Vallarta Supermarkets is commemorating its 40th anniversary, celebrating its growth from a single carnicería in Van Nuys to a 63-store chain across California. The Latino-owned grocer held a series of community-focused initiatives, including charity donations and local events reflecting on the company's four decades of dedication to authentic Latin American flavors and community values.

After 53 years on the New York Stock Exchange, Walmart has transitioned to the Nasdaq, a move that underscores its ambition to be recognized alongside innovative tech companies. This transfer, which is the largest of its kind, is driven by the retailer's focus on integrating AI and technology into its operations. "Walmart is setting a new standard for omnichannel retail by integrating automation and AI to build smarter, faster, and more connected experiences for customers, while enabling our associates to deliver even greater value at scale," CFO John David Rainey said.

Family Fare is hosting a one-day event in Michigan to encourage shoppers to exchange pennies for double rewards, offering $1 in cash and $1 on their rewards card for every 100 pennies. The event is part of the "Small Coins, BIG IMPACT" initiative and addresses the penny shortage following the discontinuation of penny production by the Treasury Department. The effort mirrors similar successful campaigns by Giant Eagle and Price Chopper.

McCormick has named black currant as its 2026 Flavor of the Year, predicting the berry will become prominent in US dishes and drinks. The company notes a trend toward "attainable opulence," with consumers seeking small luxuries amid economic challenges. Black currant usage on US menus has increased, particularly in beverages, and McCormick sees potential for the flavor in baked goods and meats.

A Horowitz Research survey finds that 50% of US consumers view social media as their primary source for learning about brands, with 45% making purchases through social commerce platforms. Females aged 18 to 34 and Latinx consumers show the highest engagement, particularly with TikTok Shop, where Latinx shoppers outpace their white, Black and Asian American counterparts.

Kellanova executives predict a shift from modernization to reinvention in 2026, driven by technologies such as agentic AI and connected commerce. The company also highlights the importance of advanced consumer analytics, smart supply chains and sustainable technology, emphasizing the integration of digital and in-store experiences to create a seamless consumer journey.

Outdated legacy systems provide easy access points for adversaries within a factory's network due to poor management and embedded vulnerabilities, says Stefan Braun, chief information security officer at Henkel. Braun recommends implementing tiered visibility models, such as a high-fidelity tier and a passive network tier, in order to improve situational awareness.

Retailers know how hard it is to step away from day-to-day operations, but they also know the meat department never stands still. The Annual Meat Conference is where those essential conversations happen. Join us March 2–4 at the Gaylord National Harbor near Washington, D.C. AMC is built for retailers and offers practical insights from industry leaders who face the same challenges you do. One of the biggest draws each year is the first look at the new Power of Meat findings, presented directly by the researchers, so you understand shopper attitudes and buying trends before the headlines. Retailers also receive early registration savings, access to more than 140 exhibitors, education rooted in real retail issues, dedicated time for peer conversations, a Buy 2 Get 1 Free offer for FMI members and hotel access reserved for registered attendees.

The phone rings just after dawn. You’re informed by your controller that a supplier paused shipments. A cyber incident upstream has frozen invoices, which means products might not arrive for the weekend rush. At the same time, card processing fees have spiked again, and a new state regulation changed how your team needs to report shrink. None of these issues are new, but for financial leaders across the food industry, this story is becoming familiar. The pace of disruption is speeding up, and the biggest pressures are no longer siloed. Payments, cybersecurity, inventory accuracy and compliance now collide in ways that test even seasoned executives.