The Grocery Industry Reading List: 14 News Sources Every Grocer Should Follow in 2026
By George Goodwin
The grocery industry moves fast. One month, everyone is talking about inflation and private label. The next, the conversation shifts to AI, retail media, personalization, digital grocery, GLP-1 medications, food waste, or changing shopper behavior. For grocery operators and CPG brands, keeping up with all of it can feel like a full-time job. You don't need to read every grocery newsletter on the internet.
You need a reliable list of grocery industry news sources that consistently give you useful information about retailers, shoppers, technology, products, marketing, and the broader food industry. That's why we put together this list. These are 14 grocery trade publications, research organizations, newsletters, websites, and podcasts worth following in 2026. Whether you run an independent grocery store, work for a CPG brand, manage grocery marketing, sell retail technology, or work with grocery buyers, these sources can help you stay informed and spot trends earlier.
1. Supermarket News
If you want a daily source for supermarket industry news, Supermarket News is one of the first places to check. The publication covers major grocery chains, retail strategy, store openings, earnings, merchandising, technology, private label, pharmacy, and grocery trends. It is particularly useful when you want to know:
What major grocery retailers are doing
Which companies are expanding
What retailers are investing in
How grocery categories are changing
What executives are saying
Where retail technology is heading
Don't Miss The Retail Daily Podcast
Supermarket News also produces The Retail Daily, a weekday podcast covering major grocery and convenience-store headlines. The show is produced with editors from Supermarket News and CSP Daily News and is designed as a quick way to catch up on the day's major stories. Best for: Daily grocery news, supermarket chains, retail trends, executives, and quick industry updates.
2. Progressive Grocer
Progressive Grocer has been covering food retail for more than a century and remains one of the most useful grocery trade publications for deeper industry coverage. While Supermarket News is excellent for quick updates, Progressive Grocer is especially useful when you want more context around a trend. Topics include:
Grocery merchandising
Consumer behavior
Private label
Technology
Fresh foods
Store operations
Retail strategy
Leadership
Category management
Its digital archives show coverage ranging from grocery technology trends and store-of-the-future concepts to private label, e-commerce, natural and organic marketing, and consumer expenditures.
Grocery Impact
Progressive Grocer also hosts Grocery Impact, bringing together grocery leaders for education, networking, and industry discussions. The 2026 event is scheduled for November 4–6 in Orlando, Florida, with sessions covering topics such as AI, leadership, market insights, retail transformation, and technology. Best for: Grocery executives, merchants, marketers, suppliers, category managers, and anyone looking for deeper industry analysis.
3. Grocery Dive
Grocery Dive is a great option for busy professionals who want grocery news without spending hours reading. Its coverage focuses on important areas such as:
Grocery retail
E-commerce
Omnichannel
Pricing
Store formats
Technology
Shopper behavior
Supply chain
Retail strategy
Its Deep Dive section is especially useful when you want more analysis behind a major grocery story. Recent coverage has included grocery AI investments, changing store footprints, and major grocery trends for 2026. Grocery Dive is part of a larger network of industry publications, making it easy to expand into related areas such as retail, food, marketing, and supply chain. Best for: Busy grocery operators, marketers, technology professionals, and executives who want fast industry analysis.
4. The Shelby Report
If your business works with independent grocers or regional grocery chains, The Shelby Report deserves a place in your regular reading list. The publication focuses heavily on regional grocery markets and provides coverage through five regional editions:
Midwest
Southeast
Southwest
West
Northeast
The publication offers digital and print editions, daily e-newsletters, breaking news, market-share reports, and regional coverage. Its newsletters include a daily national grocery newsletter as well as dedicated regional newsletters and The Independents Insider, created with the National Grocers Association.
Why Independent Grocers Should Follow It
National grocery news doesn't always tell you what is happening in your specific market. Regional coverage can help you understand:
Local supermarket competition
Store openings
Regional chains
Independent operators
Wholesalers
Distributors
Local CPG opportunities
Best for: Independent grocers, regional retailers, wholesalers, distributors, brokers, and CPG sales teams.
5. National Grocers Association
The National Grocers Association (NGA) is not a traditional news publication, but it is an important resource for independent grocery businesses. NGA provides:
Industry news
Advocacy updates
Research
Events
Independent grocery insights
Leadership resources
Policy information
Its news and events section provides updates on issues affecting independent supermarkets. NGA's 2026 economic impact research found that independent supermarket operators generate an estimated $557.5 billion in annual economic activity and support nearly 1.5 million American jobs. For independent grocery operators, this is more than an industry-news source. It is also a useful way to understand the issues shaping the independent channel. Best for: Independent grocers, wholesalers, grocery suppliers, and businesses serving community supermarkets.
