The Retail Rundown: Holiday Heat Wave Tests Cookout Plans While Retailers Push Summer Favorites

The Independence Day holiday weekend has arrived, and with the Fourth of July falling on a Saturday in 2026, consumers are expected to celebrate with cookouts and gatherings throughout the extended weekend.

However, grilling plans across much of the Central and Eastern portions of the nation may be challenged by forecasts calling for extreme heat. Many consumers will be watching the forecast to determine whether conditions will cooperate for fireworks displays and outdoor celebrations. 

This week's grocery advertisements continue to spotlight popular summer and meal-time...

P.F. Chang’s Rolls Out “Summer in Tokyo,” Spotlighting Shareable Sushi and Tableside Drama

P.F. Chang’s is leaning into experience-driven dining this summer with "Summer in Tokyo," a limited-time program running June 25 through Sept. 15 that combines shareable sushi, theatrical presentation and influencer marketing.

At the center of the promotion is the new Sushi Boat, a tableside presentation delivered under a cloud of dry ice to create a memorable, social-ready moment. Designed for sharing, each boat includes chilled edamame, a California Roll, a Shrimp Tempura Roll and a choice of two additional...

The Retail Rundown: Independence Day Demand Meets Rising Cookout Costs

After weeks of demand shaped by Memorial Day and Father’s Day, retailers are now preparing for the final major grilling holiday of the summer: Independence Day. For meat departments, the Fourth of July represents the last significant opportunity to capture peak grilling demand before the slower midsummer period begins.

This year’s holiday arrives with favorable calendar dynamics. Falling on a Saturday, July 4th creates a full holiday weekend expected to encourage extended celebrations and larger gatherings. For grocers, that translates into a critical window to drive volume and strengthen...

The Retail Rundown: Father’s Day Grilling Highlights Resilient Spending and Selective Buying

For Father’s Day weekend 2026, retailers are leaning heavily into the holiday’s long-standing grilling tradition. This year’s promotions are taking place against a backdrop of persistent inflation and a consumer who remains willing to spend on special occasions despite pressure on household budgets.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), Father’s Day spending is projected to reach a record $27.9 billion. Consumers plan to spend an average of $226.58 per person, even as many households contend with higher costs for utilities and other everyday expenses...

The Retail Rundown: Father’s Day Grill Deals Heat Up as Inflation Pressures Mount

Father’s Day, the second major grilling occasion of the summer season, is less than two weeks away and serves as a promotional bridge between Memorial Day and Independence Day.

With just 11 days remaining until the holiday, grocers are merchandising a wide assortment of meat, poultry, seafood, and complementary food items aimed at outdoor cooking and family gatherings.

Retailers are competing not only with one another for Father’s Day meal spending, but also with restaurants as they seek to encourage consumers to celebrate at home...

The Retail Rundown: Post-Holiday Reset Brings Value Back to the Center of the Case

Grocery merchandising is settling into a post-holiday rhythm as promotional activity shifts back toward value, versatility, and the everyday traffic drivers following the Memorial Day push.

Staples such as bacon, chicken breasts, and ground beef continue to anchor store traffic, reinforcing the meat case’s role in everyday meal planning. While current merchandising remains focused on routine household needs, retailers are expected to increase seasonal promotions and feature activity as Father's Day and the Fourth of July draw closer.

In beef, chuck cuts posted the...

The Retail Rundown: Retail Focus Shifts Toward Father’s Day Grilling Demand

Cold and wet weather across several regions of the country dampened Memorial Day grilling plans, likely creating a softer-than-anticipated kickoff to the unofficial start of the summer grilling season.

Attention is now quickly turning toward the next major grilling occasions of the summer—Father’s Day and the Fourth of July holiday period. These seasonal events historically begin to influence demand patterns for grilling staples such as bellies, loins, ribs, and steaks. 

Following Memorial Day, protein promotions have shifted more heavily toward seafood, which now accounts...

The Retail Rundown: Pork Leads Memorial Day 2026 Grilling Promotions

Grocers are once again rolling out aggressive discounts ahead of Memorial Day, one of the year’s biggest grilling holidays. This week's protein promotions show pork taking center stage, while beef and seafood prices are trending above 2025 levels.

Pork accounts for 27% of all advertised protein features, making it the most-promoted category for the holiday weekend. Beef and seafood each represent 23% of ads, followed by chicken at 20%. Egg promotions held steady at 5%, while turkey edged up to 3%.

Ribs account for a significant share of pork promotions, with the category averaging $3.50 per pound overall...

Chop Steakhouse & Bar Brings a Modern Steakhouse Experience to South Surrey

Chop Steakhouse & Bar is officially coming to South Surrey, and guests are invited to get ready for a bold new dining destination in the heart of one of the region’s fastest-growing communities. Located at 16051 24th Ave, Surrey, the newest Chop will deliver the brand’s signature modern steakhouse experience, premium cuts, handcrafted cocktails, and a warm, elevated atmosphere designed for everything from date nights to group celebrations.

Situated adjacent to The Shops at Morgan Crossing, inside the Grandview Corners Shopping Mall near Sephora, the new restaurant has been...

The Retail Rundown: Memorial Day Promotions Heat Up as Shoppers Focus on Value

Memorial Day weekend, arriving May 25, signals the unofficial start of summer and stands as one of the grocery industry’s most significant merchandising events of the year.

