Superior Grocers had a big night in early May, as the Southern California grocery chain was the featured retailer at an Illuminators networking dinner in Fullerton. It was an important evening for the grocer, marking the first time it had presented its company to CPG companies. Mimi Song, Superior’s chair and CEO, credits her chain’s […]
Author Archives: Kristen Cloud
Kristen was Editor at The Shelby Report.
Posted in, National, Perishables
Publix’s Sarah Watts Wins IDDBA’s Annual Cake Decorating Challenge
The winner of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association’s (IDDBA) 19th annual Cake Decorating Challenge held earlier this week is Sarah Watts of Publix Super Markets in Gainesville, Fla. The event was held at the Dairy-Deli-Bake 2014 seminar and expo in Denver, Colo., June 1-3. Stephanie Murphree of Harps Food Stores in West Fork, Ark., was the […]
Posted in, Midwest, Store News
Meijer Opens Southernmost Store In Bowling Green, Ky.
Meijer opened a supercenter on Thursday in Bowling Green, Ky., marking its southernmost location. The 190,000-s.f. store at 1676 Westpark Dr. has created more than 270 new jobs and will provide local residents with fresh produce delivered daily, affordable, high-quality merchandise as well as a full-service pharmacy that makes family healthcare a priority, according to […]
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Three Ga. Winn-Dixie Stores Converting To Harveys Beginning This Weekend
Winn-Dixie, a subsidiary of Bi-Lo Holdings, will begin rebranding three Georgia stores to the Harveys banner this Saturday. The stores at 2800 Old Dawson Rd. in Albany, 1553 U.S. 19 S. in Leesburg and 1208 Crawford St. in Americus will close Saturday for conversion and reopen Friday, June 13, as Harveys stores. To ensure customer […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southwest
AG Baton Rouge Stores Welcome Miss USA Contestants To Louisiana
Contestants of the Miss USA Pageant got a real taste of Louisiana over the weekend as the 51 participants were treated to some of the best on the bayou. The Louisiana Seafood Board along with retail members of Associated Grocers hosted a Seafood Extravaganza on Saturday at Nottoway Plantation near Baton Rouge. Zydeco filled the […]
Posted in, C-Store News, Midwest
GasMart USA Expands Citgo Brand By 15 Stations Across Midwest
New Citgo marketer GasMart USA recently completed the conversion of 15 locally-owned gas stations across Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana to the Citgo brand. The Centennial image and fresh service options are now available for fuel and convenience store customers with grand openings taking place through Friday. “We are extremely excited about this new partnership with […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
KeHE, FMI Partner To Create Bridge Day Next Week
KeHE Distributors, a leading distributor of natural, specialty, multicultural and fresh products, will host its annual Holiday Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, June 8-9. The two-day event will bring together thousands of retailers and suppliers in the natural, specialty and fresh product categories to showcase holiday products and also year-round “hot and on-trend” products. […]
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Publix Recognized As One Of Fortune’s 500
Publix has once again been ranked to Fortune magazine’s 500 list. Publix ranked No. 104 on this year’s list—up from No. 108 last year—and No. 6 in the food and drug category. “I believe we are a strong, healthy and vibrant company because we own it,” said Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw. “Although Publix is a […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Boar’s Head Brand Enters Hummus Category
Boar’s Head Brand, one of the nation’s leading providers of premium delicatessen products, is introducing Boar’s Head Hummus. The new line of gluten-free and all-natural hummus is available nationwide starting this month. Boar’s Head launches the line with four varieties: Traditional, Roasted Red Pepper, Roasted Pine Nut and Roasted Chipotle Pepper Hummus. “With a portfolio […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
Pilgrim’s Pride Ups Bid For Hillshire Brands To $7.7B
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. confirmed that on Sunday it submitted a revised proposal to acquire The Hillshire Brands Co. for $55 per share in cash in a transaction valued at $7.7 billion. The proposal represents an increase of $1.3 billion vs. Pilgrim’s initial proposal and a 49 percent premium over Hillshire’s share price one day prior […]
