All Blog Posts (155)

Progressive Grocer has named 235 Top Women in Grocery award winners, all of whom will be prominently featured in the leading supermarket industry trade publication’s June 2013…

Beginning Wednesday, May 15 The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) will launch an eight-session webinar series on topics such as food retailing trends, local food movements and social…

Calling all Independent Retailers, what do you think your Butchers need help with?  Many Independent Retailers are asking where the next generations of Butchers are going to come from.  Are retailers looking for a training program that actually teaches the basics on how to cut meat or are they looking for more in-depth help?  Do they feel the butchers need help in merchandising, in presentation, in how to maintain gross profits and cutting tests or is it a blend of these items?  At…

     I have had the pleasure of talking to many retailers about the value of running an outstanding meat program in their stores.  I’m always pleased when approached by a fellow retailer who wants to share their stories or ask me questions.  This type of exchange of ideas can give birth to great success stories.  The one thing that these retailers all seem to have in common is that they are willing to lead the charge.  Maybe a better way to put it would be to say they are willing to…

Just a quick note to say Happy 90th to Geissler's and congratulations to CEO (and IGN member) Jim Nilsson for continuing the brand's reputation for outstanding service!

Click here for a story and slideshow on Geisller's 90th Celebration.

Joe Tarnowski

Retailer-owned cooperative Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) launched a social media monitoring and engagement program to support its independent retailers’ social media efforts.

Called the Customer Connect Center (C³), the program houses trained subject-matter experts who leverage industry-leading technology to provide reporting and engagement services to member retailers. The program is built upon comprehensive monitoring of social media websites and other online content…

Information vs. Instinct:The benefits of Computer-Assisted Ordering

Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Time: 2:00 pm ET/1:00 pm CT/11: 00 am PT

Duration: 60 minutes (including…

FMI is hosting a series of free webcasts for retailers leading up to its FutureConnect conference April 29 in Orlando, including a final webcast on how to make the most of the FutureConnect event.

The webcast schedules and links to registration pages are below:

Leading at the Speed of Trust

Thursday, March 7, 2:00-3:00 pm EST

Find out how to…

Having the ability to communicate well is one of the most sought-after skills that employers are looking for. It is easy to forget how important something like "talking" can be at work, but it can make a huge difference in the relationships you have at work. Today, we will provide you will some tips to help you develop your communication skills.

1. Pay attention to the non-verbal signals (facial expressions, posture, gestures, etc). Are you slouching or…

The National Grocers Association has honored Newport Ave. Market co-owner Debbie Dory with its Woman of the Year Award.

The award was established in 1996 by the Women Grocers of America board to give visible support and recognition to women…

According to the 2012 highlights of The Retail Feedback Group’s Connection program, there was a range of satisfaction found among shoppers across various departments and services in the grocery store. The highest satisfaction scores appeared in center store departments – grocery variety & selection and dairy/frozen freshness & variety. On the other hand, prices on non-sale items and restroom cleanliness registered the lowest in satisfaction.

Several actionable opportunities…

NGA and Progressive Grocer Independent invite you to participate in an executive roundtable on food safety in the store.

The roundtable will be held Monday, February 11 from 12:30 to 3 p.m., in the Nassau Boardroom of the Mirage Hotel & Casino.

The event – which will be hosted by PGI,…

            As independent retailers we have a great opportunity today, a great advantage.  We understand the necessity of running high quality perishable departments in order to compete in today’s market.  But are we using this advantage to its’ fullest potential?

Increasing business in an independent supermarket can become overwhelming with the everyday task of managing today’s sales.  Sometimes it seems impossible to plan beyond the next ad we are writing.  Many…

Boar’s Head Brand has recognized single-store independent Newport Avenue Market as one of the most notable providers of premium delicatessen meats and cheeses, and has named the retailer a Deli of Distinction.

The Deli of Distinction honor is only awarded to a few select Boar’s Head purveyors across the country. Newport is the first to receive the designation west of the Mississippi and the 15th retailer to be…

In November, Decorworx completed a full-scale remodel of the Macey's Spanish Fork store. This 30 year old location has been a staple in the Spanish Fork community for years and needed a remodel to accommodate the growing population. They also wanted to refresh the wonderful atmosphere that exists in …

As a natural extension of its growing publication created exclusively for independents, Progressive Grocer Independent is building on the Outstanding Independent awards program, which for years has been a part of its flagship Progressive Grocer parent.

While it will continue to recognize two overall operators for their industry excellence, PGI is expanding the program to include specific categories of awards as well.

Each award category will have two winners -- one for…

You have probably heard talk of 2D scanning and barcodes. You might find yourself wondering what 2D scanning is and how it can benefit your business.  In this brief article, we will answer both of those questions to explain how 2D scanning can improve speed, efficiency and your marketing efforts.

So what is 2D scanning exactly? In a nutshell, 2D scanning is actually imaging, meaning the imager (aka the scanner)…

During my visit to Kudrinko's for December's Progressive Grocer Independent cover story, I witnessed an event that repeated itself several times throughout the day, and showed just how engaged the single-store independent was with its market.

An energetic, sprightly, and young-spirited elderly woman, Jeannie Price, walked into the store saying hello to every employee she passed, but looking for one in particular, Ron Palmer, assistant store manager (both are shown in…