News Briefs

The NGA Foundation, the 501(c)3 nonprofit arm of the Arlington, Va.-based National Grocers Association (NGA), has revealed that Missouri-based Dierbergs  Markets will be the participating retailer in the organization’s 2023 Student Case Study Competition. 

Hosted annually by the foundation, the competition brings college students from across the U.S. to the NGA Show, where they will present solutions to an issue currently affecting the independent grocery industry. The program aims to further the professional development of college students pursuing degrees in food and retail programs and gives competing teams the opportunity to address a real-world issue currently affecting independent grocers. Participants progress through three rounds of judging from food industry professionals, with the winners and their schools receiving a cash prize.

“Dierbergs is honored to be a part of a program that’s focused on nurturing the next generation of leadership for our industry,” noted Erica Campbell, director of talent management for Dierbergs, which has 26 stores in the greater St. Louis area. “We look forward to the insights that this age group will bring to the table, as they reflect the thoughts of the emerging workforce as well as an increasingly important demographic of consumers.”

The 2023 competition topic is employee recruitment and retention. Student case study presentations will focus on creating a comprehensive recruitment and retention strategy for Dierbergs that provides the best combination of internal benefits with competitive corporate positioning.

Previous retailers that have been the subject of the competition include Woodman’s Food Markets, Karns Quality Foods and Buehler’s Fresh Foods.

The 2023 competition will take place during The NGA Show, scheduled for Feb. 26-28 at Caesars Forum Convention Center, in Las Vegas. Progressive Grocer will also celebrate its 12th annual Outstanding Independents Awards program during The NGA Show.

Hugo’s Family Marketplace has purchased Palubicki’s Family Market, in Fosston, Minn.

In 1975, Jim and Nina Palubicki moved to Fosston and bought the grocery store, which they called Palubicki’s Red Owl. The couple’s four daughters and five grandchildren have worked for the business in various capacities throughout the years. In 2006, the Palubickis’ daughter Leah bought the store and entered the fuel business with Palubicki’s Express in 2012. In 2016, Palubicki’s Family Market and Spirits opened, doubling the size of the old grocery store and adding a pharmacy, a Caribou Coffee location and a liquor store.

[Read more: "Morton Williams Now Part of Allegiance Retail Services"]

“We are excited to purchase this store and become members of the Fosston community,” said Kristi Magnuson Nelson, president/CEO of Grand Forks, N.D.-based Hugo’s. “Leah and her family have built an impressive company rooted in family values, which makes this new addition to our family of supermarkets so special. We are committed to maintaining the great tradition, quality and service that the Palubicki family has built.”

“I am thankful and grateful for all the wonderful staff throughout the years,” said Leah Palubicki. “We are proud of what we have accomplished in Fosston and are excited for Hugo’s and the future of Fosston.”

Nelson expects the ownership transition to be seamless for the shoppers and employees of Palubicki’s, noting that Hugo’s will retain all of Palubicki’s management team and employees who currently work at the store.

Founded by Hugo and Dorothy Magnuson in 1939, Hugo’s was operated by Curt Magnuson until his death in 2007; Nelson, his daughter, then succeeded him. With the addition of the Fosston store, the grocer will operate 12 supermarkets, seven liquor stores, two pubs, four pharmacies and nine Caribou Coffee shops throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.

A sustainable water bottle is coming to store shelves in California. Starting Dec. 1, Los Angeles family-owned grocer Erewhon will begin carrying biodegradable water bottles developed by material innovation company Cove.

The bottle has been in the works for nearly four years. Cove’s plastic-free, renewable bottle is made from PHA, a natural, non-toxic material that is said to break down by microorganisms in nature.

[Read more: "Line of Grocery Bags Certified as Biodegradable"]

“Erewhon has celebrated the amazing benefits of naturally grown foods and the importance of preserving the earth for more than 50 years and continues to lead the way in conscious consumption today,” said Vito Antoci, EVP of Erewhon Markets, which operates six locations across the greater Los Angeles area. “When we were introduced to Cove, we were incredibly excited to be part of this innovative and potentially world-changing moment for CPG – the world’s first fully biodegradable water bottle is something we are very proud to be launching at Erewhon.”

“Cove entering retail is a significant milestone for the company and it was important for us to find a mission-aligned retail partner to debut Cove. We’ve found that in Erewhon and are excited to take a big step forward in our mission to create a sustainable material world.” said Alex Totterman, founder and CEO of Cove. “Erewhon will also offer a valuable end of life option for our customers by allowing them to deposit their used Cove bottles into their bins for compostables, which will then be routed to a local compost operation for biological recycling.”

Following the launch at Erewhon stores, Cove plans to expand distribution to other retail partners in the coming months as it ramps up its manufacturing capability. The LA-based company is backed by high-profile investors such as Valor Equity, Marc Benioff, James Murdoch, Tony Robbins and Peter Rahal.

