Iowa lawmakers eye help for small independent grocers
Iowa reports a 15 percent drop in independent grocery stores over a decade as rural shops struggle with economics of scale. Peter Ralston of Iowa State University cites distance from distribution centers and pricing pressures, while Peggy Stover notes slim profit margins. Miller relies on Associated Wholesale Grocers, serving 4,000 stores across 36 states for stronger buying power.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peter Ralston
Ivy Supply Chain Forum
Iowa State University
Peggy Stover
Marketing Institute
University of Iowa
Tippie School of Business
Freeman Foods pursues value edge to survive small-town grocers
Freeman Foods in Wellman Iowa reshapes pricing and purchasing to stay competitive with Hy-Vee Fareway and big-city chains. The store uses larger purchases online orders via Instacart and earned a $25000 Rural Innovation Grant to upgrade back-office software. Lawmakers consider grants to aid grocers in food deserts along with rural revitalization plans.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Freeman Foods
Miller
Instacart
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Iowa
Chad Ingels
Randalia
Brian Lohse
Bondurant
House
Economic Growth and Technology Committee
Sami Scheetz
Cedar Rapids
Lohse
Robin Bostrom
IEDA
Center For Rural Revitalization
Customer advocacy and feedback in health insurance support
Brandfully and Tracy Pratt describe a personalized health insurance experience with a dedicated human advocate Deion who provided ongoing support for Anthem BCBS. They urge brands to invite customer feedback, use social listening and AI tools, and design personalized gestures while empowering frontline staff to resolve issues and build lasting trust.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Deion
Anthem Bcbs
Etsy
Cedar Rapids firms add leaders and security dogs
Mercy General Surgery Clinic hires Michelle Wiegand Bigger DNP to its acute care and trauma team in Cedar Rapids. St Luke's adds Kyah a year old German shepherd to its security staff to deter disruption and reduce stress. The Gazette hosts a February 25 Business Breakfast on physician shortages with panel of local health leaders. BHFO of Linn County is named Iowa’s small business of the week by Senator Joni Ernst for its Cedar Rapids based 240000 square foot operation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Michelle Wiegand-Bigger
DNP
Mercy General Surgery Clinic
Cedar Rapids
St. Luke’s
Unity Point Health
St. Luke’s Hospital
Kyah
Jim Flint
Andrew Novotny
The
Gazette
Geometric
12Th Ave
Iowa
Dustin Arnold
Fadi Yacoub
Linn County Medical Society
Timothy Quinn
Mercy Cedar Rapids
Zack Kucharski
Tinyurl
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Better Business Bureau
U.S
Joni Ernst
BHFO
Linn County
Jon
Stacie Sefton
20Th Ave
Ernst
Senate
Unity Point Health-St. Luke’s Hospital
Also Mentioned on This Page
Fareway
Ul Marketing Institute
Independent Grocers
Ruth Denard
Wellman
Savannah Blake
the Gazette
Walmart
Costco
Associated Wholesale Grocers
ISA
Ralston
Hy-Vee
Ames
Iowa City
Nicki
Robert and
Patricia Freeman
North English
Rural Grocery Store Survey
Gazette Map
Tracy
Tracy Pratt
LinkedIn
Kris Hopkins
National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
NAIFA
Michael Rozum
Tyler Aulman
Elizabeth Rickels-Ster
Michelle Wiegand
Bigger Mercy General Surgery Clinic
Forbes and
Shook Research
van der
Leest & Wenzel Group
Baird
Hills Bank
Froi
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