6. FMI — The Food Industry Association
If you need grocery shopper data, FMI should be on your list. FMI's research is particularly useful for marketers and grocery executives who need evidence behind consumer behavior. One of its most important annual resources is U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends. The 2026 report examines:
In-store shopping
Digital grocery behavior
Shopping motivations
Store experience
Technology
Consumer expectations
FMI found that 54% of shoppers always shop in-store at their primary grocery store, while 77% are digitally engaged before shopping and 71% are digitally engaged while shopping.
Why CPG Brands Should Follow FMI
FMI research can help CPG marketers understand:
What shoppers value
How consumers discover products
How shoppers use digital tools
What influences store choice
How technology affects grocery shopping
Best for: Grocery strategy, shopper marketing, CPG marketing, research, presentations, and consumer insights.
7. Store Brands
Private label continues to be one of the biggest stories in grocery. Store Brands focuses specifically on retailer-owned brands and private-label strategy. Coverage includes:
Product development
Private-label innovation
Packaging
Category strategy
Retailer brands
Consumer trends
Store-brand marketing
Recent 2026 coverage has examined how retailers are using private label to build shopper loyalty and differentiate their assortments. FMI research reported by Store Brands also found that 92% of surveyed U.S. grocery shoppers had private-brand products in their homes in 2026. Best for: Private-label teams, grocery merchants, category managers, manufacturers, and CPG professionals.
8. The Packer
For fresh produce, The Packer is one of the most valuable grocery trade publications to follow. The publication has covered the produce industry since 1893 and follows the supply chain from farms to consumers. Its coverage includes:
Produce retail
Food safety
Sustainability
Labor
Technology
Produce trends
Supply chain
Fresh-food merchandising
Fruit and vegetable categories
Recent coverage has looked at AI-driven food-waste reduction and changing consumer demand for fresh produce. Best for: Produce buyers, fresh-food merchants, grocery operators, suppliers, and anyone working in perimeter categories.
9. Natural Foods Merchandiser
For grocery businesses focused on natural, organic, health, wellness, and specialty products, Natural Foods Merchandiser from New Hope Network is an important resource. Its coverage focuses on:
Natural products
Organic foods
Wellness
Specialty retail
Emerging brands
Consumer trends
Independent natural retailers
Its 2026 coverage has included natural retail market data, independent retailer strategies, emerging products, and insights from Natural Products Expo West. The publication's 2026 Expo West coverage is particularly useful for identifying emerging products and trends that may eventually move into broader grocery channels. Best for: Natural grocers, wellness CPG brands, specialty retailers, emerging brands, and health-focused grocery marketers.
10. Retail Dive
Grocery doesn't operate in isolation. Consumers also shop at:
Walmart
Target
Costco
Amazon
Dollar stores
Delivery platforms
Club stores
That's why broader retail industry news matters. Retail Dive covers the larger retail environment, including grocery, e-commerce, delivery, technology, consumer behavior, and major retailers. For example, its 2026 grocery coverage has examined the expansion of rapid grocery delivery by Amazon and Walmart and the growing competitive pressure around convenience. Best for: Retail strategy, omnichannel, e-commerce, technology, and competitive analysis.
11. Modern Retail
Modern Retail takes a different approach by focusing heavily on the business of brands and retail. It's particularly useful for CPG marketers interested in:
Brand strategy
Retail expansion
DTC
E-commerce
Retail media
Consumer products
Major retailer strategies
Its 2026 coverage includes analysis of grocery expansion, retailer acquisitions, snack trends, private-label packaging, and changing consumer behavior.
Why CPG Marketers Should Follow It
A grocery brand isn't just competing against another product. It is competing for:
Shopper attention
Shelf space
Digital visibility
Retailer support
Consumer loyalty
Modern Retail can help CPG teams think beyond the grocery aisle. Best for: CPG founders, brand marketers, e-commerce teams, and retail strategy professionals.
12. Grocery Doppio
For grocery technology and digital transformation, Grocery Doppio is another useful resource. Its focus includes areas such as:
Digital grocery
E-commerce
Customer experience
Retail technology
Digital maturity
Grocery performance
Data and benchmarks
This makes it particularly useful for grocery technology companies and retailers trying to understand where digital investments are producing results.
