Latest news with #HeritageGrocersGroup
Business Wire
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Heritage Grocers Group Elevates Fresh Prepared Foods Strategy with Predictive Analytics to Serve Diverse Communities at Scale
ONTARIO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Heritage Grocers Group (HGG), a leading Hispanic and ethnic food retailer, today announced a strategic transformation in how it plans and produces fresh prepared foods. By shifting from experience-based methods to a cutting-edge, data-driven production planning system, HGG aims to enhance product availability, optimize labor, and better serve the rich diversity of the communities it calls home. "Leveraging predictive analytics, this system will enhance market demand fulfillment and boost sales through optimized product availability and superior customer experience," said Prabash Coswatte, Chief Operating Officer for Heritage Grocers Group. "Leveraging predictive analytics, this system will enhance market demand fulfillment and boost sales through optimized product availability and superior customer experience," said Prabash Coswatte, Chief Operating Officer for Heritage Grocers Group. Headquartered in Ontario, California, HGG operates across six states—California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Kansas, and Illinois—under four beloved banners: Cardenas Markets, El Rancho Supermercado, Tony's Fresh Market, and Los Altos Ranch Market. Across these regions, HGG is recognized not only for its extensive fresh offerings, but also for delivering authentic food experiences that resonate with multicultural shoppers. The decision to revamp its production strategy is backed by a compelling insight: multicultural families are driving America's fresh prepared food revolution. According to the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA), 76% of Hispanic, 70% of Asian American, and 69% of African American shoppers purchase prepared foods at grocery stores—compared to just 59% of white/Caucasian shoppers. This trend is fueled by a desire for quick, high-quality meals that reflect cultural traditions and suit the needs of larger family units. 'Fresh prepared isn't just about convenience anymore—it's about cultural connection,' said Coswatte. 'From carnitas and caldo to pan dulce and pozole, our customers are asking for ready-made meals that feel like home. This new system ensures we meet that demand, store by store, hour by hour.' Mike Sanders, CEO of Upshop, the technology partner behind this transformation, added, 'We believe the future of retail excellence lies in the power of AI and a single, unified operations platform. By streamlining forecasting, labor, and production into one intelligent system, we're helping retailers like Heritage Grocers Group move from good to great—maximizing efficiency, minimizing waste, and most importantly, delivering a better experience for every shopper, every day.' What the New System Delivers: Elevated Sales: By improving freshness and minimizing stockouts, HGG ensures customers can find what they need—when they need it. Smarter Demand & Team Planning: Forecasting tools align staffing with actual demand, particularly in service meat and deli departments. Efficiency Gains: Batch processing for cutting and wrapping reduces prep time and allows employees to focus on customer-facing roles. Better Service: Fewer wait times and more consistent product availability enhance the in-store experience. Workforce Optimization: Scheduling is tailored to each store's unique production rhythm, improving labor utilization and employee satisfaction. With multicultural consumers also driving mainstream adoption of global flavors, according to Nielsen, this initiative not only modernizes operations—it secures HGG's leadership position at the heart of America's evolving food landscape. This is more than a systems upgrade. It's a reaffirmation of HGG's belief that culture and technology can—and must—coexist in the aisles where families shop, celebrate, and connect. About Upshop Upshop is the leading provider of AI-powered retail operations software, helping grocers and convenience stores sell more and waste less through a unified platform that synchronizes forecasting, ordering, production, and inventory across the store. From Fresh to Center Store, DSD to eCommerce, Upshop empowers better decisions, faster actions, and more connected teams—improving labor efficiency, reducing shrink, and driving profitability. With over 450 retailers and 50,000+ stores globally relying on Upshop to manage mission-critical operations, the impact is evident: In fact, one national grocer utilizing eCommerce order management and fulfillment functionality reported over $14 million in annual savings, in addition to increased basket sizes when using conversational commerce. To learn more about the Total Store Operations Experience, visit and watch customer testimonials at Upshop Total Store Operations Experience - YouTube. About Heritage Grocers Group Heritage Grocers Group (HGG) is a leading specialty, ethnic food retailer that offers an extensive assortment of both traditional and specialty grocery items to the communities it serves. With a unique customer experience focused on freshness, authenticity and affordability, the HGG family of destination groceries incorporate freshly made ethnic foods, differentiated floor formats presenting distinct specialty categories and localized assortments that engage with each community. Headquartered in Ontario, California, Heritage Grocers Group operates in six states: California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Kansas, and Illinois, with a total of 58 stores under the Cardenas Markets banner, 29 stores under the El Rancho Supermercado banner, 21 stores under the Tony's Fresh Market banner, and 7 stores under the Los Altos Ranch Market banner. For more information visit
Business Times
07-08-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Instacart posts strongest order growth since 2022, beats earnings estimates