A store featuring Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology and Amazon One will debut on Friday, Nov. 25 at Bridgestone Arena – a first for a Nashville sports and entertainment venue – with another store powered by both frictionless shopping solutions slated to open at the same arena in early 2023. Bridgestone Arena is home to the NHL’s Nashville Predators.

The Twice Daily store opening this week, operated by Buffalo, N.Y.-based foodservice and retail partner Delaware North, is located near section 323, while the second Twice Daily location will be in section 114. Offerings will include an assortment of packaged beer, spiked seltzers, soda, bottled water, chips, candies and sundries. 

[Read more: "Amazon Tech Powers Checkout-Free Store at DFW Airport"]

Delaware North employees will serve as greeters and provide in-store assistance as needed. Guests buying alcohol will need to show valid ID to a store attendant for age verification.

“This new technology will offer added convenience and quicker transactions at our Twice Daily stores, allowing fans to spend more time watching their event and less time standing in line,” noted Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena SVP of Operations Dave Urso.

“Bridgestone Arena has been recognized as a world-class arena, and we are thrilled to continue to elevate the sports and entertainment experience for guests of the famous Nashville landmark with Just Walk Out technology and Amazon One,” said Dilip Kumar, VP, AWS Applications. “Fans watching the Predators and other live events can now enjoy a seamless experience when they grab refreshments and return to their seats in record time.”

Seattle-based Amazon is No. 2 on The PG 100,  Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.

The app-based marketplace Flashfood, which helps retailers cut down on food waste and move discounted food nearing its best-by date, has a new board member. The company announced the appointment of Jordan Schenck as a director, joining the four other members: Josh Domingues, Rob Gierkink, James McCann and Chuck Templeton.

[Read more: "Flashfood Hits Milestone of 50M+ Pounds of Food Diverted From Landfills"]

Co-founder and chief revenue officer of Sunwink, Schenck has led that company to become one of the fastest-growing ready-to-drink beverage makers on the market. Her experience also includes a role as head of consumer marketing for Impossible Foods, where she launched the company’s product into foodservice chains including Burger King. She was included on Forbes’ 2021 list of the “Most Innovative Chief Marketing Officers.”

"With an extensive career in the food and retail industry, Jordan brings strategic depth to our board in her ability to scale visionary consumer brands with a purpose," said Domingues, founder and CEO at Toronto-based Flashfood. "Right now, we are at a critical juncture for growth across North America and having Jordan's oversight and guidance positions us to deliver on our vision to expand our presence, multiply our food waste impact, and offer grocery savings to more shoppers."

Schenck said she is looking forward to making a difference at Flashfood as it rapidly expands its presence. "I am passionate about mission-driven companies that deliver positive impacts for people and our planet, and Flashfood is doing just that by tangibly reducing food waste and saving shoppers money," she remarked. "I am excited to be a part of Flashfood's growth journey as they expand and accelerate their impact."

Flashfood marketplaces are available in more than 1,450 grocery locations in the U.S. and Canada. 

Rewards app and consumer-engagement platform Fetch has added Neela Montgomery to its board of directors. A seasoned technology leader, Montgomery holds a proven track record of scaling digital consumer-facing ventures, particularly in the retail space.

"We are so pleased to welcome Neela Montgomery to Fetch's board," said Wes Schroll, founder and CEO of Madison, Wis.-based Fetch. "Her retail and consumer expertise will provide enormous value as Fetch continues as an industry leader in physical-world attribution through meaningful connections between consumers and the nation's most cherished brands."

[Read more: “Fetch Rewards Racks Up 5M+ Daily Active Users”]

Montgomery brings more than 20 years of experience in consumer leadership roles, focusing on digital acceleration, international expansion, building leadership teams, and fostering diverse and inclusive company cultures worldwide.

Her most recent role was president and EVP at CVS Health, leading the retail and pharmacy business during the rollout of COVID vaccines and boosters. Before that, Montgomery was CEO of global home furnishings retailer Crate & Barrel Holdings, overseeing the digital transformation of the heritage brand. Earlier in her career, she spent 12 years at British multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer Tesco PLC in a host of leadership roles spanning strategy, international, merchandising, e-commerce and grocery operations functions.

Montgomery is currently a board partner at venture capital firm Greycroft Partners LLC, as well as on the public boards of global consumer technology company Logitech International S.A., and website-building and e-commerce platform Squarespace Inc.

"Fetch has built an engaging rewards experience that customers love," Montgomery said. "I am excited to join the team in this next phase of expansion as Fetch continues to partner with iconic brands and redefines loyalty and savings for millions of consumers."

With its CVS Pharmacy subsidiary operating almost 10,000 locations nationwide, Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS Health is No. 7 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.