Why Technology Leaders Should Follow It
Grocery technology is moving quickly. Retailers are evaluating:
AI
Personalization
E-commerce
Digital loyalty
Retail media
Inventory technology
Automation
Data platforms
A research-focused source can complement daily grocery news with more data-driven analysis. Best for: Grocery technology leaders, digital teams, e-commerce managers, and retail executives.
13. Grocery Industry Podcasts
Sometimes you simply don't have time to read. That's where grocery industry podcasts become useful. Podcasts let you catch up while:
Driving
Walking
Exercising
Commuting
Working around the store
The Retail Daily
Supermarket News' Retail Daily is a short weekday briefing covering grocery and convenience-store headlines.
Grocery Industry Conversations
Also look for podcasts and audio interviews from grocery publications, trade associations, technology companies, and industry events. These conversations can provide something a written article sometimes cannot: Direct perspectives from grocery executives and operators. Best for: Busy grocery professionals who want industry updates without sitting at a desk.
14. Grocery Research and Industry Reports
News is important, but don't overlook research. Industry reports can help you understand the numbers behind the headlines. Useful research sources include:
FMI
NGA
Grocery Doppio
Retail research firms
Grocery technology companies
Consumer research organizations
Retailer earnings reports
The combination of trade news + research + retailer earnings is much more useful than relying on social media headlines alone.
How to Build Your Grocery Industry News Diet
You don't need to subscribe to every source on this list. In fact, doing that could make it harder to keep up. Instead, create a simple routine.
Daily: 10 Minutes
Pick one:
Supermarket News
Grocery Dive
The Shelby Report
Scan the headlines and read the stories most relevant to your business.
Weekly: 30–60 Minutes
Choose two or three deeper sources:
Progressive Grocer
FMI
Store Brands
The Packer
Natural Foods Merchandiser
Focus on the topics connected to your role.
Monthly
Look beyond the daily headlines. Review:
Retailer earnings
Market research
Industry reports
Category trends
Regional grocery developments
Technology research
During Your Commute
Put a grocery podcast into your rotation. Even 15 minutes a day can help you stay current without adding more screen time.
How CPG Brands Can Use Grocery News
Grocery industry news isn't just for retailers. CPG brands can use these sources to identify:
New Retail Opportunities
Follow store openings, acquisitions, expansions, and new formats.
Consumer Trends
Look for growing categories and changing shopper needs.
Buyer Priorities
Pay attention to what retailers are investing in.
Competitive Moves
Watch what larger brands are launching and how retailers are changing assortments.
Marketing Opportunities
Use shopper research to improve:
Product positioning
Advertising
Packaging
Promotions
Content
Retail pitches
The more you understand the retailer's world, the easier it becomes to build a relevant CPG sales and marketing strategy.
How Grocery Technology Companies Can Use Industry News
Technology companies should also have a grocery news routine. Follow stories about:
POS systems
Inventory management
Electronic shelf labels
AI
Retail media
Loyalty
E-commerce
Automation
Data integration
For example, FMI's technology research continues to highlight digital engagement and technologies such as digital shelf labels as important parts of the evolving grocery experience. The goal isn't to chase every new technology trend. It's to understand which problems grocery retailers are actually trying to solve.
The Bottom Line
The best grocery industry news sources don't just tell you what happened. They help you understand why it matters. Supermarket News can help you keep up with daily developments. Progressive Grocer can provide deeper industry context. Grocery Dive can help busy professionals find the signal quickly. The Shelby Report can bring regional and independent grocery news into focus.
NGA can help independent grocers understand policy and industry issues. FMI can provide the shopper data behind the trends. And specialized publications such as Store Brands, The Packer, and Natural Foods Merchandiser can help you go deeper into specific categories. For CPG brands, grocery marketers, and technology companies, broader retail sources such as Retail Dive and Modern Retail can add another layer of competitive insight. You don't need to read everything.
Pick the sources that match your role, build a simple routine, and turn what you learn into action. The grocery industry is changing quickly. The retailers, brands, and technology companies that understand those changes early have more time to prepare, test, and adapt. And that is the real value of following grocery industry news.
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From grocery marketing and SEO to CPG brand strategy, retail technology, digital advertising, and customer acquisition, our goal is to help businesses compete in a rapidly changing grocery market. Learn more at www.innovaragency.com
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