There’s no shortage of developments in the industry as summer moves toward its busiest, hottest, stretch. This week’s lineup ranges from local produce and industry milestones to food safety, earnings, and the market forces influencing what shoppers see at the meat case.
Maria Maggio recaps Wakefern’s Local Produce Supplier Summit while paying tribute to Terri Maloney as she retires after decades of helping shape Food World and Food Trade News.
Michael Rathburn explains why retailers are leaving valuable customer insights on the table by failing to fully capitalize on loyalty data. Jessica Smith follows the latest jalapeño-linked salmonella outbreak and reports on Tyson Foods’ warning that beef prices are likely to remain stubbornly high despite the reopening of Mexican beef imports.
And Bryce Graham closes the week with Ahold Delhaize’s latest quarterly results and what they reveal about today’s “challenging” U.S. grocery environment.
You can read it all below…
ICYMI: Local Produce and Lasting Legacies
The middle of summer is a busy time in the industry; Wakefern’s Local Produce Supplier Summit is only one of the events we’ve covered.
What’s more, we’re saying “farewell” to Terri Maloney, who’s following Jeff Metzger into retirement this month. She’s been the backbone of this organization and there’s a lot to catch up on.
Maria Maggio has it all in this month’s Soup to Nutz…
Loyalty Isn’t Dead… Some Retailers Don’t Use It Correctly
Every purchase provides context. A family buying diapers today may soon begin purchasing toddler snacks and children’s medicine. A shopper replacing traditional dairy with lactose-free products may be responding to a dietary need.
Those purchases aren’t random. They’re clues that explain not only what customers bought, but why.
Michael Rathburn shows how some retailers are missing out and failing to capitalize…
Jalapeño-Linked Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Hundreds
In the latest developments in a summer beset by foodborne illness, one of the nation’s most popular peppers has been implicated in at least 345 infections across 27 states.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 36 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Illnesses began between June 19 and July 19, though investigators expect the true number of cases to be higher because many infections go unreported.
Tracing points to peppers sourced in Sinaloa, Mexico. Jessica Smith has the details…
Mexican Beef Won’t Bring Prices Down Anytime Soon
Food processor Tyson Foods reported lackluster quarterly earnings this week and leadership put the focus on runaway prices in the meat department; consumers are cutting back and this is cutting into Tyson’s bottom line.
Company execs welcomed news that regulators are once again allowing Mexican beef across the border, but cautioned that things may get worse before they get better.
U.S. Performance Dampens Ahold Delhaize Quarterlies
Ahold Delhaize reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance after reporting resilient second-quarter results Wednesday, with continued market share gains, strong online growth and disciplined cost management helping offset a challenging consumer environment in the United States.
U.S. comps grew, but results were pressured by reduced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, pharmacy pricing changes related to the Inflation Reduction Act, and lower egg prices.
Bryce Graham has more on the grocery giant’s report…