Cub Foods lowers prices after a couple "soft" years

• "We're investing some in price to be more competitive, but we're funding it through the operations and we're, I would say, optimistic (that we're in the) early days of a retail turnaround in the Twin Cities," said UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas.
• Dropping prices partway through the last quarter contributed to a 3.3% decline in retail sales, he said.

What we're watching: Douglas was asked during the call if UNFI — primarily a wholesale distributor — would again attempt to sell the Cub brand, like it unsuccessfully did in the early years after acquiring Supervalu in 2018.

• "The best strategy for us going forward is to keep it together and drive performance, and that's the plan that the franchisees and we have," he said. "But never say never. Obviously, we're going to do what's best for our shareholders."

The big picture: Food price inflation in the Twin Cities has slowed greatly after a massive spike in 2022.

• The new consumer price index, released Wednesday, shows at-home food prices in the Twin Cities were up just 1.2% year-over-year in November.