Lidl US is accelerating its store expansion along the East Coast, nearing 200 locations and prioritizing key markets such as New York City, Atlanta and the Washington, D.C. area. That growth is underscored by a focus on private brands which comprise 80% of the grocer's 3,300 core items, according to CEO Joel Rampoldt, who notes that private brands are "life and death" for the company. The retailer's growth is supported by three East Coast distribution centers, allowing Lidl to open stores at a faster pace while maintaining a strong focus on price competitiveness.

Albertsons Media Collective and NBCUniversal have partnered to offer a closed-loop measurement that links connected TV ads to retail performance. Chobani piloted this capability to promote protein yogurt drinks, resulting in a 1.9-fold increase in new-to-brand social engagement, as well as a $4.22 return on ad spend from premium CTV.

Every business is unique, but the goal is always the same: create experiences that keep customers coming back. Payments are critical in that journey. Our customer experience guide explores how secure and seamless payments have become a major part of the experience.

Gum and mint sales are expected to reach $6.7 billion by 2030, driven by millennials and Generation Z, according to the National Confectioners Association's Getting to Know Gum and Mint Consumers 2025 report. Annual gum sales have increased by $1.2 billion since 2020, while mint sales are up by $462 million. The report highlights generational shifts in purchasing patterns, with Generation X being the most likely to carry gum and Generation Z preferring stick or piece formats.

Harmons prioritizes a people-first technology approach in which technological innovations like Simbe Robotics' Tally robots are used to empower employees rather than replace them. Chief Information Officer Bruce Hatch emphasizes that technology should enable associates to spend more time interacting with customers, preserving the personal touch that sets the grocer apart. "The robot can't walk them through the aisle ... and say, 'Here you go. And also, have you tried this?'" Hatch says, noting that Tally has reduced out-of-stock rates by more than half and pricing errors by 75%.

Amazon launched Ads Agent, a generative AI-powered chatbot, to help advertisers interact with Amazon's Marketing Cloud. By empowering users to request data insights and generate code through plain language conversations, Ads Agent will simplify the process of querying Amazon's advertising data, making campaign analysis and audience identification more accessible.

Every year, the FMItech Pitch Competition seeks technology companies that can enable the way grocery retailers operate, connect and serve their communities. This year’s virtual pitch round brought fresh energy, sharp ideas and a healthy dose of ambition. After the virtual pitch round judged by industry experts, three standout companies emerged: BetterBasket, Genuin, and Swish Brand Experiences.