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Grocery Dive Trendline on Artificial intelligence
Although consumers remain cautious about AI shopping tools, grocery retailers are focusing AI applications on store back-end operations. Kroger has launched the Sage virtual assistant, Hy-Vee has partnered with Workday to integrate employee systems, and AI is also playing a key role in retail media and data personalization.
Kroger taps Walmart tech veteran as store operations chief
Kroger announced that Mark Ibbotson, a former Walmart senior executive known for leading e-commerce platform rollouts, will join the grocer as executive vice president and chief store operations officer on Sept. 14. Ibbotson, who most recently advised McKinsey & Company, will work under new CEO Greg Foran to sharpen store operations and value proposition.
What’s ahead for grocers in 2026?
The grocery industry stands on the threshold of a new wave of change. Over the past few years, shocks from the pandemic, high inflation, and SNAP policy adjustments have reshaped the landscape, and operators now face a distinctly different consumer and operational environment. In 2026, uncertainty becomes the new normal: Kroger's new CEO remains undecided, Amazon pivots its physical store strategy toward online delivery, and demand for multicultural foods continues to rise. Through four in-depth stories, this article examines the trends worth watching in the industry over the coming year.