News Briefs

Kroger is making it easier for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to order groceries online as it brings e-commerce electronic benefit transfer (EBT) payments to its Fred Meyer, Smith’s and QFC banners.

The expansion includes Fred Meyer and QFC stores throughout Oregon, Idaho and Washington, as well as all Smith’s locations. Customers can create an account through the respective grocer’s app or through their websites, then add an EBT account number as a new card under the “My Account” and “Wallet” options. Online EBT payment can only be used for SNAP-eligible products.

“Thousands of Fred Meyer and QFC shoppers place digital orders every week. Now, we are opening our digital grocery shopping experience to more people, with fresh, affordable food conveniently available through pickup or delivery,” said Tiffany Sanders, corporate affairs manager. “Fred Meyer and QFC believe in being Fresh for Everyone, and this is another important way we are connecting our neighbors to the foods that will help them live healthier, thriving lives.”

Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic region, which covers stores in Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, began accepting online SNAP payments in April.

Cincinnati-based Kroger has almost 2,800 retail food stores under a variety of banner names. 

This story originally appeared on Progressive Grocer. 

Rina Shah has assumed the role of senior vice president, of Pharmacy of the Future and Transformation at Walgreens.

Shah brings 25 years of experience with community-based care to deliver the future of pharmacy in health care and broaden pharmacist capabilities through consumer-centric, technology-enabled clinical services that improve health outcomes and lower the cost of care. In her current role, she leads a team that is responsible for core elements of the retailer's operating pharmacy model, including centralized services, micro-fulfillment, pharmacy administration and compliance, the company said.

“Rina began her career at Walgreens in 1998 in our stores where she held various pharmacy roles. In 2007, Rina joined the corporate support center where she held multiple leadership positions in which she was responsible for launching innovative healthcare initiatives, leading market access sales operations and client services, and was responsible for pharmacy operations, services and specialty across more than 9,000 Walgreens’ community pharmacies. Rina was critical in the COVID-19 pandemic response with the enablement of vaccinations, testing and treatment services across the Walgreens enterprise,” Walgreens said. 

Shah is actively involved with the UIC College of Pharmacy, APhA, NASP, the CDC and NACDS. In addition, she presently serves as chair of the NACDS 2023 Advisory Group and was re-elected to the NACDS Foundation board of directors.

Rite Aid is entering the beauty space with its own beauty and personal care brand, Ryshi. 

The exclusive collection of products was designed to offer items with better-for-you ingredients at an accessible price point, the retailer noted. 

Products of the Ryshi family include vegan lashes, hydrogel eye and sheet masks, sunscreen, body washes, and razors, among other every day and self-pampering essentials. 

“For years, customers have turned to our Rite Aid brands for trusted, affordable items and we’re excited to introduce them to Ryshi, a brand that reflects our ongoing commitment to make cleaner ingredients and offerings widely available for everyone,” said Pamela Kohn, senior vice president, chief merchandising officer at Rite Aid. “Created to ‘let the real you shine through’ we hope that Ryshi users feel empowered with confidence to be the best version of themselves with a little help from our products.”

Through 2023, Ryshi plans on expanding its offerings, and the line is currently available in-store and online at Rite Aid.

On the heels of making its Ulta Beauty debut, LolaVie is launching a brand-new product — Intensive Repair Treatment.

Formulated to reduce breakage and repair the look of existing damage while also protecting from future damage, the treatment contains properties of chia seeds and a blend of superfruit extracts, the company said.

Other ingredients include yerba santa extract to leave dry hair feeling hydrated and smooth and rose of Jericho to help in imparting hair with a smooth texture while delivering the feel of moisturization.

Featuring a formula that is vegan, cruelty-free, color-safe and suitable for all hair types, LolaVie’s Intensive Repair Treatment retails for $35 and can be found online.

TSL is ready to make its mark in the canned cocktail aisle with the launch of its product line.

Debuting on July 1, TSL’s tequila, soda and lime-inspired beverages are making their formula introduction to consumers with two products—Rosarita and tequila, soda and lime.

The line started as a homemade summer drink recipe created by two friends who were not mixologists by trade, the company said.

“We love tequila and started making a lighter version of a margarita—stripping away most of the sugar, adding soda water, and letting the tequila and the lime shine. It turns out—most of our friends were craving the same thing. A light, clean cocktail that they could drink or bring along with them to parties, the beach, on a boat...or anywhere they wanted to have fun,” the brand said. “We always said—if we could recreate a canned version of what we had been making at home—then we'd launch a ready to drink brand. Made with the best all-natural ingredients one could source, our first two drinks TSL and Rosarita exceeded all of our expectations.”

Additional product information on the brand can be found online at drinktsl.com.

Pride Month is here and Yankee Candle is celebrating with the launch of not one, but two new candle fragrances that were created through a partnership with Friday Collective.

Love for All and Free to Be spotlight the work of the international LGBTQI+ organization Rainbow Road, which helps individuals seek safety throughout the world and support those who face persecution.

Free to Be is a fragrance that contains a blend of greens, rain drops, rose petals and wood moss. It retails for $12.99 and is available at Target.

Love for All features a sparkly and brightly inspired fragrance with notes of deep mineral aura that is filled with peony, driftwood and amber. It retails for $26.50 and is available for purchase at Amazon, Meijer and Yankee Candle.