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  • 1/27/2025

    Stater Bros. Markets AI-enables store ordering

    Stater Bros.

    A regional Southern California grocer is upgrading its previously manual store ordering process with advanced technology.

    Stater Bros. Markets is implementing the AI-based Afresh store ordering solution chainwide across its produce departments in all of its 169 stores. This rollout follows a successful pilot where the retailer reported what it called significant improvements.

    "With Afresh, our produce managers have a tool that can assist them in placing orders that reduce waste and increase shelf life," said Bertha Luna, Stater Bros. Markets senior VP of retail operations. "The result is fresher produce at affordable prices, which translates into happier and more loyal customers."

    Positive pilot results included reduced overstock, elimination of excess inventory from the backroom, and freshly stocked sales floors. During the pilot, stores also saw improved sales performance while simultaneously reducing waste.

    "We're excited to partner with a stand-out regional grocer like Stater Bros.,” said Dain Charette, chief revenue officer for Afresh. “Our pilot has been an incredible partnership, thanks to our teams' collaboration and Stater Bros.' commitment to innovation and supporting their store associates."

    [READ MORESouthern California grocer Stater Bros. optimizes third-party delivery]

    Based in San Bernardino, Calif., Stater Bros. Markets is the largest privately-owned supermarket chain in Southern California and operates nearly 170 stores. Afresh has announced partnerships with grocers in more than 5,000 store departments across 40 states, including Albertsons, Heinen's, Bashas, Cub Foods and Smart & Final.

  • 1/27/2025

    Survey: 26% of Americans used technology more than intended in 2024

    social media icons on phone

    Many Americans hoped to cut back on their technology use last year, but not all were successful.

    Overall, 26% of Americans say that they used technology more than they intended to in 2024, according to a recent survey from Secure Data Recovery Services, which interviewed consumers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

    Only 86% of Americans use technology within five minutes or less of waking up, compared to 94% of Brits and Irish. However, for Americans, that number is significantly higher than in the beginning of 2024 when only 61% said they use technology within five minutes or less of waking up. Only 1% of survey respondents on both sides of the pond wait more than an hour before using technology in their day. 

    In early 2024, only 56% were shocked by how much time they spent on their phone. That number is now up to 63%.

    When Secure Data Recovery Services asked questions about their technology use this past year, people in Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Connecticut and Mississippi were the top states that failed to cut back on technology in 2024. Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Iowa and Massachusetts were the most successful in doing so.

    [READ MORE: Survey: Social media, streaming use continues to rise]

    When deciding where they need to cut back on their technology use in 2025, Americans, Brits, and Irish are extremely alike, according to the survey. Social media (63%), streaming and videos (29%), and gaming (22%) are  the top three things Americans hope to use technology for less in 2025.

  • 1/27/2025

    Krispy Krunchy Chicken to open over 600 locations in 2025

    Krispy Krunchy Chicken

    A fast-growing store-in-store quick service restaurant concept isn’t resting on its laurels after a busy 2024.

    Krispy Krunchy Chicken, which licenses its menu of fried chicken items and assorted sides to convenience stores, truck stops, universities, casinos and big box retailers across the U.S.opened 605 stores in 2024.

    Now operating more than 3,200 locations nationwide, Krispy Krunchy Chicken projects it will open more stores in 2025 than it did in 2024. 

    “We’ve grown on the solid foundation of prioritizing the profitability of our operators through a cohesive brand strategy, strong foundational partnerships and a focus on innovation,” said Jim Norberg, CEO of Krispy Krunchy Chicken. “These efforts have driven a significant increase in interest throughout the industry, and we continue to be sought out as the preferred foodservice offering.”

    To support its continued growth, the company says it will focus on collaboration across sales, operations, marketing, and supply chain to enhance its brand experience. This effort will include launching new products and platforms, as well as new ways of training and executing tasks.

    One major new initiative introduced in 2024 was rolling out third-party delivery with partners including DoorDash, UberEats and Grubhub, consolidated into one menu management tool through the Olo platform, Krispy Krunchy began signing up stores mid-year and ended the year with nearly 500 locations on the platform. 

