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Walmart Has 23.6% of U.S. Grocery Sales – But Costco Owns the AI Answer – 5W Grocery Retail AI Visibility Index 2026

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Walmart Owns 21% of U.S. Grocery — But Costco Owns the AI Answer 

NEW YORK, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 5WPR, the premier AI communications firm in the United States, today released the U.S. Grocery Retail AI Visibility Index 2026 — the 11th installment in 5W’s AI Visibility Index research series, and the first to rank American grocery retailers by how frequently they are cited inside AI-generated answers.

The headline finding rewrites the category league table.

Walmart, with approximately 21 percent of U.S. grocery market share — the largest in the country — ranks fourth in AI citation share. The retailer cited most often when American shoppers ask ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews where to buy their groceries is Costco. Trader Joe’s ranks second. Whole Foods ranks third. Aldi, H-E-B, and Wegmans are all punching far above what their physical footprint would predict.

“Market share is a lagging indicator. AI citation share is a leading indicator,” said Ronn Torossian, Founder and Chairman of 5W. “The grocers who close that gap in 2026 will define the category in 2030. Most grocery CMOs we talk to are running 2019 playbooks against 2026 consumer behavior.”

5W researchers ran more than 80 consumer-intent queries across 12 sub-categories — best overall grocery store, cheapest, highest-quality produce, best private label, best organic, best meal planning, best bulk, best delivery, best customer service, best regional, and others — across the four leading consumer AI platforms. Each retailer was scored on citation frequency, position within the answer, sentiment, and sub-category dominance.

The top 10: Costco, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Walmart, Kroger, Aldi, H-E-B, Publix, Wegmans, and Target.

Key structural findings:

Market share no longer predicts AI citation share. Walmart’s roughly 21 percent share translates to an estimated 8 to 10 percent AI citation share across premium query categories. The decoupling is the single largest such gap in American retail.Private label is the highest-leverage citation asset a grocer owns. Kirkland, Trader Joe’s, 365, Good & Gather, and Great Value are cited directly by name in AI answers at rates that exceed most national CPG brands.Regional loyalty translates directly into regional AI dominance. Regional chains outperform national chains in their home markets by 3x or more.Reddit and TikTok are under-priced citation surfaces. Perplexity pulls a majority of its answers from community sources. ChatGPT and Claude weight Reddit heavily.

The report also identifies six 2026 dynamics reshaping the category, including the new GLP-1 grocery basket, Aldi’s expansion as a citation-compounding program, and Walmart’s CEO transition from Doug McMillon to John Furner — effective February 1, 2026 — as a brand-narrative inflection point.

The full Index, including ranks 11 through 25 and sub-category breakdowns, is available as a free download at 5wpr.com/research.

About 5W

5W is the AI Communications Firm, building brand authority across the platforms where decisions now happen — ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews — alongside earned media, digital, and influencer channels. 5W combines public relations, digital marketing, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and proprietary AI visibility research, helping clients measure and grow their presence in AI-driven buyer research. 

Founded more than 20 years ago, 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s, named Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards®, and honored as a Top Place to Work in Communications in 2026 by Ragan. 5W serves clients across B2C sectors including Beauty & Fashion, Consumer Brands, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Hospitality, Technology, and Nonprofit; B2B specialties including Corporate Communications and Reputation Management; as well as Public Affairs, Crisis Communications, and Digital Marketing, including Social Media, Influencer, Paid Media, GEO, and SEO. 5W was also named to the Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year list.

For more information, visit www.5wpr.com.

Media Contact
Chris Bergin
cbergin@5wpr.com

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SOURCE 5W Public Relations

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C1 Named to Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces 2026

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August 25, 2026

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Third consecutive inclusion in Newsweek’s Greatest Workplaces list demonstrates C1’s dedication to a strong culture

BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — C1, a global leader in technology solutions engineered for outcomes, today announced it has been named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces 2026 by Newsweek and Plant‑A Insights Group for the third consecutive year. The recognition reflects C1’s success at maintaining best-in-class culture and values, initiatives and policies, and work environments. The Newsweek ranking, based on more than 575,000 interviews and 7.6 million reviews, highlights employers excelling in leadership, fair compensation, and work-life balance.

“Being consistently named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces by Newsweek reflects our commitment to the people behind the outcomes we deliver for our clients,” said Jeffrey Russell, CEO, C1. “We remain focused on fostering a workplace where every team member feels valued and empowered to make an impact for our business, and in turn, our clients and our partners.”

“With highly distributed and remote teams, we recognize the need to promote a culture of community and connection that transcends distance and strengthens the overall employee experience,” said Colleen Haberman, Chief Human Resources Officer. “Our focus extends across every aspect of the employee experience — from physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing to valued benefits like volunteer time off. Together, these efforts help us attract and retain a collaborative workforce that delivers real value for our customers.”

“As the tech sector navigates structural realignments and the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence, sustaining a culture of innovation requires an unwavering commitment to talent. Newsweek’s definitive ranking elevates the tech companies that look beyond perks to build environments rooted in clear communication, equity, and meaningful professional development. This list serves as an essential index of the workplaces driving the future of the digital economy,” said Jennifer H. Cunningham, Newsweek Editor-In-Chief.

