RecorNews
Monthly Industry Dispatch
The new age of grocery is still about the fundamentals.
Leadership shifts, tariff headlines, inflation pressure, and a changing shopper all point in the same direction: retailers are getting leaner, expectations are rising, and brands will need sharper execution to win.
Welcome to the new look and feel of RecorNews! Same approach, same takes - just a bit easier on the eyes.
Well, February 2026 is in the books and the month was marred more with industry and political CPG news than Kroger or Albertsons headlines.
Kroger of course found their new CEO in Greg Foran, a former Walmart exec known for being an "old-school merchant." From recent internal policy change to several recently added ex-Walmart folks, the new Kroger leader seems to have already brought with him a bit of Bentonville to Cincinnati. With Foran's appointment, Kroger seems focused on getting back to the fundamentals of the business.
With the new leadership team set, Albertsons is steadily focused on its future and the continued rollout of their "Customers for Life" strategy. "Merch United" continues to bring the divisions and national team closer together - and with more category consolidation likely, the Boise-based retailer looks to be tightening the laces for success as a leaner, more collaborative organization.
Oh, and if you thought we were done with merger-related news, think again. A federal judge ruled last week that both Albertsons and Kroger must reimburse the states that successfully sued to block their merger. Based on public information, this could amount to $30M-$50M per.
Trade show season officially kicks off this week with Expo West down in sunny Anaheim. Should be another incredible show - can't wait to get out there, reconnect with you all, see all of the new innovation, and entirely regret the sheer amount of samples and coffee I consume in a single day.
Industry News
The US Supreme Court flew in from the top rope late Feb, ruling the Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does in fact not authorize the President to impose sweeping tariffs. Since the decision on 2/20, the EU has suspended its trade deal with the US and several states - along with a growing list of major US companies - have sued the Trump Admin seeking refunds.
Immediately after hearing his executive powers regarding tariffs were more limited than he previously thought, President Trump announced plans for a new 10% "across-the-board" global tariff. (make it make sense)
Things got a bit heated on Capitol Hill early Feb, as Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent went toe-to-toe regarding rising grocery prices in the US. While government data shows grocery prices rising, Secretary Bessent insisted prices were falling. Recent grocery inflation for January does show a cooling to 2.1%, but the data is pretty clear: grocery inflation is up ~5.6% over the last two years.
According to dunnumby's Consumer Trend Tracker (CTT), US consumers believe food inflation is 19.6% - 8x higher than current inflation reporting. Two things can be true at once: grocery inflation can in fact be slowing at the same time that prices are just too damn high.
In lighter news, the FDA paved the way for broader use of natural dyes in foods by loosening their rules on "no artificial colors" labeling. Congrats, watermelon and beet juice - you are no longer "artificial."
Generation "Moving Targets"
Consumer brands are having a tough time pin-pointing their consumers, as each generation's distinct shopping habits are shaping today's markets and redefining how brands and consumers connect, even aligning promo activity with monthly financial cycles.
Regional Grocers on the Rise
The national retailers have heat on their heels, as Ahold Delhaize completes their US omnichannel shift seeing online sales surge 23%, while Raley's independent grocers share strategies to win today's shoppers vs large retailers at this year's NGA Show.
More Shoppers Shift to Mass
Mass channel hits 79% household penetration, matching supermarkets for the first time. Driven by increasing financial insecurity among Americans 18-54 and a runaway perception of food inflation, this signals a fundamental shift in shopping behavior as affordability concerns continue to push consumers toward low-price retailers.
- Kraft Heinz pauses separation and appoints Nicolas Amaya as President of North America, as leadership believes current challenges are "fixable and within our control."
- OpenAI launched a new "Ad Pilot Program," allowing clearly labeled ads to appear alongside shopping-related ChatGPT chats, with Albertsons, Kroger and Target among the first to sign up.
- Newell Brands is reducing prices by up to 15% across Rubbermaid and Graco baby-care products, as consumers grow more budget conscious.
The Albertsons Co.
Fairly quiet month for Albertsons all around - which given some of the big news headlines we've seen over the last 18 months, feels like a nice reprieve. They did find their new EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer in Allison Pinkham, which will add 25+ years of HR and executive leadership experience to the team.
