J. H. “Jay” Campbell Jr., president and CEO of Associated Grocers of Baton Rouge and ROFDA chairman, kicked off the Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) Spring Conference earlier this month by reminding attendees what ROFDA is all about: “Our Independent Retail Grocers.” Held May 18-21 at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Amelia, […]
Author Archives: Kristen Cloud
Kristen was Editor at The Shelby Report.
Posted in, National
IGA Partners With Wounded Warrior Project In Annual IGA Donation Drive
IGA has joined forces again with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) in its third annual IGA Exclusive Brand donation initiative. During this national campaign—running in participating IGA stores from Memorial Day weekend (May 27) through Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3)—a number of WWP co-branded IGA Exclusive Brand products will be available for purchase in participating IGA […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Northeast
Tops Acquires Four Additional Big M Stores
Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, said Thursday that the company has completed the acquisition of four Big M supermarkets. In March, Tops entered into an agreement with the Bonisteel family to acquire four Big Supermarkets located in Boonville, Watertown, Sandy Creek and Adams, […]
Posted in, National
Sweets And Snacks In A Volatile, Fragmented Market
Confection and snack manufacturers have to be where the shopper is, according to Leon Nicholas, SVP of retail insights at Kantar Retail. During Nicholas’ keynote address at the 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo at McCormick Place in Chicago this week, he gave attendees some insight into the snack and confection industry’s retailer opportunities and how […]
Posted in, National
More Latino Shoppers Use Mobile As Shopping Tool Than General Shoppers
U.S. smartphone penetration is approximately 57 percent so it’s no surprise that consumers are using their phones to assist with shopping needs. What’s interesting is 16 percent of Hispanic shoppers are using their mobile device to make purchases compared to 12 percent of general market shoppers. This was revealed in the latest issue of “The […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Sweetbay, Harveys On The Sale Block?
Delhaize Group may be shopping two of its banners, according to published reports, which say the Belgian grocer—parent company of Food Lion—has hired Lazard Ltd. to sell Sweetbay and Harveys. Sweetbay, which has its corporate offices in Tampa, Fla., had 105 stores in the Sunshine State at the end of 2012. The chain closed 33 […]
Posted in, National
Sweets & Snacks Expo ‘Unwraps Innovation’ With Record Attendance
NCA-sponsored show ends today in Chicago The National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago ends today. This year’s “Unwrap Innovation” show, which began Tuesday, drew record crowds, according to NCA President Larry Graham. The Shelby Report’s Geoff Welch has been at Chicago’s McCormick Place all week covering the big event. Check […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Longtime Agri Beef Exec Named CEO For Superior Farms
Agri Beef Co. executive Rick Stott accepted the position of CEO for Superior Farms Lamb this week. He most recently served as the EVP of business development for Agri Beef, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, and, with more than 19 years at the company, also has served as president of Snake River Farms (a subsidiary of […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Kroger’s Mid-South Division President Hackett To Retire After 50 Years
The Kroger Co.’s Mid-South Division President John Hackett is set to retire after 50 years of service. His last day with the company will be June 28. Hackett began his career with Kroger in 1963 as a store clerk in London, Ohio, working his way through college at The Ohio State University. Following graduation he […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Former Bush White House Counselor Joins Walmart PR Head
Walmart has named Dan Bartlett, 41, its new EVP of corporate affairs, effective in late June. Bartlett most recently was president and CEO of the U.S. arm of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a global business advisory firm serving corporations, nonprofits and associations in 52 countries. Prior to that, he was a senior counselor to President George W. […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Minnesota Ups Cigarette Tax $1.60 Per Pack
The Minnesota Legislature this week approved a tax bill that will increase the cigarette tax by $1.60 per pack and also increase the tax on other tobacco products. The state projects that the tax increase will raise $434 million in new revenue over the next two years (fiscal years 2014-15). With Minnesota’s increase to $2.83 […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southeast
Lowes Foods Opens New Store In Hampstead, N.C.
Lowes Foods is hosting its grand opening festivities at a new store at 17230 U.S. Hwy. 17 in Hampstead, N.C., today. This is the most recent Lowes Foods store to open in the Carolinas and the first in the Topsail area. The new Lowes Foods design is based on research that indicates consumers are always […]
Posted in, National
Frieda’s Launches New Label For Champagne Grapes
Frieda’s Champagne Grapes, with a new green and purple label, are available for pre-booking. Packed in a 16/1-lb. clamshell to protect the fruit, Frieda’s will have supplies of Champagne Grapes beginning in July. “Frieda’s new label stands out in your grape displays, which makes it easier for consumers to find them and pick them up,” […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
Shop And Save Market Opens In Downers Grove, Ill.
A new 45,000-s.f. Shop and Save Market opened earlier this month in Downers Grover, Ill., outside Chicago. The store is located at 7241 Lemont Rd. in the Downers Park Plaza. “This is a very special store, for all of us,” said Ed Dubek, store director. “We are putting a lot of thought in tailoring our […]
Posted in, National
Reasor’s To Aid In Storm Relief Efforts
Reasor’s is partnering with the Salvation Army to collect donations to help with disaster relief across central Oklahoma. It is asking that the public text the word “Storm” to 80888 to donate $10. Reasor’s will match the first $10,000 donated. Additionally, starting today, all 17 Reasor’s locations throughout northeastern Oklahoma will begin collecting the most […]
Posted in, National
Food Retail Survey Anticipates Amplified Audit Function Over Five Years
Supermarket audit departments and audit budgets will witness resource expansions congruent to the expanding roles within information technology, retail operations and supply chain departments, according to the Food Retailing and Wholesaling Internal Audit Study published by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). Forty-two percent of companies expect to grow the size of the internal audit function […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Bellisio Foods To Buy Overhill Farms For $81M
Bellisio Foods said last week that it is buying Overhill Farms, which makes frozen foods for Target Corp., Boston Market and other brands, for approximately $81 million in cash. The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that Overhill shareholders still must approve the deal. That is expected this summer. Terms of the deal were not announced. […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southeast
Rouses Partners With Royal Family Farms To Offer Fresh Miss. Goat, Lamb
The selection in the meat case at Rouses Markets just got bigger and even more local, thanks to a new and exclusive partnership between family-owned Rouses and family-owned Royal Family Farms of Crystal Springs, Miss., to retail goat and lamb. “I love the idea of two local family companies working together,” says Donny Rouse, Rouses’ […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Snack Food Association Appoints Dempsey CEO
The Snack Food Association (SFA) has named Tom Dempsey, former president of UTZ Quality Foods, as its CEO, effective July 1. Jim McCarthy, SFA’s president and CEO since 1999, will continue as president with a focus of enhancing SFA’s presence in federal, state and international arenas. Dempsey’s focus will be to help increase SFA’s value […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Snikiddy To Preview New Individual-Size Bags At Snacks & Sweets Expo
Snikiddy will introduce 1.5-oz. bags of Snikiddy All-Natural Baked Fries and Eat Your Vegetables at the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago next week, May 21-23. The new smaller, portion-controlled bags will be available in Snikiddy’s most popular flavors, including All-Natural Baked Fries Cheddar Cheese, Sea Salt and Hot & Spicy, and Eat Your Vegetables […]