About C1 
C1 makes modernization real—delivering secure, practical solutions for AI-powered collaboration, infrastructure, and security that drive measurable outcomes from day one. Focused on real-world results, C1 combines industry-leading partner technologies with deep expertise across advisory, professional, and managed services. From healthcare and education to government and financial services, C1 designs and delivers solutions that are faster, simpler, and more resilient—turning transformation into tangible value. For more information, visit www.onec1.com 

Media Contact: 
Kim Espinosa
kespinosa@onec1.com
832.721.0087

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SOURCE C1

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Globee® Awards for Innovation, Now in Its 18th Year, Invite Enterprise Innovation Achievement Nominations Worldwide

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August 25, 2026

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Recognizing local, regional, and global enterprise innovation achievements that advance products, services, operations, technology, customer experiences, and organizational performance

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Globee® Awards announced that nominations are currently being accepted for the 18th Annual Globee® Awards for Innovation (Golden Bridge Awards®), inviting organizations worldwide to nominate enterprise innovation achievements for consideration.

Apply now: https://globeeawards.com/innovation/

Innovation across enterprises can take many forms—from developing new products and services to improving operations, transforming customer experiences, modernizing technology, introducing artificial intelligence, and finding better ways to solve business challenges. The Globee® Awards for Innovation recognize measurable achievements resulting from these efforts across industries worldwide.

Nominations may represent achievements in enterprise artificial intelligence, digital transformation, business transformation, product and service innovation, process improvement, automation, enterprise technology, cybersecurity, data and analytics, customer experience, research and development, operational innovation, workforce transformation, sustainability, business model innovation, and other initiatives that demonstrate measurable progress or impact.

The program welcomes achievements from organizations of different sizes and industries, as well as the professionals, teams, departments, innovation groups, research and development organizations, and cross-functional teams responsible for advancing enterprise innovation.

Originally established as the Golden Bridge Awards®, the program is now in its 18th year and continues its tradition of recognizing achievements across innovation, leadership, business transformation, organizational advancement, products, services, and measurable impact across industries and markets worldwide.

Local, regional, and global achievements are welcomed, recognizing that meaningful enterprise innovation can originate anywhere and create measurable value at different levels of an organization or market.

Entries are evaluated through a merit-based, data-driven process involving participation from experienced professionals across multiple industries worldwide and defined scoring criteria.

About the Globee® Awards

The Globee® Awards are organizers of merit-based, data-driven business awards programs with worldwide participation. Across 10 awards programs, the Globee® Awards recognize achievements across multiple industries and sectors. The programs use a structured evaluation approach involving participation from professionals across various industries.

Follow: @globeeawards

Hashtags: #GlobeeAwards #InnovationAwards #GoldenBridgeAwards #EnterpriseInnovation #BusinessInnovation #EnterpriseAI #DigitalTransformation #BusinessTransformation #ProductInnovation #OperationalInnovation #InnovationAchievements #GlobalRecognition

All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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SOURCE Globee Awards

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LexisNexis Risk Solutions and the State of Arizona Launch the Nation’s First Digital Birth Credential – Redefining Access to Government Services

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August 25, 2026

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Groundbreaking program advances a new national standard for secure digital interactions with government

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) today announced the launch of the nation’s first Digital Birth Credential (dBC). This transformative initiative allows Arizona-born residents to securely access a verified digital credential of their birth certificate using their mobile device.

Setting a Standard for Digital Transformation in Government

Eligible Arizona residents are now able to present their Digital Birth Credential directly from their smartphone when applying for services across ADOT Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) offices. By reducing reliance on paper documents, the credential can enhance convenience and choice, while significantly lowering the risk of document loss, theft, and identity fraud.

“Arizona is demonstrating that innovation and security can coexist in government service delivery,” said Katina Lugo, Assistant State Registrar and Chief of the Bureau of Vital Records at ADHS. “We are proud to help establish a model that improves citizen access while strengthening identity assurance.”

Launched at three MVD pilot locations on November 17, 2025, and expanded statewide as of June 1, 2026, this initiative can serve as a national model for digital government transformation. The program reflects close collaboration between Arizona state agencies and private-sector technology leaders.

Empowering a Secure Digital Identity

This first-in-nation program leverages LexisNexis® VitalChek® to demonstrate how vital records, identity assurance, and payments technologies can help streamline workflows, enhance fraud prevention, and deliver a modern, secure, and convenient user experience.

“The birth certificate is the cornerstone of identity, and Arizona has transformed it into a verifiable credential for our digital-first world. By modernizing this foundational identity document, Arizona has set a new standard for trust across life events and the future of accessible, citizen-centric digital services,” said Richard Grape, Senior Director of Strategy at LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

“The Arizona Digital Birth Credential is redefining how vital records are issued, verified, and trusted and is an important step toward frictionless, fraud-resistant digital services. This initiative can enhance security, streamline access to trusted identity information, and establish a model that can improve service delivery at scale,” said Kellie Broxton, Director of Product at VitalChek.

A Model for Public-Private Innovation and Identity Protection

By combining the capabilities of LexisNexis Risk Solutions with Arizona’s forward-thinking agencies, this initiative continues a trusted and scalable blueprint for public-private collaboration in digital identity.

Through this program, LexisNexis Risk Solutions is helping define a new national standard for digital identity, one that prioritizes authenticity, privacy, and trust at every interaction between individuals and their government.

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions
LexisNexis® Risk Solutions provides customers with information-based analytics and decision tools that combine public and industry-specific content with advanced technology and algorithms to assist in evaluating and predicting risk and enhancing operational efficiency. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, the company has offices throughout the world, serves customers in more than 190 countries and territories, and is part of RELX. For more information, please visit LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

Media Contact:
Paul Eckloff
LexisNexis Risk Solutions
Mobile: +1.202.941.6986
Paul.Eckloff@lnssi.com

 

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SOURCE LexisNexis Risk Solutions

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