News Briefs

Grocers such as Cub, Fresh Thyme and Heinen’s have signed up for the expansion of Afresh Technologies, already known for its produce solution, into other core fresh departments, among them meat, seafood, deli and foodservice. The holistic AI-powered platform aims to optimize store ordering and operations by providing intelligent recommendations and streamlined ordering and inventory workflows.

“Afresh has been an incredibly supportive and proactive partner as we’ve implemented their produce solution across all of our corporate stores,” noted Luke Anderson, CIO of Stillwater, Minn.-based Cub. “Having a lightweight, fully comprehensive solution that connects across other fresh departments should unlock even more benefits for our customers and store teams.”

[Read more: "Albertsons, Afresh Complete AI-Powered Platform Rollout"]

“After proving our ability to add value in thousands of stores in produce, we have been overwhelmed by demand to launch the Afresh platform in other fresh departments,” said Matt Schwartz, CEO and co-founder of San Francisco-based Afresh. “We are taking the same approach of bringing easy-to-use AI-powered tools to these historically underserved, strategically critical departments.”

In the meat department, for example, associates using Afresh can save time by placing pre-filled orders for packaged fresh products with longer shelf lives, like bacon. They can also boost order accuracy with intelligent recommendations for high-value, hyper-perishable items like fresh poultry, increasing in-stock rates and profits while reducing labor overhead.

To date, Afresh customers have seen an average 3% sales lift and 25% shrink reduction in their produce departments – a collective 31 million pounds of food waste prevented so far, according to the company.

Cub’s parent company, Providence, R.I.-based UNFI, the largest publicly traded grocery distributor in America, is No. 49 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America, while Downers Grove, Ill.-based Fresh Thyme is No. 91 on PG’s list.

Ahold Delhaize has published its “2022 Annual Report,” which provides an overview of the company’s financial and ESG performance. The theme of this year’s report is “Local matters.”

The company’s CEO, Frans Muller, said that Ahold Delhaize's brands have remained laser- focused on keeping grocery prices as low as possible and making healthy food options accessible to everyone by investing in high-quality own-brand products, expanding the range of price-entry products, and offering more personalized discounts through loyalty programs.

[Read more: “Ahold Delhaize Helped Customers Save More in Q4”]

He also mentioned that Ahold Delhaize made substantial progress in its Leading Together strategy and within growth drivers of e-commerce and digitalization, health and sustainability, cultivating talent, and operational excellence.

“One example is the significant increase in our interim scope 3 CO2 emissions reduction target to 37% by 2030, in line with the UN goal of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius,” said Muller. “This not only demonstrates our commitment to our considerable sustainability ambitions, but also our aspiration to play a leading role in driving sustainability across the food retail sector and our value chain.”

The report will be on the agenda of the company’s annual general meeting of shareholders, which will be held on April 12.  

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of Zaandam, Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize that operates more than 2,000 stores across 23 states under the Food Lion, Giant Food, The Giant Co., Hannaford, and Stop & Shop brands, as well as e-grocer FreshDirect, is No. 10 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in the United States.

Amid rising costs of groceries and household staples, e-grocery platform Shipt has rolled out an exclusive Shipt Membership Appreciation Savings Event. From March 2 through March 5, Shipt members will save on popular items, as well as those that have seen the highest cost increases, including eggs, butter and coffee beans.

The limited-time shopping event features the following deals:

• Grocery (March 2-5): Save $15 on $60; Retailers: Target, Meijer and more grocery retailers (full list available on request)
• Baby Essentials (March 3 only): Save $10 on $30; Retailers: Target and Meijer
• Personal Care (March 4 only): Save $10 on $30; Retailers: CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens

Last December, Shipt onboarded its 200th retailer and continues to provide same-day delivery across shopping categories, including groceries, with orders received in as little time as an hour. 

Shipt is an independently operated, wholly owned subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Target Corp., which is No. 6 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America, with nearly 2,000 locations. Founded and based in Birmingham, Ala., Shipt also maintains an office in San Francisco.

DoorDash and Chase have launched the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard, the first-ever DoorDash credit card, with Mastercard as the exclusive payments network.

The new card unlocks value and rewards for cardmembers with unlimited cash back on everyday purchases from local businesses, including thousands of grocery stores, both on and off the DoorDash platform.

