Pandemic-fueled safety concerns are driving a technology explosion in the food retail industry, with smart shopping carts that tally purchases and let shoppers skip the checkout line becoming the latest devices to help limit face-to-face contact. With more shopping cart automation now in the pipeline, Kroger is testing its KroGO carts at a store in Cincinnati and Amazon already has rolled out its smart Dash Carts at six California Fresh sites, along with one location in Illinois.

The Fresh Market is launching a new curbside pickup program at all 159 of its stores in an initiative called the "Friendliest Curbside Experience in America." The effort features designated personal shoppers, orders verified with the store manager's signature, a satisfaction guarantee and some surprises, such as using a costumed Santa Claus to bring orders out to customers during the recent holiday season.

United Natural Foods CEO Steve Spinner says the food distributor is well-positioned to boost its share in the wholesale market by cross-selling, offering private brands and running e-commerce operations for retailers, among other efforts. Spinner, who retires in July, also told investors at the recent ICR Conference that "[w]e are transforming the way in which food gets from its point of manufacture and, ultimately, to the retailers."

Growing worldwide demand, particularly from China, is helping set new benchmarks for pork and beef exports from the US, according to data from the US Meat Export Federation. While figures for December still pending, export volume and value for pork surpassed previous 12-month records, with beef exports also notching new gains, and experts believe the trends will continue this year.

Milam's Markets, a family-run grocer with five locations in Florida's Miami-Dade County, will open its sixth site in 2022. The new location will be inside a 25,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of a 36-story, mixed-use development that features 421 rental apartments.