All articles tagged with #grocery
The article highlights five highly-rated free Apple Watch apps that enhance the device's functionality, including CARROT Weather for detailed weather updates, Athlytic for fitness tracking, Moovit for public transit navigation, Water Tracker for hydration, and Grocery for shopping lists, all of which offer optional premium features but are fully functional in their free versions.
Winn-Dixie, a 100-year-old grocery chain, is exiting the Alabama market as part of a reorganization by Southeastern Grocers, which is focusing on Florida. The company will transfer most of its stores outside Florida to other operators, including three Alabama stores transitioning to Food City, and plans to close or sell remaining locations by early next year, leaving about 20 stores in Alabama.
Kraft Heinz is close to finalizing a plan to split into two separate companies focusing on grocery and sauces, with an announcement possible next week, though details may still change.
Kroger plans to close 60 stores across four states over the next 18 months due to unprofitability, representing 2% of its total stores, while reaffirming its investment in expansion and renovation, and offering current employees alternative positions.
Amazon's VP of Worldwide Grocery and Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel criticized internal bureaucracy during an internal meeting, highlighting the need to streamline decision-making processes and reduce administrative delays to accelerate initiatives and improve efficiency across Amazon's grocery division, which is undergoing restructuring and integration efforts under the 'One Grocery' initiative.
Kroger announced plans to close about 60 underperforming stores over the next 18 months while opening new locations in the coming years, as part of a strategy to improve efficiency and compete with larger retailers. The closures, affecting approximately 2.2% of its stores, are also linked to the company's halted merger with Albertsons, which faced regulatory opposition. The company aims to reinvest savings into enhancing customer experience, though the closures have raised concerns about job losses and reduced food access in some communities.
A federal judge has blocked the proposed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons, the owner of Shaw's and Star Markets, following a lawsuit by the FTC. The judge ruled that the merger would reduce competition and negatively impact consumers. The companies had argued that the merger would strengthen their position against competitors like Walmart, Amazon, and Costco.
A U.S. judge has blocked the $25 billion merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, siding with the Federal Trade Commission's argument that the merger would reduce competition and lead to higher prices. The decision is a victory for the Biden administration, which opposed the merger on antitrust grounds. Kroger argued the merger would lower prices through cost savings, but the ruling effectively halts the deal. The companies had proposed selling 579 stores to maintain competition, but the plan was not accepted.
Blue Yonder, a supply chain management firm, experienced a ransomware attack that disrupted its managed services, affecting grocery store chains in the UK. The company, which serves major clients like Morrisons and Sainsbury, is working with cybersecurity experts to recover but has not provided a timeline for full restoration. No ransomware group has claimed responsibility yet.
Amazon is experimenting with integrating its Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh operations by using shared fulfillment networks and testing new grocery concepts. This includes shipping Whole Foods products from Amazon Fresh centers and creating a microfulfillment center at a Whole Foods in Pennsylvania. Additionally, an "Amazon Grocery" inside a Chicago Whole Foods will offer a broader range of products. These efforts aim to streamline customer purchases and compete with major retailers like Walmart and Kroger.
Grocery chain Giant has banned large bags in its Washington, D.C., stores to combat rising theft, which has cost the company millions. The new policy, effective May 23, prohibits suitcases, duffel bags, and bags larger than 14" x 14" x 6". This measure, along with hiring more guards and reducing store hours, aims to address high levels of shoplifting. The move has sparked customer complaints, particularly from those needing larger bags for practical reasons.
Inflation has risen to 3.5% in March, impacting food prices significantly and becoming a major concern for President Biden. Despite promises of transitory inflation, prices for everyday goods and services, including food staples, have surged, leading to public frustration and a decline in Biden's approval ratings. Biden has called on corporations to use record profits to reduce prices, but the impact of inflation on food costs has become a central issue in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, with both Biden and Donald Trump expected to address the issue.
Amazon is replacing its "Just Walk Out" technology at U.S. grocery stores with smart shopping carts, while leaving it in the U.K. This move signifies a shift in the company's cashier-free grocery ambitions, as it grapples with the challenges of automating the supermarket experience. The smart shopping cart, essentially a self-checkout on wheels, is now being rolled out to a handful of Whole Foods stores, offering real-time updates to the receipt and potential advertising opportunities. However, the success of this new technology depends on shoppers' learning curve and the complexity of introducing new tech in the grocery industry.
Trader Joe's has raised the price of individual bananas from 19 cents to 23 cents, marking the first increase since 2001, citing the need to adjust prices as costs change. This move aligns with a broader national trend of inflation-touched groceries, despite a relatively strong economy. While the cost of bananas is expected to continue creeping up due to climate change, the chain has also reduced prices on other produce items. The decision to sell bananas individually at Trader Joe's stemmed from a customer's reluctance to buy a whole bunch, leading to the introduction of single banana sales.
Dollar General is thriving with better-than-expected sales and profits, attributing its success to expanding grocery options and targeting frugal consumers with discount groceries and higher-margin items. In contrast, Dollar Tree is struggling, forecasting weak sales and announcing the closure of nearly 1,000 Family Dollar stores. Both chains face competition from Walmart and online retailer Temu, but Dollar General's focus on beefing up food and grocery offerings seems to be paying off, while Dollar Tree's stores have been described as dreary.