by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest There is something special about employee-owned companies. Marc Jones, president and CEO of HAC Inc., sees it as an attribute that attracts both employees and customers. “An employee-owned business is seen as a big plus in both groups, which is kind of a fun thing,” he told The Shelby Report’s Jan Meade, […]
Author Archives: Alissa Marchat
Staff Writer at The Shelby Report.
Top Six Trends For Independent Grocers In 2018
by Adam Abbene/ Sales Manager, BRdata Software Solutions In today’s hyper-competitive grocery market, independent grocers need to utilize every tool and technology available to optimize every aspect of their operation. In the months ahead, that means independent grocers will rely more than ever on cloud-based systems to enhance and complement their capabilities in customer service, inventory […]
Local Food Banks Receive 3.7M Meals From Raley’s Holiday Bag Drive
This year’s Raley’s Food For Families holiday bag drive, which provides food for Northern California and Nevada families, culminated in a donation of 3,759,535 meals, representing a 29 percent increase vs. last year. The Raley’s Food For Families holiday bag drive, in its 31st year, is an initiative that takes place across Raley’s family of stores […]
Alabama Market Profile: State’s Economy Is On The Upswing
by Lorrie Griffith/editor–Southeast Alabama’s economy is on the upswing, according to Ellie Taylor, president of the Alabama Grocers Association AGA), located in Birmingham. In fact, the state’s unemployment rate is now 3.5 percent—the lowest in its history. The good times look to be continuing, as two major plants were announced in January. One is a […]
Larkin: 2017 Year In Review For Independent Grocers
by Peter Larkin/ president and CEO, National Grocers Association Special to The Shelby Report Last year was an exciting one for the supermarket industry, which is perhaps undergoing more rapid change than at any other time. As usual, though, independent grocers proved—once again—that they’re the best equipped to evolve with changing times and serve their communities. […]
NGA Show Opens With Strong Attendance, 2018 Board Named
The National Grocers Association (NGA) opened its 2018 NGA Show yesterday with more than 3,000 attendees and experienced a 12 percent increase in its retailer/wholesaler attendance. Attendees heard from General Michael Hayden, former director of the CIA and NSA, during Sunday’s opening keynote address, sponsored by The Kraft Heinz Co. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue […]
Pamela Bailey To Retire After Nearly 10 Years As GMA President, CEO
Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), will retire later this year following nearly 10 years of leading the organization. Bailey will remain with GMA and manage the organization as the board of directors conducts a search for her successor, with Leslie Hortum of Spencer Stuart retained to lead the […]
7-Eleven Adds Pizza For The Morning Crowd
Participating 7-Eleven stores have added a new choice to their breakfast menus. The new item is a ready-to-eat breakfast pizza made with smoked bacon, breakfast sausage, hickory-smoked ham, scrambled eggs, cheddar and mozzarella cheese, and peppered cream gravy on top of a flaky biscuit crust. The hot breakfast pizza is part of 7-Eleven stores’ two-for-$2 […]
More Than Half Of Hispanics Mainly Buy Natural & Organic, Report Finds
The rising influence of organic and clean label products have permeated virtually every segment of the food and beverage industry, from kid foods to adult beverages. But beyond store shelves, the impact of the organic and clean label movement increasingly is taking root within ever more diverse segments of the American consumer population. This is […]
Non-Food For Thought: This Year’s Top Supermarket Trends
by Naomi Sleeper/Imperial Distributors Last month, we explored 2017 product trends and our projection for them in 2018. Going beyond last year’s hottest items, projections for the supermarket industry’s biggest global trends in 2018 also have implications for performance of non-food categories this year. Here, we look at this year’s top trends anticipated by supermarket […]
CattleFax Predicts Large Beef Supply, Strong Demand In 2018
CattleFax analysts at the 2018 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show took a look at the industry’s profitability during 2017 and forecasted for the year ahead, and the outlook is good. Analysts noted that U.S beef cow inventory increased 2.8 million head in four years, and an additional 200,000-400,000 head are expected to be […]
Food City Opens New Tennessee Store In Sevier County
Abingdon, Virginia-based Food City opened a new store in Sevier County, Tennessee, on Jan. 31. The 48,500-plus-s.f. supermarket, located at the intersection of Newport Highway and New Center Road, is the company’s sixth location in the area. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to add a new state-of-the-art Food City in Sevier County, where we […]
Brookshire Bros. Brings Online Ordering To East Texas With Rosie
Brookshire Brothers, a 121-store retailer with locations throughout Texas and Louisiana, is joining the network of independent retailers who have selected Rosie to bring online shopping to their customers. Brookshire Brothers Anywhere Powered by Rosie is initially launching with curbside pickup and delivery at two locations in the retailer’s home market of Lufkin, Texas, on Feb. 19. “Our […]
South Dakota Grocer Launches Meal Kits, Sells Out In Four Days
In late January, Aberdeen, South Dakota-based Kessler’s Food and Liquor introduced co-branded Freshop Chef Kit meal kits in its store, using Facebook to announce the new offering. The Facebook post was “liked” more than 850 likes and shared more than 600 times, and all six meal kit varieties stocked at Kessler’s—120 kits in total—sold out within […]
Product Of The Year USA Honors 31 New Products
Product of the Year USA, an award for product innovation based on consumer votes, revealed the 31 winners of the 2018 Product of the Year Award at last night’s annual awards show at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. A national study of 40,000 consumers conducted by consumer research company Kantar TNS determines the […]
Housewares Design Awards Names 2018 Winners
The Housewares Design Awards, an awards program focused on housewares design innovation, honored three “Best of the Best” and 11 “Best in Category” winners in late January during a ceremony held in Las Vegas. The honorees were chosen from 55 finalists. The Best of the Best Gold award went to Blueair for the Blue Pure […]
Doorganics Grocery Delivery Company Expanding Into Second Facility
Doorganics, a Grand Rapids-based organic grocery delivery company servicing the state of Michigan, is expanding “to accommodate the growing interest in organic and local food, and food delivery services.” The company will open a second facility early this summer. Doorganics deliveries start with a customizable produce box full of local and organic fruits and veggies. Customers can […]
Grocery Software To Prevent Expired Food Gets Big Upgrade
Pinpoint Software has upgraded its expiration date management solution for grocery stores called Date Check Pro. The upgrade enhances reporting and increases savings in labor and expired shrink, the company says. Since its initial launch in 2011, stores have identified more than 4 million items that have been sold prior to expiring or donated to […]
Publix Opening Second Store In Decatur, Alabama, Next Week
Publix Super Markets is opening its new Point Mallard Centre store at 2934 Point Mallard Parkway SE in Decatur, Alabama, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 7:00 am. The grocer will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the opening featuring Mayor of Decatur Bowling and City Council President Paige Bibbee. “Publix is known for providing excellent customer service […]
Coborn’s Launches Meal Kit Line Across Three Banners
Coborn’s Inc. has entered the growing meal kit market with a new line of “To the Table” meal kits now available at Coborn’s, Cash Wise and Marketplace Foods grocery stores. From package to plate, these meals can be cooked in less than 15 minutes using cooking oil and the fresh, pre-cut ingredients provided in the […]
