SN Grocery Gauge: Industry is in distress

[Viable Food News Desk]

Publisher: Supermarket News
Published: August 11, 2026
Source: Read at Supermarket News
Category: Food Access

The July Grocery Gauge gave the grocery industry an overall score of 48. ScrapeHero recorded 19 store openings and 20 closings, excluding seven Save A Lot stores that closed in Chicago in July. Albertsons reported identical sales decreased 0.8% year over year and net sales increased 0.2%, while projecting that identical sales could decline as much as 1.5% for the full year. Ahold Delhaize USA reported comparable store gains of 0.8% and net sales gains of 1.4%, and said cuts to SNAP would negatively affect results for the rest of the fiscal year. Grocery visits rose across all formats, led by fresh-format grocers at 7.5%, while everyday goods prices fell 0.4% in July.

Why this matters: The mixed sales, price, and traffic data points to uneven conditions for independent grocers. Ahold Delhaize USA's statement that SNAP cuts will affect results also signals potential pressure for stores serving SNAP customers.

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