Ahold

You are what you eat. Or is it who you eat with?

Well, it turns out both matter!

The food retail industry is about to enter the third year of the September National Family Meals Month program. So as a curtain raiser, it’s a good time to assess the diverse retailer efforts of last year – from Kroger and The Little Clinic to Hannaford — and take a peek at a couple of upcoming initiatives

ZAANDAM, the Netherlands — Ahold USA on Monday generated $7 billion in second quarter sales. While comparable to the year-ago period though, those sales were reached with 24 fewer stores. Comparable sales growth for the quarter was up 0.3%.

The company reported a positive impact on the timing of Easter that was offset by Fourth of July holiday sales and last year's competitive closures in the New York market. At the end of the quarter, Ahold USA announced new price investments in own brands, produce, milk and eggs.

The food retail industry is reeling from disruption. Consumer preferences are changing so quickly that companies are having trouble keeping up. Industry consolidation is producing out-of-the-box deals, such as Amazon’s recently announced agreement to acquire Whole Foods.

CHICAGO — Online grocer Peapod on Tuesday launched "Ask Peapod," its Alexa skill for hands-free, voice ordering that enables immediate, in-the-moment additions to shoppers' weekly grocery carts. Peapod sees voice ordering as the natural next step and is investing in more innovations designed for the connected shopper.

CARLISLE, Pa. – As part of Giant Food Stores and Martin's Food Markets’ annual Support Our Troops in-store campaign, customers and associates on Wednesday donated $643,518 to United Service Organizations and the American Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces in support of service members.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA on Monday named Nick Bertram, SVP merchandising at Ahold USA, to president Giant/Martin's in January 2018. Tom Lenkevich, who has been Giant/Martin's president since 2014, is retiring at the end of the year.