Progressive Grocer

Day 2 of last week’s GroceryTech had attendees stepping off the conference floor and into the future of grocery with store tours!! A field trip to Charlotte’s Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods featured a behind-the-scenes look at how leading retailers are redefining the in-store experience — from cutting-edge technology to innovative merchandising and operations – plus fried chicken!! 🐔 #ProgressiveGrocer #GroceryTechEvent #LowesFoods #HarrisTeeter #GroceryRetail

Day 2 at GroceryTech 2026! 🛒💡 From the high-tech stage of the physical store to the shift toward agentic organizations, Day 2 of this week’s GroceryTech proved that the grocery aisle is evolving faster than ever. Just a few of the many highlights from Day 2 in Charlotte: 🤖 Kroger’s CIO discussed how agentic AI is taking the guesswork out of the associate’s day. 🏬 McKinsey & Vusion shared a forward-looking vision for the “Connected Grocery Store of the Future.” 💰 Giant Food leader discussed the Income Divide, sharing how grocers can win true loyalty across a changing economic landscape. 📊 Dollar General’s data expert talked data science and the next phase of retail media. 🏆 Plus, we celebrated the pioneers pushing the boundaries of the industry at the GroceryTech Innovation Awards with winners Albertsons and Giant Eagle!! (We also stepped off the conference floor for exclusive store tours at Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods, but more to come on that later!!🚍🍎) #ProgressiveGrocer #GroceryTechEvent #AI #RetailMedia #GroceryRetail

The Future of Grocery is Here: Highlights from Day 1 at GroceryTech 2026! 🍎💻 Yesterday, the grocery world gathered in Charlotte for Day 1 our annual GroceryTech event, and the energy was electric. We kicked things off by exploring how retailers can reimagine the entire enterprise around one thing: Shopper Intent. From opening remarks on the “State of Omnichannel Digital Experiences” to deep dives into how tech empowers associates, one thing is clear: The most successful grocers are the ones connecting the digital and physical journeys seamlessly. #GroceryTechEvent #RetailInnovation #GroceryRetail #FutureOfGrocery #ProgressiveGrocer

💜 ARMY, are you ready for a taste of BTS? 💜 The wait is over! ARIH, the Western-Korean fusion brand developed in collaboration with BTS, is officially here—and it’s available EXCLUSIVELY at Walmart! 🛒✨ From the packaging to the flavors, the members were involved to bring “Harmony, Happiness, and Health” to consumers’ kitchens. 🍜🥤 Here’s what’s dropping in the aisles: ✨ Modern Noodle: Stir-fried, restaurant-quality noodles in flavors like Gochujang Butter, Truffle Bulgogi and Vongole. ✨ Postbiotic Energy Drink: Clean energy with natural caffeine and fermented ingredients for an ideal boost. ✨ Dual Biotic Soda: Refreshing, low-sugar sodas packed with 3,000mg of fiber to keep gut health on track. #BTS #ARIH #KoreanFusion #WalmartFinds #KPopLifestyle

BIG NEWS!! We are beyond thrilled to announce that Progressive Grocer won the prestigious Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Brand-Related Event for Grocery Impact!!🥇 Grocery Impact features educational sessions, collaborations and networking opportunities, culminating in the Top Women in Grocery awards gala and afterparty. To see our team’s hard work recognized is the ultimate motivation to keep raising the bar.💪 Thank you to our amazing community and our partners for helping make this possible. 🥂 The Neal awards ceremony, presented by SIIA, took place yesterday at the Yale Club in NYC. (BTW: This year’s Grocery Impact event is Nov. 4-6 in Orlando) #groceryimpact #groceryindusty #thebest #nealawards #progressivegrocer

Two legends, one big milestone! 🎂✨ Milwaukee’s Sendik’s Food Market celebrated two 100th birthdays last week – the grocer’s own and longtime Grafton, Wis., customer Phyliss K!! 💯 At the Grafton supermarket, Phyliss was presented with a birthday bouquet and a cake. 🌷 She recently wrote a letter to Sendik’s, praising its sense of community during difficult times, like the Great Depression… “We share a bond by reaching this wonderful accomplishment,” Phyliss wrote. “Having experienced the same level of highest quality and service from 100 years ago up to today, I’m confident the Sendik’s legacy will continue to grow over the next 100 years.” Happy 100th birthday to Phyliss and @sendiks ❤️ #Sendiks #MilwaukeeLocal #HappyBirthdayPhyliss #100YearsYoung #grocery

