“A couple of weeks ago, I stopped into the store early in the morning looking for something quick for lunch for my daughter’s field trip. She loves the pre-made lunch boxes with meat, cheese, and fruit prepared by the deli, but unfortunately there weren’t any available on the shelf. I asked at the counter in the hopes that some had simply not been put out yet, but I was told there weren’t any ready. The employee I spoke with was apologetic, and I started scrambling to come up with a backup plan. Then, to my surprise, Liz—the deli manager—came looking for me after over hearing or being told what I had been searching for. She found me in another department, confirmed what I needed, and offered to make one on the spot if I could spare a few minutes. That simple act of kindness completely changed my morning. It eased my stress, saved me from the last-minute panic of trying to figure out an alternative and most importantly- spared me from the disappointment and guilt of not being able to send my daughter with the lunch she had specifically asked for on such a special day. Liz went far above and beyond what I expected, and her willingness to help made me feel genuinely valued as a customer. She is the reason this is a 5-star review. While prices may be a little higher than at some larger grocery stores, the convenience, cleanliness, and friendly atmosphere make this one of my favourite places to shop. Employees like Liz are what truly set it apart, and I’m convinced you’d be hard-pressed to find this level of personal care in a big-city grocery store.”
“I was paying at the checkout with a very large order. I received a call saying my company was not able to come. Nancy offered to help me remove the items I no longer needed. This is superior service and is the reason why I shop locally in our small towns. Ruth Karn”
The Cincinnati-based supermarket giant will open about 110 new stores in fast-growing markets by 2029 and introduce three updated store formats, executives told investors Oct. 20 at the company’s Investor Update in New York. Kroger already runs about 2,700 stores in 35 states. The formats come in three sizes, a bit like small, medium and large, matched to each market. Mary Ellen Adcock, Kroger’s executive vice president and chief merchant and marketing officer, walked through the lineup.
Walmart shoppers want a head start on the holidays, and money explains a lot of it. Some 44% of respondents call affording the holidays their top stressor, and 61% say holiday costs shape their shopping mood. Asked what would make the season easier, 70% picked lower prices and 57% picked more deals and promotions. Convenience ranks lower: 30% want one-stop shopping across categories, and 20% want faster delivery.
Walmart wants your groceries at the door before the ice cream softens. On May 29, the retailer said its 30-minute-or-less delivery had reached 33 U.S. markets, adding a wave of new cities across the Northeast. Shoppers in those areas can order from more than 100,000 items, everything from fresh produce and baby formula to pet food, electronics, cold medicine, and prescriptions. Behind the scenes, the service leans on Walmart's store network and an algorithm that factors in order size, available drivers, and distance from the store.
Trader Joe's keeps adding stores, and shoppers keep showing up. The California grocer has marked nine more locations as "opening soon," pushing its expansion into new corners of the country. The grocer also took first place in the American Customer Satisfaction Index's 2026 supermarket rankings. It has held a spot near the top of that list for years.
Target is rolling out its most ambitious store overhaul in more than ten years, with plans to remodel over 130 locations and open 30 new stores across the country this year. The retailer is also putting money into supply chain technology upgrades to keep pace with how shoppers buy today.