[NEW YORK] Instacart posted its strongest order growth since 2022 for a second straight quarter and beat earnings estimates for the current period, a sign of resilience in its core delivery business after it rolled out initiatives to cater to price-conscious consumers. Orders grew 17 per cent to 82.7 million in the April to June period, the company said in a shareholder letter on Thursday (Aug 7), beating the average analyst estimate of 80.8 million. That is a faster jump than in the beginning of the year and it's the biggest since the third quarter of 2022, according to Bloomberg-compiled data. Customers continued to order more frequently because Instacart lowered the minimum basket size for free delivery earlier this year, chief financial officer Emily Reuter said. The company's partnership with Uber Eats for restaurant orders also saw takeout customers ordering on the platform more often. Reuter added that a number of grocers such as Heritage Grocers Group, Lowe's Cos and Schnucks have lowered or removed price markups on its platform to match in-store prices, which has also been conducive to deepened user engagement. Shares of Instacart, which publicly trades as Maplebear, rose 3.7 per cent in extended trading after the results were announced. The results show the strong consumption power of US customers who rely on grocery and restaurant delivery services, even as demand for them has tapered off since the pandemic. Delivery peers Uber Technologies and DoorDash similarly reported robust results for their delivery services on Wednesday. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Instacart posted US$659 million in delivery transaction revenue for the second quarter, beating expectations. Total revenue, which includes sales from advertising and enterprise software, was US$914 million, also surpassing the average analyst estimate. For the current quarter, Instacart sees gross transaction value in the range of US$9 billion to US$9.15 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of US$8.96 billion. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation in the third quarter will be US$260 million to US$270 million, also better than expected. Reuter said that Instacart has seen more demand and has become faster at launching e-commerce software for retailers, a category with higher margins. The company launched 40 net new white-label shopping sites in the first half of the year, exceeding the 30 it created in 2024, she added. 'We are seeing more demand from retailers, but also our ability to launch and scale these retail partners with our enterprise solutions is getting faster and better,' Reuter said. Those offerings, combined with advertising, now bring in about 28 per cent of the company's revenue, the company said. BLOOMBERG
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Suzy Monford steps down as CEO of Heritage Grocers Group
You can find original article here Supermarketnews. Subscribe to our free daily Supermarketnews newsletter. Hispanic grocer Heritage Grocers Group announced Thursday that after eight months in the role, Suzy Monford is stepping down from her position as CEO and chairperson. Industry veteran David Hirz, who most recently served as president and CEO of Smart & Final, was named chairman of the board, and a group of senior leaders at the company will take over CEO duties while Heritage searches for a replacement. Hirz has served on the board for the last year, Heritage said. 'These changes will support the company's core mission of serving its communities, long-term growth and continued operational excellence,' the company said in a press release. 'Suzy Monford has stepped down from her role as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer to pursue other opportunities.' The new CEO executive team includes: Prabash Coswatte, chief operating officer Leticia Espinoza, chief administrative officer and general counsel Matthew Holt, chief financial officer Frank Ingraffia, chief transformation officer and chief executive officer of Tony's Fresh Market 'Throughout my time on Heritage's Board, I have seen firsthand the strength of Heritage's value proposition and customer loyalty across our banners,' Hirz said in a press release. 'We have a unique ability to serve communities with authenticity — and we're committed to carrying that forward. The Heritage Board thanks Suzy for her contributions during her time with the company. I look forward to supporting our team members and the outstanding leaders in the office of the CEO who will help guide Heritage forward while we search for the right leader who shares our passion for customer service and community for the long-term.' Ontario, Calif.-based Heritage Grocers Group operates 115 stores across California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Kansas, and Illinois under the banners Cardenas Markets (58), El Rancho Supermercado (29), Tony's Fresh Market (21), and Los Altos Ranch Market (7). Prior to joining Heritage in late November, Monford served as CEO of the global retail consulting firm, Food Sport International. Prior to her time in that role, she spent less than a year at PCC Community Markets and a little over a year at Kroger, serving as VP of Fresh and later as group VP of Ecommerce New Markets. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
24-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Heritage Grocers' CEO exits
Dive Brief: Heritage Grocers Group announced Thursday that Suzy Monford has stepped down as board chair and CEO to "pursue other opportunities." Monford joined the company as chief executive at the end of last grocery company, which oversees several Hispanic chains, named David Hirz, who most recently served as president and CEO of Smart & Final, as chair of the company company also created an Office of the CEO to guide the company as it searches for a replacement. The group is comprised of senior leaders, including its COO and CFO as well as the CEO of Tony's Fresh Market. Copyright 2025 Industry Dive. All rights reserved.