Progressive Grocer shipped out to Boston this week for the @seafoodexpo_na , North America’s largest seafood exposition!! 🦞🦐 Thousands of buyers and suppliers from around the world attended the 3-day exhibition to meet, network and do business... and of course, partake in some new seafood products that will soon make waves at the supermarket. 🍥🍣🍤😋 #seafoodindustry #caviar #lobster #chesapeake #umami

Progressive Grocer was busy this week attending Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif., and one thing was clear: The landscape of “better-for-you” (BFY) retail is shifting from niche to mainstream. We of course had fun sampling new snacks (😋), but we also spotted the trends that will soon define the grocery shelves, including: 👨🏾‍🌾 Regeneration is the New Sustainability 🧠 The Rise of “Mood Food” & Functional Wellness 🌎 Global Flavors Get More Convenient Stay tuned for more Expo West insights next week at progressivegrocer.com!! #ExpoWest2026 #NaturalProducts #betterforyou #FoodTrends #groceryindustry

Have you Heard about the Big News in the Cereal Aisle?? Target is Going Synthetic Color-Free! 🥣🚫 By the end of May, 100% of the cereal assortment at Target will be free from synthetic colors. From your favorite national icons to Target’s own Good & Gather line, the shift is official. “We’re moving quickly to evolve our offerings to meet customer needs.” — Cara Sylvester, Target CMO. #TargetFinds #HealthyHabits #FoodNews #cereal #TargetRun

The grocery industry is at a massive pivot point. We are moving beyond simple e-commerce into the era of Agentic Commerce — where AI-driven systems don’t just “suggest” products, they anticipate intent and streamline the entire enterprise. If you are a grocery retailer looking to bridge the gap between “cool tech” and “bottom-line results,” it’s time to secure your spot for GroceryTech 2026 (May 12–14 | Charlotte, NC). 👉 Register at /2026 Why you can’t afford to miss this year’s event: 🌟 Learn from the Best: Join a “who’s who” of retail leaders already committed to the stage, including visionaries from Lowes Foods, Kroger and more. 🌟 Focus on “Personalization at Scale”: Discover how the industry’s top players are moving from generic coupons to individualized, real-time customer journeys. 🌟 Unified Commerce Strategies: Tackle the friction in fulfillment and store operations by integrating tech that actually empowers your frontline teams. 🌟 Exclusive Networking: This isn’t just a conference; it’s a bespoke environment for C-suite and senior leaders to solve the industry’s biggest challenges together. The transformation to a smarter, more efficient grocery enterprise is happening now. Don’t get left behind. Join us in Charlotte to help build the roadmap for 2026 and beyond. #grocerytechevent #AI #AgenticCommerce #groceryindustry #grocerytech

The Progressive Grocer team was at National Grocers Association’s @the_ngashow in Las Vegas this week!!🎰 As the premier event for the independent grocery industry, The NGA Show brings together grocery retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and suppliers from across the country for 3 days of learning, networking, and product discovery.😍 “We are gathered here at a pivotal moment in our industry, from the latest advances in technologies and shifts in consumer expectations, to marketplace pressures, the unpredictability of government action and the impact of historic global events. We have certainly experienced a lot in the past year, and I don’t expect 2026 to be any different yet.” –NGA CEO Greg Ferrara #groceryindustry #thengashow #progressivegrocer #IndependentGrocers #vegas

Love is in the air—and it’s more expensive than ever! 💸❤️ The 2026 Valentine’s Day forecast is out, and it’s officially a record-breaker. Consumers are expected to spend a staggering $29.7B this year! Shoppers are opening their wallets wider than ever before. 💎🍫 What’s fueling the spend? Interestingly, @nrf findings indicate that Valentine’s Day has evolved past its roots as a celebration of romance. ✨ One-third of consumers say they will buy gifts for friends ($2.4B) ✨ 27% plan to give presents to their children’s teachers and classmates ($2.2B) ✨ Coworkers will receive $1.7B worth of gifts from 21% of respondents ✨ 35% of consumers are planning to pamper their animals to the tune of $2.1B (a significant jump from last year’s $1.7B) #ValentinesDay2026 #RetailNews #ninos #love #VDaySpending