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Coresight's latest US online grocery survey shows that 37.9% of respondents used express delivery for 'most' or 'all' of their online grocery purchases over the past year, indicating the model has shifted from emergency scenarios to everyday full-basket shopping. The report recommends that retailers continue to position express delivery as a full-basket shopping option to seize growth opportunities.
Kroger announced last week its plan to acquire regional supermarket chain Giant Eagle, a move that in some ways marks a return to a historical crossroads for the two food retailers. This article outlines five key takeaways from the deal: Kroger's financial capacity, the economies of scale gained at a relatively low price, both parties' recent price-cutting efforts, the shared focus on store improvements, and the continuity of the Giant Eagle brand and operations.
Ocado disclosed on Monday that CEO Tim Steiner will step down at the start of fiscal 2028, moving to a "founder" role. The transition will be completed after his successor is appointed. The announcement comes as Ocado faces challenges from key customer Kroger showing reduced interest in its automation technology.
Grocers are accelerating their adoption of AI technology, but experts point out that, compared with flashy consumer-facing tools, back-office operational AI can deliver more tangible returns. This article explores the practices of companies such as Albertsons and Hy-Vee, as well as key challenges including data governance, organizational change, and cost control.
SymphonyAI's analysis of 1.1 billion transactions and 73 million households shows that grocery purchasing activity is increasingly spread across the entire week. Weekly reviews conflate growth and decline signals, obscuring true customer divergence. When Walmart adjusts prices on Tuesday afternoons and digital promotions can be implemented within minutes, a weekly operational rhythm can no longer guide real-time decisions. The next competitive advantage in retail will come from a feedback loop that shifts from 'reviewing the business' to 'operating in real time'.
Kroger announced the acquisition of Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, seen as a return to its M&A strategy. However, analysts point out that this deal is less impressive than previous cases in terms of geographic coverage and asset complementarity, with integration difficulties and competitive pressures coexisting, and the market response has been relatively subdued.
Albertsons is advancing the scaling of its merchandising intelligence platform, built on Databricks, integrating data governance and AI capabilities to enable buyers to obtain forward-looking insights through natural language queries, with full deployment expected by the end of 2026.
During Amazon Prime Day 2026 (June 23-26), grocery category participation dropped to 16%, the lowest level since 2022. Despite Amazon launching multiple grocery promotions and sweepstakes before the event, groceries still lagged behind categories like apparel and home goods. Protein powder and pet treats became top-selling grocery-related items.
HelloFresh announced that, through an expanded partnership with Locus Robotics, its cold chain fulfillment SKU capacity has increased from 100 to 500, a fivefold increase. The first 13 Locus Origin robots were piloted at the Factor brand in July 2025, with an average fulfillment time of 3 minutes and 36 seconds, and 26 additional units were added within three months. The company plans to extend robotic support to the EveryPlate brand later this year.
In St. Louis, Global Foods Market stands out with products from over 30 countries, operated by the second generation of the Prapaisilp family. In an exclusive interview, COO Shayn Prapaisilp shares how the store selects products through word of mouth and community engagement, manages a supply chain of 50 to 60 distributors, and notes that multicultural retail is not just business but also anthropology.