[Read more: “DoorDash Debuts 1st Grocery Campaign”]

The no-fee DoorDash Rewards Mastercard provides: 
• 4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders on the DoorDash platform
• 2% cash back on grocery stores, online or in-store
• 3% cash back on dining when purchased directly from a restaurant, online or in-store 
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

“Every order on DoorDash helps local businesses grow, and we’re excited to continue championing the prosperity of local communities through our new cardmember benefits offered both on and off the DoorDash platform,” said Usman Cheema, senior director of global partnerships at San Francisco-based DoorDash.

Additional exclusive cardmember benefits include:
• 10% off first order of $35 or more each month (up to $15 per order) through Aug. 1 on convenience, grocery, alcohol and DashMart purchases – a potential $90 value
• $25 off the first two nationwide shipping orders of $100 or more, which is a $50 value

Flexible cashback redemption options include: 
• Using rewards to pay for part or all of a DoorDash or Caviar order
• Receiving a statement credit or direct deposit into a cardmember’s bank account
• Redeeming rewards for gift cards from a variety of brands and retailers

The launch offer for new cardmembers includes a free year of DashPass (a $96 value) with the ability to extend their complimentary DashPass every anniversary year they spend $10,000, and for a limited-time, a $100 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. DashPass currently boasts more than 15 million members.

Natural Grocers is doing its home state proud with a special Celebrate Colorado Event from March 3-5. The organic and natural grocer, founded in Colorado in 1955, is providing giveaways and sweepstakes prizes to shoppers at its Colorado locations and offering discounts on products from several Colorado brands plus its own brands.

Among other freebies, customers can pick up a Colorado-themed reusable shopping bag and commemorative sticker. They can also sign up for a chance to win prizes like custom skis from Colorado brand Meier, an Aventon e-bike or a $500 store gift card.

[Read more: "Natural Grocers Recaps Commitment to Regenerative Agriculture"]

Decades after it was started by Margaret and Philip Isely in Golden, Colo., Natural Grocers remains a family-operated business that retains strong community ties. "If you've ever shopped at Natural Grocers, you know we like to celebrate holidays — even those that are unofficial or a bit out of the box. In Colorado, March 3 is colloquially known as '303 Day', based on Denver's area code,” explained Raquel Isely, VP of marketing and a member of the next generation of operators. “There's no better day to kick-off celebrating local brands and products at our Colorado stores.”

The grocer is also spreading the state love with another celebration in the Lone Star State. During Natural Grocers’ fifth annual Celebrate Texas Independence Day event from March 2-4, shoppers can save on an array of products from Texas brands.

Texas shoppers can also score some giveaways, including a Texas-themed reusable shopping bag and sticker, and an opportunity to win prizes like a Yeti wheeled cooler, Aventon e-bike or $500 store gift card. 

Founded in 1955, family-operated Natural Grocers operates over 160 stores in 21 states. The Lakewood, Colo.-based natural and organic grocer is No. 95 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.

Hannaford Supermarkets is adding its 186th location to its store count as it acquires Tradewinds Marketplace in Blue Hill, Maine. The store, which was already supplied and supported by Hannaford, is expected to officially operate under the banner in May.

The acquisition comes as Tradewinds Marketplace owners Chuck and Belinda Lawrence retire. According to Hannaford, the store will continue to offer the products for which it is known, including store-brand offerings such as Taste of Inspirations, Hannaford and Nature’s Promise. 

[Read more: "Hannaford Installing AEDs at All Stores"]

“A lot of the values we have, we got from Hannaford. As we considered retirement, it became evident that there was really only one successor that would maintain the same great service and provide the products our customers have enjoyed since we opened,” said Tradewinds Marketplace owner Chuck Lawrence. “We have been fortunate to have a great staff and many long term associates. We would like to thank our current and previous associates for being an important part of the Tradewinds family.”

Hannaford will now operate 65 locations in Maine. The supermarket chain was founded in Portland in 1883 and is headquartered in Scarborough, Maine.

“We’ve long been committed to bringing the Blue Hill community the high-quality, fresh products and exceptional service that are synonymous with Hannaford,” said Todd Bullen, Hannaford VP of retail operations. “We look forward to further deepening our ties with the Blue Hill community as we officially welcome the store to the Hannaford banner.”

Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford operates over 180 stores in five Northeast states, employing nearly 30,000 associates. Parent company Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of Zaandam, Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize, is No. 10 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.