The Friday Checkout: Automation takes center stage

Grocers have been turning to a variety of tech, robotics and AI to boost customer experience, speed up processes on the retail floor and streamline supply chain management.

By Grocery Dive Staff • March 16, 2023

Kroger sees e-commerce as future profit engine

The retailer is looking to its automation partnership with Ocado and its young retail media business to help achieve its goal of making money online, Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said Wednesday.

By Sam Silverstein • March 16, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Fresh food innovation

From new delivery services to technology designed to battle food waste, fresh foods and the ways grocers sell them are rapidly evolving. 

By Grocery Dive staff

UNFI adds robots, scanning tech to its ‘transformation agenda’

The wholesaler and retailer unveiled plans for new digital capabilities at a Washington state distribution center a week after reporting that its profits took a nosedive in the second quarter.

By Peyton Bigora • March 15, 2023

Kroger to deploy driverless trucks in Dallas

The grocer plans to begin using vehicles from autonomous-vehicle supplier Gatik to transport products between an e-commerce warehouse and several stores during the second quarter of 2023.

By Sam Silverstein • March 15, 2023

BJ’s to roll out inventory robots chainwide

The club retailer is following grocers including Schnuck Markets, Hy-Vee and The Save Mart Companies in deploying Simbe Robotics’s automated vehicles, which use computer vision-driven cameras to scan shelves.

By Sam Silverstein • March 14, 2023

Bye Bye Twitter: Hannaford revamps its social media strategy

The Ahold Delhaize banner is focusing on Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok — platforms where it has seen customer engagement grow. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 14, 2023

Amazon-powered c-store opens at Virginia college

Marymount University opened a 24-hour shop last week that marks the first campus location to integrate Amazon’s frictionless checkout technology.

By Jessica Loder • March 13, 2023

Wegmans rolls out in-store pharmacy aids for shoppers with sensory disabilities

The grocer is now providing auxiliary aids and accessibility options like video remote interpretation services in American Sign Language as well as large-print prescription labels. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 10, 2023

Instacart teams with nonprofit on nutrition initiative

The program, which launches in Indianapolis before expanding to more cities, offers stipends as well as a complementary Instacart+ membership for families in need.

By Peyton Bigora • March 10, 2023

USDA picks 5 states for mobile contactless SNAP payments pilot

Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri and Oklahoma are working with the government agency to expand purchasing options for SNAP consumers. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 9, 2023

UNFI’s profits plunge as sales hit a record

The grocery retailer and wholesaler has slashed its outlook for fiscal year 2023 and is implementing a “transformation agenda” to improve its performance, CEO Sandy Douglas said during an earnings call Wednesday.

By Sam Silverstein • March 8, 2023

Mars launches store-hailing mobile ice cream markets

The new partnership between the treats maker and tech firm Conjure, which kicked off in Los Angeles, can whisk frozen goodies to consumers in as little as two minutes.

By Peyton Bigora • March 7, 2023

As retail media networks multiply, Amazon stands alone

A MediaRadar analysis found the e-commerce giant commanded a larger market share than the mass retailer category last year. 

By Peter Adams • March 6, 2023

With Kroger delivery deal, Olo stakes its claim in grocery

The company's Rails software is now implemented in 1,600 of the supermarket giant's stores as it plans to further its presence in the industry.

By Peyton Bigora • March 6, 2023

Amazon Go closing 8 locations

The company will close two stores each in Seattle and New York City and four in San Francisco as it struggles to build its physical retail footprint.

By Brett Dworski • March 3, 2023

Afresh Technologies moves beyond fruits and vegetables

The San Francisco-based startup has started offering its food waste reduction technology to grocers for use in their meat, seafood, deli, and foodservice sections.

By Sam Silverstein • March 2, 2023

Grocery Outlet ramping up private label plans

Executives signaled a significant uptick is coming in its store brand assortment, which is notable given the company’s reliance on name brands and opportunistic sourcing. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • March 1, 2023

Sam’s Club adds retargeted ads to retail media network

The Walmart subsidiary partnered with The Trade Desk and LiveRamp to leverage first-party member data, advertiser data and AI-powered behavioral insights.

By Chris Kelly • March 1, 2023

Instacart launches B2B service

Instacart Business allows companies to browse more than 1.5 million products, including bulk and value essentials, for delivery.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Feb. 28, 2023

Save Mart unveils robotic grocery-picking facility

The retailer is using technology from startup Fulfil Solutions that can pick and pack items across grocery categories for a quick-delivery service called Lucky Now.

By Sam Silverstein • Feb. 27, 2023

Swiftly and Webstop partner to expand mobile solutions

The two technology companies will leverage each other’s platforms to provide new tools for independent and regional grocers to boost customer loyalty. 

By Peyton Bigora • Feb. 27, 2023

Instacart leans further into digital solutions for grocers

The company announced four updates, including the ability to have display ads on their retail media networks and remote management for smart carts, spotlighting how the changes help small retailers.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Feb. 23, 2023

DoorDash adds Aldi to its delivery portfolio

The partnership with the discount grocer represents the e-commerce company’s latest move to build its presence in the grocery market, which has emerged as a key growth driver for the firm.

By Sam Silverstein • Feb. 23, 2023

IGA co-creates retail media platform for independent retailers

The free-to-use, CPG-funded network combines thousands of retailers on one platform and aims to provide measurable feedback while improving the customer experience.

By Peyton Bigora • Feb. 23, 2023

Why grocers must reinvest in food safety culture

Leading food retailers drive food safety leadership through preventative systems, not just checking off items on a list, writes Sally Robinson with Upshop.

By Sally Robinson • Feb. 22, 2023