Week in Review February 13, 2026: Kroger and Tyson 

It’s always a big deal when a major retailer names a new CEO. 

It’s even bigger when it’s the nation’s largest traditional grocer, and it’s coming out of some shaky times, such as a failed merger and the last CEO leaving under a cloud. 

It gets even more interesting when the new CEO led the turnaround of a retail rival. 

Kroger’s new CEO Greg Foran led Walmart U.S. for six years about a decade ago, and during that time, he oversaw a successful investment in digital grocery and consistent sales growth. 

Judging by the fact that it took about a year to name a new CEO, Kroger had high expectations for the hire. 

It may take some time to see big changes, but I would not be surprised to see an evaluation of grocery delivery and fulfillment. Kroger got away from its national automated fulfillment program last fall and signed up with Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats for grocery delivery.

This gives Kroger more flexibility with a hybrid system, but it seems like a temporary strategy.  

Mergers and acquisitions continue in all business and grocery is no different. If Foran can bring the stability the company hopes and expects, I expect Kroger to be in the acquisition market again before too long. 

New CEOs tend to put their signatures on companies, and we should expect no less from Foran given his grocery track record. 

Super Bowl 

In hindsight, the Super Bowl played out like expected. The upstart Patriots who had struggled against good defenses in the playoffs could get nothing going against a top defense from Seattle, and the most complete team in the NFL. 

But who expected to see a commercial with Mike Tyson bashing processed food and munching an apple? 

It’s a shame the MAHA movement has gotten pulled into the politically charged times of the Trump era, because there is so much to love in it for the fresh produce industry. 

The new dietary guidelines tagline of “eat real food” applies to fresh fruits and vegetables better than any food. 

Look no further than one of the most famous humans on the planet embracing a staple of the produce department. 

Real food is good, and processed food is bad. It’s too simplistic of course, but nuance isn’t going to turn around our nation’s obesity crisis. 

Eat more fruits and vegetables, says the champ, and less junk that makes you depressed and sick and fat. 

We should take that as a win and keep building on it.