All articles tagged with #grocery
The Fresh Market has been named the best grocery store in the United States by USA Today readers. The chain, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, also won top spots in produce, deli, prepared foods, and bakery categories. CEO Brian Johnson credited the win to fresh ingredients, in-store butchers, and a strong team. The company operates over 170 locations across 22 states and recently added five new stores.
The Fresh Market has been named the best grocery store in the United States by USA Today readers, securing first place in the overall category and four sub-categories. CEO Brian Johnson attributes the win to fresh, high-quality ingredients and a personalized shopping experience. The chain, which operates over 170 locations across 22 states, recently added five new stores and plans further expansion. Competitors like Publix, Kroger, and ALDI also ranked highly, with voters citing specific strengths for each.
Kroger has implemented a mandatory uniform policy for its 400,000 in-store employees, marking the first dress code update in ten years. The new attire, featuring the company logo, replaces previous casual wear and aims to improve customer identification and employee comfort.
Costco and Uber Eats expanded their delivery partnership to 47 states, making about 600 Costco locations available for Uber Eats orders. Members must verify their membership, and some customers may receive Uber One discounts, with Costco memberships purchasable in-app. The move heightens competition in grocery delivery among Uber Eats, Walmart, Instacart, DoorDash, and Amazon Fresh.
The FDA announced a recall of 302 boxes of Martina-brand mangoes sold at several Walmart locations in the Northeast (Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania) from Aug. 10–21 due to potential salmonella contamination. The mangoes were imported by Panorama Produce, packed in Martina-branded cases with Agrofepac, and carry PLU 4584 and UPC 07503061948050. No illnesses have been reported. Consumers should dispose of the fruit or return it to the place of purchase; Panorama Produce can be reached for more information.
Major grocery chains are closing dozens of underperforming stores across the U.S. to cut costs: Kroger plans about 60 closures in 18 months and has pursued the Giant Eagle acquisition; Grocery Outlet is shuttering 36 stores (mostly on the East Coast); Safeway/Albertsons are reducing footprints; Walgreens has closed more than a dozen locations as part of a multi-year cost-cutting push, underscoring concerns about access to affordable, fresh food in affected communities.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to open five city-owned, privately operated groceries funded by public money and subsidized “Core Basket” items is drawing fire from insiders who say the 44-page EDC RFP reveals a flawed, costly model: bidders would price unknown stores in unknown neighborhoods, the plan envisions limited product diversity with various dietary options, stores would ship pre-made deli items, and there’s no means-testing—meaning taxpayers could subsidize groceries for nearby affluent shoppers while others go without.
Bain & Company, using NielsenIQ data, shows June U.S. grocery unit sales fell 1.8% YoY as shoppers cut back despite prices rising 2–3% and groceries costing about 33% more than in 2019. About 80% of Americans want to spend less, with 28% actively trimming grocery spend; many trade down to cheaper brands, buy fewer items, and rely on coupons. Retailers like PepsiCo, Walmart and Kroger are responding with price cuts and value promotions to revive unit sales and shift focus from dollar growth to volume growth.
Kroger will acquire Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, ending nearly 100 years of local ownership and adding 197 supermarkets and 11 pharmacies across Western Pennsylvania, northern Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana; the deal, approved by Kroger’s board, is expected to close in 2027 pending regulatory clearance, with Giant Eagle continuing to operate under its banner and no store closures anticipated.
Trader Joe's will open nine new stores in eight states this year, adding Farmington Hills (MI), Syracuse (NY), University Heights (OH), Sarasota (FL), Chicago (IL), Quincy (MA), Yonkers (NY), Phoenix (AZ) and West Jordan (UT) to its U.S. footprint, as part of ongoing nationwide expansion; opening dates were not disclosed.
A local price check of five staples across Grocery Outlet, Ralphs, Amazon Fresh and Costco finds prices are generally close, with small item-level differences (potatoes cheaper at Grocery Outlet, eggs cheaper at Ralphs). Totals ranged from about $19.93 at Costco for a bread item bought in bulk to $25.26 at Ralphs, with Amazon Fresh at $21.52 (delivery minimum applies). The takeaway: shopping across stores can save a little, but bulk sizes, memberships and delivery fees—and even gas costs—can influence overall savings.
Costco’s 2026 bakery lineup features five standout launches: a nearly 4-pound Strawberry Cream Pie ($18.99), a 2-pound Blueberry Sourdough Bread ($8.99), a 2-pound Peaches and Cream Bar Cake ($17.99), twice-baked chocolate croissants ($9.99 for a box of six), and a nearly 4-pound Brownie Walnut Pie ($21.99). The items reflect seasonal rotations and can be stock-dependent, but fans praise the flavors on social media and you can freeze extras when available.
A Consumer Reports–commissioned study finds Costco is the cheapest major U.S. grocery store, about 21.4% cheaper than Walmart, with BJ’s Wholesale Club close behind; Lidl and Aldi are cheaper than some peers, while Walmart ranks 7th among the chains surveyed. The savings come from Costco’s economies of scale and bulk-buying, with budget-friendly options like rotisserie chicken and under-$5 staples cited as examples of its value.
A nationwide American Customer Satisfaction Index survey of about 31,000 shoppers in 2025 ranks Trader Joe's as the top U.S. grocery store for customer satisfaction with a score of 86, up from last year and ahead of Publix at 84; H-E-B, Sam's Club, Aldi, Costco and Whole Foods also perform well, while the overall grocery-satisfaction average slipped to 78.
More than 20,000 peanut butter products manufactured by Ventura Foods have been recalled across 40 states after blue plastic fragments were found in a production filter. The FDA classified the recall as Class II, indicating a low risk of serious injury. Affected items include creamy peanut butter packets and multi-pack cups sold under various private-label brands. Consumers should check labels and follow retailer or manufacturer guidance on returns or disposal, and seek medical advice if concerned.