grocery retailers

The Seattle City Council has voted to ban surveillance pricing in the sale of groceries, meaning retailers will be prohibited from setting individualized prices based on customer data such as shopping history or personal profiles. Consumer advocacy groups, including Consumer Reports, backed the move, framing it as a safeguard against companies charging different shoppers different prices for the same items. The ordinance is being discussed as one of the first local measures of its kind in the United States.

Kroger is trialing a significant change to its store opening hours for customers. The grocery chain is among the largest supermarket operators in the United States, so any adjustment to when stores open and close could affect millions of shoppers' routines. Details of which regions are affected and whether the change could roll out nationwide were not provided.

A new study examines how growing food at home shapes consumer choices when people shop for groceries. Researchers suggest that tending a backyard garden influences what shoppers buy, how much they spend, and their preferences for fresh produce. The findings offer insights for retailers and food marketers looking to understand the growing number of households cultivating their own vegetables and herbs.