UNFI Foundation Charity Classic Raises Record $1.1M For Food Access Grants
The UNFI Foundation’s annual Charity Classic golf event raised a record $1.1 million, surpassing previous years’ totals. The fundraiser allocated $50,000 grants to each of 22 grantees, including Farm Fresh Rhode Island and World Central Kitchen, to advance food‑access projects. UNFI highlighted that the grants support both rapid emergency relief and long‑term local food‑system resilience. The foundation expects to fund more than 75 organizations this year through its grant program and 50‑for‑50 campaign.
ARS Celebrates Third Supermarket In Philadelphia
Allegiance Retail Services (ARS) celebrated the launch of its third Compare & Save supermarket in Northeast Philadelphia, a 20,000‑square‑foot site that replaced a former Rite Aid. The store, owned by independent grocer Carlos Batista, offers a curated mix of fresh, organic,...
From Mashups To Mochi: Most Innovative Sweets, Snacks Revealed
The Sweets & Snacks Expo unveiled the 2026 Most Innovative New Product Awards on May 18, highlighting 500 entries—the largest field ever. New top‑honor categories, the Trailblazer and Powerhouse Awards, replaced Best in Show and Small Business Innovator. Winners include...
Ajinomoto Foods North America Names Gardner As President, CEO
Ajinomoto Foods North America (AFNA) appointed Dave Gardner, its former chief supply chain officer, as president and CEO, succeeding Hiroshi Kaho who moved to a senior role at the Tokyo parent. Gardner brings over 35 years of food‑industry experience, including...
C.H. Robinson Opens South TX Produce Logistics Center
C.H. Robinson’s Robinson Fresh division opened a 142,600‑square‑foot logistics center in Pharr, Texas, adjacent to the Pharr‑Reynosa and Anzalduas bridges. The facility, one of the Rio Grande Valley’s largest, offers 69 dock doors, multiple temperature zones and GFSI/USDA‑Organic certification. Integrated...
23 Natural Grocers Stores In 12 States Marking 10th Anniversary
Natural Grocers is marking the 10‑year anniversary of 23 stores spanning 12 states with a week‑long celebration from May 17‑23. The events feature exclusive {N}power member discounts of up to 22% on items such as coconut milk, turkey sticks and...
NCA Appoints Abbott VP Of Membership, Business Development
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) named Carrie Abbott as vice president of membership and business development. Abbott, who founded Newfangled Confections and created the award‑winning Frittle Candy, also served two terms on the NCA Board of Trustees. In her new...
BJ’s Wholesale Club To Open Location In Grand Prairie, TX
BJ’s Wholesale Club will debut a new location at 1021 IKEA Way in Grand Prairie, Texas on May 15, expanding its Texas presence. To launch the club, BJ’s Gas will sell regular gasoline for $2 per gallon on May 13,...
Kueffner: NC Grocers Maneuvering To Meet Regulatory Rules, Consumer Needs
Lindsey Kueffner of the Carolinas Food Industry Council outlined how North Carolina grocers are juggling a heavy legislative agenda, including costly SNAP funding requirements and penny‑scarcity compliance, while also adapting to shifting consumer preferences. The state faces an $85 million SNAP...
Walmart Blanketing Southeast With Remodeled Supercenters, Additional Locations
Walmart announced a massive rollout of 650 store remodels and 20 new locations through 2027, with a particular focus on the Southeast. The company has already invested $675 million in Alabama and $1.5 billion in Florida over the past five years, upgrading...
PepsiCo Foods Launches Good Warrior Snack Brand
PepsiCo Foods is debuting Good Warrior, a new protein‑snack masterbrand, with its first offering—Good Warrior Beef Sticks—rolling out in March 2026 at select U.S. retailers. The sticks are made from grass‑fed, finished beef, delivering 10 grams of protein, zero sugar and...
Di Bruno Bros. Brings New Italian Snacks To ShopRite Shelves
Di Bruno Bros., the Philadelphia‑based specialty food purveyor, announced a new line of Italian‑inspired snacks debuting in ShopRite and other national supermarkets. The spring‑summer collection adds artisanal crostini, flavored taralli, mini breadsticks and imported Pecorino Romano and Provolone wedges. Developed...
PWADC Food Show To Feature New Products, Education Sessions
Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co. (PWADC) will host its May food show on May 12‑13 in Hoover, Alabama, building on a January event that doubled case sales and outperformed the traditional September showcase. The May show will debut Sol Select,...
5WPR Index Finds Costco Tops AI Citation Rankings, Walmart Trails
5WPR released its 2026 U.S. Grocery Retail AI Visibility Index, ranking grocers by how often they appear in AI‑generated answers. Costco tops the list, followed by Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, while Walmart—holding roughly 21% of grocery market share—falls to fourth...
Upside Report Reveals A Growing Income Divide In Consumer Spending
Upside’s new report “The Income Divide,” based on more than 10 billion transactions and surveys of over 3,500 consumers, finds a sharp behavioral split at $75,000 household income. Households above that threshold are increasing spend and joining multiple loyalty programs, while...