    [READ MORE: Grubhub integrates digital orders into restaurant POS systems]

    According to Krispy Krunchy Chicken, the Olo platform has lowered commission fees for most operators and has reduced complexity by allowing stores to eliminate multiple tablets from multiple delivery partners.

    Founded in Louisiana in 1989, Krispy Krunchy Chicken operates over 3,200 retail locations across 47 states.

  • 1/24/2025

    Dollar General’s new private label items will include…

    Dollar General Clover Valley (Photo: Dollar General)

    Dollar General plans to add approximately 100 new products to its private label assortment.

    The discounter currently offers more than 3,200 consumable private brand products, with its Clover Valley food and beverage brand leading in sales with $2.3 billion in fiscal 2023 and featuring more than 600 items. 

    During the first quarter of 2025, Dollar General plans to add approximately 100 new private brand products, more than half of which will be under the Clover Valley name. New items will include honey mustard, blue cheese and thousand island salad dressings, apple cinnamon fruit and grain bars, caramel and vanilla coffee enhancer syrups, 100% white grape peach juice, sugar-free breakfast syrup, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, and eight flavors of ice cream.

    “As shoppers seek value and quality, we continually listen to customer feedback to identify opportunity gaps,” said Emily Taylor, executive VP and chief merchandising officer, Dollar General. “With more than half of our customers’ baskets having at least one private brand item, we are proud to make significant investments in our private brands, bringing even more on-trend products and pantry staples to shelves.”

    Other recent efforts by Dollar General to provide savings include a holiday toy guide, as well as a "stacked savings" offer of a weekly $5 off $25 and additional digital coupons, loyalty cash back and other special incentives on its consumer app. 

    In addition, the retailer ran a two-month storewide holiday promotion called "DG Deal Days." 

    [READ MORE: Dollar General to launch two-month holiday promotion]

    As of Nov. 1, 2024, Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based Dollar General Corp. operated 20,523 Dollar General, DG Market, DGX and pOpshelf stores across the United States and Mi Súper Dollar General stores in Mexico.

    (Photo: Dollar General).

  • 1/23/2025

    Walmart reportedly increases pay for some managers

    Walmart exterior

    Some of Walmart's top-performing managers are getting a raise.

    Top-performing market managers who oversee about 12 stores can now make between $420,000 and $620,000 per year with full bonuses, according to a Wall Street Journal report. According to the report, the managers' annual base pay is also being increased to $160,000 per year, up from $130,000. The maximum base pay they can make will stay at $260,000.

    In a statement to CNN, a Walmart spokesperson said that the market manager role “is key for our business and for serving our customers however they shop.” The spokesperson added that the increase is the “latest in a series of investments in hourly and salaried roles across Walmart US.”

    Walmart employs more than 400 market managers who oversee around a combined 4,600 stores in the United States.  

    The retail giant has been upping its investment in its employees. In January, 2024, it updated the two parts that make up the pay of its store managers: base pay and annual wages. It also redesigned its store manager bonus program.

    In September, Walmart's Sam's Club said it was raising wages of its nearly 100,000 employees, with increases ranging from 3% to 6% based on years of service. In addition, Sam’s Club is raising starting wages for entry-level workers to $16 an hour. 

  • 1/23/2025

    Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux seeks new restaurant operators for expansion

    Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux

    A Louisiana-founded sports bar chain is looking to expand its store count.

    Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux says it is seeking “skilled restaurant operators” to bring the chain to new markets nationwide, adding that it offers its operators the ability to hit the ground running in an “efficient, high-tech scratch-kitchen.”

    Conceptualized by Louisiana State University walk-on basketball players Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux opened its doors in 2003 in Baton Rouge, La. The menu features scratch-made dishes, paired with a wide selection of cocktails and beers.

    Walk-On’s currently operates nearly 80 restaurants nationwide. Co-owned by legendary NFL quarterback Drew Brees, franchisees include Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, former NFL star linebacker Derrick Brooks, and accomplished Clemson University football coach Dabo Swinney.

    [READ MORE: CoStar: Service-based brands will be biggest leasers of real estate space in 2025]

    “Our operators are the head coaches in our restaurants,” said Chris Porcelli, CEO of Walk-On’s. “These strategic business leaders drive our day-to-day business and take ownership of its success, from hiring and managing an all-star dream team to greeting fans at the door by name.”

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