’s … Continued

As the holidays and a new year approach, Solomon Partners’ Scott Moses takes a look at supermarkets’ past, present and future:   “One of the most impactful books I read as a boy was A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I was recently inspired to re-read the book. As many readers know, the classic story … Continued

Pall of economic challenges hangs over retailers as pandemic fallout drifts into new year Russell Redman | Dec 08, 2021 As the sun sets on 2021, the sight dawning on the horizon for the grocery industry in 2022 looks anything but clear. A haze of supply chain disruption, rising inflation, labor shortages and pandemic hangover … Continued