Business Wire
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Heritage Grocers Group to Unify Pricing and Supply Chain Planning with RELEX
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Heritage Grocers Group, a leading U.S.-based specialty grocer, has selected RELEX Solutions, a provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions, to transform its pricing, promotions, forecasting, and distribution center replenishment. By leveraging the RELEX AI-powered platform, Heritage Grocers aims to boost profitability, streamline operations, and enhance product availability across its 115 stores. Heritage Grocers has built a family of grocery chains that connects shoppers to Hispanic culinary traditions, offering ingredients for cherished family recipes and cultural cuisine through real people who truly care. The company operates 115 stores and three distribution centers, managing approximately 20,000 SKUs. By replacing manual, spreadsheet-based processes with the RELEX platform, Heritage Grocers gains a unified approach to retail planning. Forecasting, replenishment, pricing, and promotions all operate on a single platform, aligning pricing strategies with business goals and optimizing promotions for greater sales and profitability. This consistent data foundation gives teams full visibility into cross-departmental impacts, empowering promotional planners to account for supply chain constraints and replenishment teams to anticipate promotion-driven demand, minimizing costs and waste. This connected approach leverages advanced AI to identify patterns across the business, such as seasonal demand shifts, customer responses to price changes or promotions, slow-moving inventory, and the impact of promotions on supply chain constraints. By translating these insights into actionable recommendations, the platform will enable Heritage Grocers to optimize inventory levels, pricing decisions, and promotional effectiveness. 'RELEX demonstrated strong capabilities in critical areas of our business, such as pricing, and showed us the unique benefits of their unified platform,' said Prabash Coswatte, COO, Heritage Grocers Group. 'Their advanced technology and proven AI-based applications, validated by conversations multiple customers, gave us confidence that this project will deliver the best results for our business.' 'We're excited to support Heritage Grocers Group in their strategy to unify pricing and supply chain operations,' said Mikko Kärkkäinen, Co-founder and Group CEO at RELEX Solutions. 'Our deep, industry-focused functionality will help Heritage connect their planning processes across different business functions, driving better overall results. Our proven track record of successful implementations means they can count on measurable value, quickly.' About Heritage Grocers Group: Heritage Grocers Group (HGG) the largest specialty, ethnic food retailer that offers an extensive assortment of both traditional and specialty grocery items to the communities it serves. With a unique customer experience focused on freshness, authenticity, and affordability, the HGG family of destination groceries incorporate freshly made ethnic foods, differentiated floor formats presenting distinct specialty categories and localized assortments that engage with each community. Headquartered in Ontario, California, Heritage Grocers Group operates in six states: California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Kansas, and Illinois, with a total of 57 stores under the Cardenas Markets banner, 29 stores under the El Rancho Supermercado banner, 21 stores under Tony's Fresh Market banner, and 7 stores under the Los Altos Ranch Market banner. About RELEX: RELEX Solutions delivers a unified platform for retail, manufacturing, and supply chain planning, enabled by proven AI technology. We help retailers, manufacturers, and consumer goods companies optimize demand forecasting, replenishment, merchandising, pricing and promotions, supply chain operations, and production planning across the end-to-end value chain. Companies like ADUSA, AutoZone, Coles, Circle K, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, M&S Food, PetSmart, Rituals, The Home Depot, and Systemair trust RELEX to increase product availability, boost sales, deliver actionable insights, improve sustainability, and drive profitable growth.
