Following a pilot program that began in 2017, Walmart will now allow customers to pay for online grocery orders with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at its more than 2,500 pickup locations. Customers can select "EBT card" on Walmart's website and present the benefit card at pickup.

H.E. Butt Grocery's new Eastside Tech Hub is now open in Austin, Texas, and it houses both H-E-B's Austin-based digital operations and its delivery subsidiary Favor. The renovated warehouse has individual and collaborative work spaces, as well as more than 50 meeting rooms, and the space pays homage to Texas culture with locally made furniture and rooms named after cities and landmarks.

ALDI has pledged to reduce its use of plastic packaging by 25% by 2025, and plans to eliminate cotton swabs, plastic plates and single-use straws by the end of next year. The grocer also plans to use more sustainable materials for its plastic packaging and cut down on plastics in fresh food packaging.

Target will add Back to College areas in more than 700 stores that are located near campuses as it gears up for the back-to-school season. The retailer will also launch new uniform options in its Cat & Jack line, and in mid-July it will debut the More Than Magic brand of clothing, beauty products and school supplies for tween girls.

Retail outlets such as Target and Walmart that offer delivery from stores have an advantage over online retailers that operate only from distribution centers and warehouses, writes Guy Bloch, CEO of delivery software company Bringg. He adds that the deliver-from-store method -- the most popular way to fill e-commerce orders, a recent study found -- is the best way for retailers to match or exceed Amazon's one-day delivery option.

Nothing screams summer like ice cream, and "Today" offers some suggestions among at-home machines. For a traditional ice cream maker, Cuisinart's ICE-70 electronic ice cream maker tops the list, while alternative styles include the KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment and the Bella 14460 hand immersion blender with whisk attachment.

Manufacturing is the No. 1 employer in Wisconsin and Indiana, revealed a report from researchers at Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. While the overall number of employees in the US in the manufacturing industry has declined, data show that output has increased thanks to higher productivity among workers.

There is a huge desire to trace goods, particularly fresh goods, from farm to table. With the potential for more foodborne illness outbreaks resulting in recalls, the industry must be able to more readily recall and identify the source of the contamination. FMI's Amanda Saxton discussed the possibilities of blockchain with Jay Schulman, national leader, blockchain and cryptocurrency of RSM US LLP, to learn how food retailers can use this technology now and in the future. Read more.

In the past few years, we've witnessed a proliferation of new business and profit models within retail and direct-to-consumer selling. With omnichannel strategies at the core of these models, the industry has passed the physical vs. digital argument and into a channel-agnostic world with a focus on enabling consumer choice and fulfilling demand. Read more.

FMItech is a community of food retail e-commerce, marketing, operations and technology professionals that gathers online and in-person to discuss ideas, collaborate and explore. In September, FMItech will have a four-session track at Groceryshop focusing on omnichannel operational areas. One of the sessions will focus on the omnichannel pivot and how to resource teams to adapt and grow in the fast-changing omnichannel landscape.

Omnichannel drives retailer growth as well as e-commerce growth for CPGs -- but how do you pivot to appropriately take advantage of the opportunity? Come hear how the first person hired to the Unilever omnichannel team (now 12-strong and growing) built the team to support its largest omni-customer, Walmart, adding cross-functional support to help Walmart develop its categories. She’ll discuss her journey over the past 2+ years and the vision for how brands and retail partners will meet customer omnichannel needs. See the agenda.

Individuals from established retailers and brands may qualify for complimentary tickets plus up to $750 in travel/hotel reimbursement as part of the Groceryshop Hosted Retailers & Brands Program. Apply HERE early.