Top Grocery Retailer and Food Supply Chain News March 1 – 15
By iFoodDS Team
March 15, 2022
Here is our bi-weekly roundup of the latest food industry news. In the weeks of March 1 – 15, major retailers continued with their expansion plans by announcing the transformation and creation of distribution centers. FMI released their ‘Power of Produce’ report, The National Grocers Association announced its 2022 board members, and sustainability remained top of mind for grocers and consumers.
Ahold Delhaize USA Shifts to Self-Center Distribution
Ahold Delhaize’s distribution center in Bethlehem, PA became the 21st self-distributed facility as part of their ongoing automation efforts. The DC receives, selects, and transports 200 million cases of nonperishable grocery products annually.
National Grocers Association Names New Board Members
During The NGA Show, The National Grocers Association announced its 2022 board of directors and executive committee members.
Preferred Organic Products by Consumers
The recent Organic Fresh Trends research showed that shoppers search for particular items in organic form. Leafy greens like kale and spinach, avocados, and berries are some of the products consumers prefer to buy organic.
Meijer Continues with Sustainability Efforts
As part of their plan to reduce carbon emissions, grocery retailer Meijer is moving forward with a solar project that will allow them to buy a portion of energy generated by Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions.
FMI’s “The Power of Produce 2022” Report
FMI- The Food Industry Association released its 2022 Power of Produce report, revealing that 25% of shoppers consider price the most important factor and are focusing on items with prolonged shelf-life when buying fresh produce.
New Food Safety Practices for California Farmers
With the 2022 growing season starting, LGMA members added new food safety requirements that include risk assessments, root cause analysis, and in some instances, pre-harvest pathogen testing.
Shoppers Expect Grocers to Increase Their Sustainability Efforts
Research from Retail Insight identified that 77% of consumers have tried to be more substantiable with their consumption habits for the past 12 months. Two thirds of the surveyed participants agreed that retailers could do more to improve their sustainability.
Walmart to Build a New DC in Texas
Walmart announced the company’s plan to build a new million square foot distribution center to its Baytown, Texas, supply chain campus, near Houston.