Posted in, Executive News, Midwest
Kraft Foods Names George Zoghbi Vice Chair Of Ops, R&D, Sales And Strategy
Kraft Foods Group Inc. has appointed George Zoghbi to the newly created executive position of vice chairman of operations, R&D, sales and strategy, reporting directly to CEO Tony Vernon. The creation of this new role brings together the expertise of several key areas under one leader, including research and development, which creates innovative new products […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Litehouse Expands OPA Line
Following what it calls the most successful launch in the brand’s history, Litehouse Foods, a salad dressing, dip, herb and cheese company, is adding to its OPA by Litehouse line of Greek yogurt salad dressings. The three new items pull from global flavor inspirations to add interesting and palate-pleasing flavors to the line of traditional favorites, […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Nestea Revives The ‘Nestea Plunge’ Campaign
Nestea is bringing back the brand’s iconic “Nestea Plunge” with a new 2014 advertising campaign. This updated communication strategy is designed to promote Nestea’s new and improved recipe, featuring more flavor and fewer calories in every bottle, according to the brand. To further support the product relaunch, the brand will offer a “Nestea Plunge Into […]
Posted in, National
Report: GMO Labeling—Confusion At The Shelf
The battle over genetically modified food continues to rage, focused mostly on whether companies should label products that contain GMOs. As The Hartman Group reports, Whole Foods created a sense of urgency about the topic when it decided it would ensure that all GMO products in its stores would be labeled by 2018 to enhance […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Van Holten’s Now Bottling Pickle Juice
Van Holten’s is now bottling pickle juice. Pickleback—Real Pickle Brine is a 32-oz. bottle of dill pickle brine for use as a shot chaser or cocktail mixer. “We are using real honest pickle brine,” said Van Holten’s President Steve Byrnes.“This is the same stuff we’ve been making for over 100 years using our original recipe. […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
NFRA Names New Member Communications Coordinator
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has appointed Natalie Markle to the newly created position of member communications coordinator. Markle is responsible for marketing member resources and events, developing and maintaining an online and social media presence for members and engaging members in NFRA’s PR and promotion efforts. In 2013, NFRA partnered with […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Executive News, Midwest
Marley Beverage Co. Hires New President, CEO
The Marley Beverage Co., a Michigan-based new-age beverage manufacturer, has appointed Harry Bigelow as president and CEO, effective today. He takes on the role vacated by Kevin McClafferty last fall. Bigelow has more than 30 years of beverage industry experience in both non-alcoholic and beverage alcohol in North America. He held positions of increased responsibility […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Northeast
Boyajian Oils Awarded Gold, Silver Medals At International Competition
Boyajian Inc. has been awarded a gold medal for its Scallion Infused Olive Oil and a silver medal for its Chipotle Infused Olive Oil at the recent 2014 Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. This year the competition celebrated its 14th anniversary. Oils are tasted by a team of judges and the competition […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Store News, West
Stater Bros. Plans New SoCal Stores In Covina, Menifee Communities
Plans are under way to open two new state-of-the-art “Blue Ribbon” Stater Bros. Supermarkets in the communities of Covina (Los Angeles County) and Menifee (Riverside County). These new supermarkets will create more than 250 new store-level jobs and approximately 300 local construction jobs, according to the San Bernardino, Calif.-based grocer. “These two stores are a […]
Posted in, Executive News, Southeast
Georgia Grocery Veteran Barry Robinson To Retire June 2
Georgia grocery industry veteran Barry Robinson is set to retire next week. Robinson’s last day with Delhaize America will be June 2. Robinson has spent 26 years with J.H. Harvey Co., most recently serving as VP of operations for J.H. Harvey and Reid’s. He worked for 16 years with Piggly Wiggly Southern. He also has […]