Six pies from Southeastern Grocers earned first-place honors at the American Pie Council's National Pie Championships. The winning pies included caramel apple, chocolate cherry, peaches and cream, pecan, pumpkin and sweet potato. "These awards are the cherry on top of our passion for crafting exceptional dessert experiences for our customers with traditional recipes that celebrate the spirit of each season," Chief Merchandising Officer Dewayne Rabon says.

Allegiance Retail Services has opened a Foodtown store in Staten Island, N.Y., rebranding the former Olive Tree Marketplace. The 9,000-square-foot store has undergone significant upgrades, including new freezers, updated equipment and enhanced lighting, and features fresh produce, meats, seafood and an expanded grab-and-go section.

Snacking is among the dominant trends for this year, the Specialty Food Association's Trendspotter panel reports, highlighting innovative formats like pizza cupcakes and dumplings. The movement reflects a shift towards "freestyle format and flavor combinations," appealing to consumers' growing flexibility in eating habits. Industry experts predict this trend will influence mainstream food outlets as specialty products respond rapidly to changing consumer preferences.

Major food and beverage brands are expanding into new grocery store aisles to tap into changing consumer habits, with J.M. Smucker's Cafe Bustelo recently moving into refrigerated sections with its new iced coffee to cater to growing demand for on-the-go drinks. Nestle has introduced Nespresso into ready-to-drink coffee, Stouffer's into shelf-stable macaroni and cheese and Kraft Heinz has capitalized on popular flavors with products such as Philadelphia Cream Cheese frosting.

A recent survey by Ferrero reveals that 62% of adults are interested in receiving an Easter basket, with 69% prioritizing the inclusion of chocolate. "Easter has evolved into a cherished multi-generational celebration that resonates across all age groups," says Jim Klein, chief customer officer at Ferrero USA.

There's been a lot of momentum in recent days and weeks to change how millions of households receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - including those with children, seniors and people with disabilities - shop for food. Although each proposal is slightly different, soft drinks, candy and other restrictions are in their primary focus.

The fresh industry has spoken. I heard a lot of great insights about the industry's current mood and outlook during a recent string of fresh foods conferences and trade shows -- including the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure in Orlando, Seafood Expo North America in Boston and the Annual Meat Conference -- from FMI and Meat Institute -- in Orlando.

Hy-Vee Inc. is expanding its OpportUNITY Summit to a two-day event this September, rebranding it as the Supplier Impact Summit and focusing on supporting minority- and women-owned businesses. The event will feature workshops, networking and a pitch competition with substantial grants. The company has also renamed its Diversity & Inclusion webpage to Community Impact & Belonging, emphasizing its commitment to community support and inclusivity.

Whole Foods Market has announced the winners of its Supplier All-Star Awards, honoring 16 brands that align with the grocer's core values. The recipients, selected by Whole Foods leaders, include Acme Smoked Fish, Driscoll's and Tony's Chocolonely. "Each of these Supplier All-Stars brings something truly special to our shelves - whether it's raising the bar on quality, driving innovation or helping deliver more value to our customers," says Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, the grocer's chief merchandising and marketing officer.