As grilling season ramps up, retailers are promoting meat, charcoal, and convenience-oriented foods. Cross-merchandising remains a key strategy, with buns, condiments, beverages, and grab-and-go entertaining solutions positioned throughout stores to encourage larger basket sizes and drive incremental purchases.

At the same time, inflation and rising fuel costs continue to influence consumer behavior heading into the holiday...

The Retail Rundown: Grilling Season in View as May Retail Demand Builds

May is approaching, bringing the unofficial start of grilling season alongside major retail drivers like Mother’s Day, graduations, and Memorial Day.

The Retail Rundown: Retailers Balance Premium Cuts and Value Picks Ahead of Mother’s Day

Early signs of grilling season are emerging, with retailers striking a balance between premium beef offerings and value-focused pork and chicken to draw in shoppers. At the same time, they’re preparing to compete for share during one of the year’s biggest foodservice-driven occasions: Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day, falling on May 10 this year, is a holiday typically dominated by restaurants, with 63% of consumers planning a special outing and total spending projected to hit a record $38 billion, according to the National Retail...

The Retail Rundown: Pork Leads Protein Promotions While Prices Remain Competitive

Retail protein promotions this week show pork holding the top spot for a second consecutive week at 28%. Beef ranks second at 24%, followed closely by seafood at 22%. Chicken promotions increased to 18%, gaining five percentage points from the prior week, while turkey accounts for 2%. Following the Easter holiday, lamb and veal promotions eased to 2%, and egg ads doubled week-over-week to 5%.

Pork pricing remains competitive, with the Weekly Retail Feature Index at $3.40 per pound, below year-ago levels and largely in...

New York Butcher Shoppe Taps Foundry Group for Nationwide Franchise Expansion

The New York Butcher Shoppe, known for its Certified Angus Beef® steaks and fine wines, has joined with the Foundry Group in a strategic partnership to strengthen the company's foundation and position it for nationwide franchise expansion through targeted investments.

"This is a defining moment for our brand," said Jim Tindal, Chief Executive Officer, of New York Butcher Shoppe. "We were intentional in selecting a partner that brings more than capital. The Foundry Group shares our vision and has the operational...

The Retail Rundown: Beef Leads Valentine’s Protein Features as Lobster Prices Ease

Beef tops protein feature volume this week, accounting for 25.1% of ad space. Seafood follows at 23.6%, with pork at 23.1% and chicken at 22.1%. Egg promotions fell to just 2% of total protein ads, down four points from the prior week amid softening retail demand.

Steaks dominate Valentine’s beef promotions, representing 40% of all beef features. Ribeyes, T-bones, and boneless strip filets lead the lineup, and all at sizable premiums compared to last year.

According to Expana’s US Valentine’s Day Index, tenderloin prices have eased month-over-month...

The Retail Rundown: Labor Day Protein Promotions at a Glance

Seafood leads Labor Day protein promotions, accounting for 27.1% of total ad volume. Pork follows at 23.2%, with beef and chicken each capturing about 22%. Retail buying opportunities for turkey held steady at 3.5%, while promotional activity for shell eggs remained limited.

Back-to-school demand has provided fair to fairly good retail support for eggs, according to Expana, with shelf prices holding mainly steady across most areas in the past month. Last week, white large Grade A eggs were advertised at $4.49 per dozen discounted, nearly $1...

The Retail Rundown: Retailers Push Protein as July Wraps

As July comes to a close and summer heat intensifies, retailers are pushing protein promotions to attract shoppers and encourage at-home grilling and cooking.

Seafood reclaimed the top spot in protein ad share this week, accounting for nearly 27% of all features. Pork followed at 24%, while beef and chicken trailed close behind at roughly 23% each. Egg promotions dipped slightly to around 1%.

Expana notes that retail egg demand has softened—typical for summer, when hot weather reduces in-home usage. Shelf prices are holding near $3.00 per dozen, well below early-year highs, but lighter consumption has dampened order volumes...

The Retail Rundown: Beef Edges Out Seafood in Weekly Protein Features

Beef narrowly edged out seafood for the top spot in retail protein promotions this week, making up 25.9% of all featured items. Seafood was a close second at 25.3%, while pork and chicken each accounted for about 23%. Eggs represented roughly 2% of ads, and turkey dipped below 1%.

Beef steaks remained a premium grilling choice, averaging $14.21 per pound last week. Seafood also led on price, with fresh salmon reaching as high as $17.24 per pound in some regions...

The Retail Rundown: Summer Travel Drives Foodservice Gains as Retailers Compete for Shoppers

Foodservice is in full swing this summer, fueled by warm weather and vacation season as consumers hit the road and dine out. This Fourth of July, AAA estimated a record 72.2 million Americans traveled domestically—a 2.4% increase from last year and 7 million more than in 2019.

“This year, we're seeing strong demand for road trips, flights, and cruises, especially with the holiday falling on a Friday,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of AAA Travel.

With so much consumer attention on travel and dining out, food...

The Retail Rundown: Retailers Push Value to Maintain Protein Momentum

Retail meat clearance over the Independence Day holiday was generally strong, with consumers stocking up on grilling staples for the summer’s flagship cookout occasion.

With few major buying events remaining this summer, grocers will likely push aggressive features and highlight value finds to sustain shopper engagement through the dog days of summer.

Post-holiday protein advertisements show seafood maintaining the lead at 33.1% of retail features, followed by beef at 25.1% and pork at 21.5%. Chicken accounted for 16.2%, while turkey fell to just 2%—half of the previous week's...