As Demetri steps into the GVP of National Merchandising and the organization looks to backfill his role, Albertsons appears set to ramp up focus on their "Customers for Life" strategy and accelerate into their next chapter.
Wall Street Bullish on ACI
There's been some positive financial outlook for The Albertsons Companies as of late, with several firms assigning "buy" ratings, an updated price target of $24 a share, and Counterpoint Mutual opening a new position valued at around $2.31m.
In late 2025, Joe Feldman from Telsey Advisory pointed towards the positive financial impact of growing private label demand and digital offerings offsetting some cash outlays on pricing, people, and investments in technology.
- The Albertsons Media Collective has a new look - rolling out a new logo and opening its first office in NYC, marking a strategic expansion into a key brand-partnership market.
- Albertsons refinances some existing debt by issuing over $2.1 billion in new senior notes, a move that aims to improve overall balance sheet flexibility.
- SymphonyAI, Albertsons data provider for its Shopper360 customer loyalty data, has rolled out new reporting functions - a part of a broader effort to modernize its data and insights offerings.
Looking forward
While February may have been quiet, there are a lot of underlying signals that suggest Albertsons is preparing for its next era. A leaner organization with sharpened focus on loyalty, private label growth and its digital scale. This likely means brands are going to have to step their game up, better planning and execution on the fundamentals, and a customer that is going to require more accountability from the vendors than ever before.
Kroger
This month has been all about Greg Foran, Kroger's newest CEO and the company's first outside hire for the top executive position. Foran, an ex-Walmart executive, is tasked with turning the page on a rather tumultuous recent past and the industry has big expectations for his vision of Kroger's future.
Foran's task is no small one - the need to revert back to executing the fundamentals of the business is clear. It has always, and will forever be about the fundamentals, by the way. But the future clearly includes digital, it includes technology, AI, and a shopper more transient than ever.
I think we are all looking forward to seeing Kroger's plan to accelerate into the new age of grocery while bringing back the basics.
Meet Kroger's New CEO
Kroger announced Greg Foran as the new CEO, pointing to his experience leading major organizations through periods of transformation, growth and digital adoption.
Throughout his career, Greg has been a leader known for his keen focus on store operations, working to improve in-store standards, sharpen operational discipline, and elevate the end-to-end customer experience.
Alongside his focus and affinity for the fundamentals, Foran played a critical role in integrating Walmart's online and in-store operations, boosting e-commerce footprint and efficiency.
Foran additionally led meaningful efforts to increase wages during his time at Walmart, and launched "Walmart Academy" - an in-house leadership development program.
- Kroger promotes former Fred Meyer VP of Operations, Mike Goodwin, to lead its Central Division.
- Kroger expands distribution footprint into Georgia with $23m investment, reinforcing Kroger's commitment to strengthening its presence in the Southeast region.
- Kroger's Board of Directors announced a quarterly dividend of $0.35 per share.
Looking forward
Kroger's selection of Greg Foran, aka "the old-school merchant," indicates a pivot back to the fundamentals as a critical component to the next chapter of growth and competition. Store conditions, merchandising discipline, operational excellence - in addition to the acceleration of e-commerce, digital, and retail media - Kroger's success in its next era will require a tightening of the screws and likely an elevated expectation of the vendor community to do their part.
The Bottom Line
As we head into March, with leadership now set for both retailers and the next era of the CPG landscape forming quickly, success will continue to hinge on the fundamentals. Organizations are getting leaner, competition is intensifying on multiple fronts, and costs are rising - forcing brands and go-to-market partners to elevate their game, or risk falling behind.
While we have heard a lot about digital, retail media, and the like over the past few years, the undercurrent and certain themes to success going forward will be about efficiency, executing the fundamentals, and proactivity.
We are entering a new age of grocery - where ecommerce and digital shopping experiences continue to reshape how we connect with consumers, while retailers simultaneously demand a return to critical fundamentals to offset economic pressures and rising costs.
RecorNews & AI
AI is cool - and don't get me wrong, I use it. To help summarize articles, provide additional context, and - more often than I would like to admit - ask what the internal temperature of cooked salmon is. 145 degrees, FYI.
But I do not use AI to write RecorNews.
Because that would be lame.
