The Kroger Co. on Oct. 12 hosted its first Natural Foods Innovation Summit in partnership with 84.51° (see story below), in Cincinnati, Ohio, with keynote speaker Joy Bauer, MS, RD, CDN. “Kroger is proud of the role we’ve played in making natural and organic products more affordable and accessible to America,” said Jill McIntosh, Kroger’s […]
Author Archives: Alissa Marchat
Staff Writer at The Shelby Report.
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, West
Pear Bureau Northwest Hires Communications Specialist
Neil Ferguson has joined Pear Bureau Northwest as communications specialist. Ferguson brings a range of experience in communications, social media management, content strategy and journalism to the Pear Bureau Northwest team, the organization says. Most recently, he handled editorial and marketing responsibilities as media content developer for Coroflot, a site aimed at connecting creatives with […]
Posted inAssociation News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, National
CHPA Offers Education Materials As States Ban Sale Of DXM To Minors
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) has launched a new initiative to support retailers in states that have adopted laws prohibiting the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines containing the cough suppressant dextromethorphan (DXM) to minors. The announcement comes on the heels of Nevada’s enactment of a DXM age-restriction law last week. While millions of Americans […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News
2018 Retail Produce Manager Award Nominations Now Being Accepted
United Fresh now is accepting nominations for the 2018 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program, which recognizes 25 outstanding retail produce managers for their innovative merchandising, produce-related community outreach, increased store sales and recognition among company peers. The Retail Produce Manager Awards Program sponsored by Dole Food Co. and now in its 14th year, pays special […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Home Page Latest News, Southwest
Temptee Specialty Foods & Johnson Chili Merge, Begin National Rollout
Temptee Specialty Foods has merged with Johnson Food Products, the longtime manufacturer of Johnson Chili. Temptee is launching the Johnson Chili Original and Hot-N-Spicy Chili with meat brands to the Rocky Mountain and Southwest regions as it begins a countrywide rollout. The company says it is actively recruiting Johnson Chili distribution partners, retailers and restaurateurs nationwide to further build its distribution network while […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, West
Joseph ‘Joie’ Scolari Of Scolari’s Food & Drug Passes At 86
Joseph “Joie” Gordon Scolari died on Sept. 2 at his home in Pismo Beach, California, at the age of 86. Mr. Scolari was born Dec. 12, 1930, in Santa Maria, California, and was a lifelong resident of the Central Coast. Mr. Scolari met his future wife, Eldeen Mann, when he was in the fifth grade […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Suppliers
Mars Food Opens New North America Headquarters In Chicago
Mars Food opened the company’s new North America headquarters in Chicago this month, making it the fourth Mars office on Goose Island. Building on the 125-year history Mars has with Chicago, the Mars Food office brings 75 jobs to the city and “signifies a significant investment in this growing business unit within Mars Inc.,” the […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, National
Consumers Optimistic About Economy As Gas Prices Drop
Consumers have seen gas prices fall after the temporary supply disruptions caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and they say they are more optimistic about the economy, according to the latest national NACS Consumer Fuels Survey from The Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing. Americans say that they have seen gas prices fall 9 cents […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Northeast
D.C. Collaborative To Receive WFM’s Largest Giving Day Donation
Kicking off National Arts and Humanities Month, the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative will receive a $28,000 donation from Whole Foods Market’s quarterly 5 Percent Community Giving Day, making it the largest 5 Percent Day in Washington, D.C., to date. The DC Collaborative works with its members to advance, connect and provide enriching field-trips […]
Posted in, C-Store News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National
Kroger Considers Sale Of C-Store Business Generating $4B In Sales
Kroger plans to explore strategic alternatives for its convenience store business, including a potential sale, as part of its Restock Kroger plan, which is designed to “redefine the food and grocery customer experience in America.” “Restock Kroger” is a review of assets that are potentially of more value outside of the company than inside. “Our convenience stores […]
Posted inHome Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, National, Wholesaler/Distributor News
FMS Solutions To Acquire AWG’s Retail Accounting Solutions Inc.
Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (AWG) has agreed to sell its wholly owned subsidiary, Retail Accounting Solutions Inc. (RAS), to FMS Solutions Holdings LLC (FMS). The effective date for closing on the Stock Purchase Agreement will be Saturday, Oct. 21. As part of the arrangement, AWG says it will continue to assist FMS by means of […]
Posted inFood Service News, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, National, Whole Foods
C-Store Operators Cite Foodservice Programs As Reason For Optimism
Convenience store retailers say that in-store sales have performed strong so far this year, and they are optimistic about their business prospects for the remainder of 2017, largely because of the growth in food sales, according to a survey of U.S. retailers released today by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Three in five […]
Posted inBeverage News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, New Products, Suppliers
Argo Tea Launches Line Of Cold Brew Teas At Whole Foods
Chicago-based Argo Tea, maker of all-natural, tea-based drinks and loose-leaf teas, is partnering with Whole Foods Market to launch what it says is the world’s first line of ready-to-drink (RTD), cold brew, single-estate bottled teas into the retailer’s stores nationally. According to Argo, the release of the RTD line follows a successful test of the teas in […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, National, Organic Natural
Probiotic Foods, Beverages Trending With Millennials, Natural Grocery Shoppers
Roughly a quarter of U.S. adults specially seek out foods and beverages with high amounts of probiotics or prebiotics. That finding comes from a 2017 National Consumer Survey conducted by market research firm Packaged Facts, published in the company’s new report “Probiotics and Prebiotics: Food and Beverage New Product Trends.” With the increased focus on their […]
Posted inBeverage News, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, National, Suppliers
Coca-Cola Takes Top Spot, Pepsi Falls Behind In TotalSocial Rankings
Engagement Labs, a data and technology solutions provider, has released its TotalSocial rankings of the top-performing non-alcoholic beverage brands in the U.S. with respect to consumer conversations. The report is intended to “help brand marketers better understand the consumer conversations taking place about today’s top beverage brands both online and offline,” the company says. It […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Whole Foods
Will Someone Win The Price Vs. Service Battle, Or Is There Room For Both?
by Art Patch/a retired retail executive & regular columnist for The Shelby Report For years, the successful retail business model featured a strong commitment to customer service. Customer service does cover a broad area but was often listed in surveys as the primary reason a customer chose a store. It was not uncommon for employees […]
Posted inEquipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Supply Chain News, West
San Francisco Startup Offers ‘Farm-To-Fridge’ Delivery In An Hour
Farmstead is an “AI-powered digital micro-grocer” that wants to reinvent the supermarket model with technology that sources and delivers local food from “farm-to-fridge in 60 minutes.” The company officially launched in the San Francisco Bay Area this month. Founded 12 months ago, Farmstead has completed more than 15,000 deliveries to thousands of Bay Area customers, and […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, National, Store News
Wakefern, AWG Named Among Top-Earning Cooperatives
National Cooperative Bank, which provides banking solutions for cooperatives nationwide, this week released its annual NCB Co-op 100, listing the nation’s top 100 revenue-earning cooperative businesses. In 2016, these businesses posted revenue totaling approximately $208 billion. The report also highlights the ways co-ops commit to their members, sustainability, education, impact, kindness and their community. “The […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Southwest
H-E-B’s Help End Hunger Campaign Raises $734K For Texas Food Banks
H-E-B’s Help End Hunger campaign raised more than $734,000 for food banks across Texas, which will help provide more than 3.3 million meals to people in need. The money collected in H-E-B stores will be awarded to more than 20 food banks throughout the state. On Oct. 2 at the San Antonio Food Bank, H-E-B […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Supply Chain News
Hy-Vee Expands Fair Trade Seafood Offering
Hy-Vee will begin offering Fair Trade Certified fresh and frozen scallops in all 245 of its stores, making it the first Midwest retailer to do so, according to the grocer. The domestically sourced, Fair Trade seafood will begin hitting Hy-Vee shelves this month in conjunction with National Seafood Month, “a time to highlight smart seafood choices, […]