New York-based ViaTouch has introduced a new solution to make the purchase of high-theft items easier for both shoppers and retailers. ViaTouch’s automated solution is dubbed Via Touch Intellishelf Cognitive Kinetic Interactions, or VICKI. “VICKI is an AI-driven self-checkout device that auto inventories itself and also provides media at the point of sale,” Tom Murn, […]
Author Archives: Lorrie Griffith
Lorrie began covering the supermarket and foodservice industries at Shelby Publishing in 1988, an English major fresh out of the University of Georgia. She started as an editorial assistant and proofreader—and, in spite of herself, she still proofreads everything, everywhere. Over more than three decades with Shelby, she held a variety of editorial roles. After a detour into business development, she rejoined Shelby in June 2024. “It’s good to be back covering the greatest industry in the world,” she says.
Posted in, Association News, Food Service News, Industry News, National
2019 NRA Show Education Lineup Offers Recipes For Business Success
Sponsored content by the National Restaurant Association The 2019 National Restaurant Association Show announces its centennial education program—five tracks designed to improve every aspect of your operation. For 100 years, the National Restaurant Association Show has provided foodservice professionals the latest innovations, techniques, and technology to grow their businesses and satisfy their customers, and this […]
Posted inAssociation News, Grocery News, Industry News, National, Organic Natural, Suppliers, Supply Chain News
Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions Program Launches
In a major step by the organic industry to fight against fraud in the global organic system, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) has launched its Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions program. Organic businesses are voluntarily pre-enrolling in a program to help minimize or eliminate organic fraud both inside and outside of the U.S., according to OTA. […]
Posted inDairy News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Northeast, Store News
Stew Leonard’s To Make Its New Jersey Debut This Fall
Stew Leonard’s will open its first New Jersey store this fall at the Paramus Mall in an 80,000-s.f. space that was a Sears store for 45 years. According to the retailer, 350 new jobs will be created. A groundbreaking is scheduled for Friday, March 29, at 11 a.m. Stew Leonard Jr., CEO of the company […]
Posted inPackaging News, Beverage News, Grocery News, National, Suppliers
Molson Coors Wins FPA’s Highest Achievement Award For Its Cooler Bag
In March, the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) announced the winners of its 63rd Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards. The Molson Coors 12-Pack Cooler received the Highest Achievement Award. Integrated with the Easy-Lock by Aplix closure system, the Grab & Chill pouch was designed by Bemis Co. Inc. as a reusable cooler bag for Molson Coors. […]
Posted inPackaging News, Equipment & Technology, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Suppliers, Sustainability News
Plantic Food Packaging To First Be Produced At S.C. Facility
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Sealed Air Corp. is investing in capacity at its Simpsonville, South Carolina, facility to produce plant-based food packaging. This facility will be the first in North America to produce materials made from Plantic plant-based resin and post-consumer plastic. Sealed Air says Simpsonville is one of the world’s largest packaging plants with more […]
Posted inGrocery News, Albertsons, Center Store, Executive News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Slider, Snacks Brands, Southwest, Suppliers, Sustainability News
Quinn Snacks Taps Matulis As Its New VP Of Sales
Quinn Snacks in Boulder, Colorado, has named Al Matulis VP of sales. Matulis will focus on expanding the brand—which includes microwave popcorn and gluten-free pretzels made with real ingredients—across all channels and accounts. Quinn Snacks’ ingredients can be traced to the source as a part of its Farm-to-Bag ingredient transparency promise. “We are incredibly excited […]
Posted inHome Page Slider, C-Store News, Grocery Store Layout, Online Grocery Technology, Southwest, Store News
7-Eleven Opens Its First Lab Store In The U.S. In Dallas
Convenience retailer 7-Eleven opened a “lab” store in its hometown of Dallas on March 22. The company describes it as a place where customers can “try and buy the retailer’s latest innovations in a revolutionary new store format.” The Dallas lab store—the only one in the U.S.—is located at the Sylvan | Thirty retail and […]
Posted inMidwest, Beverage News, Health & Wellness, Snacks Brands, Suppliers
Chicago’s Spinning Wheel Brands Debuts Its Sesame Milk
With consumers shifting to plant-based protein alternatives, Spinning Wheel Brands introduced Hope & Sesame, a new line of protein-backed, nondairy sesame milks, at Natural Products Expo West, which took place March 6-9 in Anaheim, California. Its sesame milks, sold in 1-liter cartons, provide 8g of protein and 120 calories per serving plus as much calcium […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Amazon Fresh, Association News, Grocery News, Marketing News, National, Perishables, Whole Foods
Leverage AI to Enhance Shoppers’ Beef Knowledge & Increase Loyalty, Spending, Trips
Sponsored content by Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. It’s hard to go more than a day in the retail industry without hearing about another artificial intelligence (AI) advancement or partnership. AI is being embraced by retailers, and businesses at large, for a range of business enhancing tactics: everything from optimizing inventory and pricing strategies to […]
Posted inHome Page Slider, Independent Store News, Southeast
Publix Presents Jenkins, President’s Awards To Managers
Publix Super Markets recognized 12 managers during the company’s Retail Operations Conference in February. Recipients received Publix’s most prestigious recognitions—the George W. Jenkins Award and the President’s Award. The George W. Jenkins Award—named after Publix’s late founder—was presented to one store manager from each of Publix’s five divisions and one support area associate “who perpetuate […]
Posted inShelby Content, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, Produce News, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Store News
Henderson’s IGA An ‘Oasis’ For Visitors, Vital To Community
2019 Nebraska Market Profile by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest If you visit the Facebook page of Henderson’s IGA in Valentine—and you should—don’t be surprised to see Clint Eastwood. He stars in a “Fistful of Brats.” Humphrey Bogart is in another video (well, his profile anyway) titled “Burgers of the Sierra Madre.” Notable quote: “Burgers? We don’t need […]
Posted inHome Page Slider, Corporate Store News, West
Hirz: Smart & Final’s Fiscal 2018 Performance Was ‘Solid’
On March 13 Smart & Final Stores Inc. reported its results for the fourth quarter and full year ended Dec. 30. For the 52-week year, net sales were $4.74 billion, an increase of 3.7 percent vs. $4.57 billion in 2017. Net sales growth was driven in part by the net sales contribution of new stores […]
Posted inEquipment & Technology, Corporate Store News, Home Page Slider, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Southwest, Supply Chain News
Kroger And Nuro To Deliver In Houston Following Arizona Pilot
Kroger and Nuro announced March 14 that their autonomous grocery delivery service will be expanded to Houston following a successful pilot in Scottsdale, Arizona. The service will be available this spring through two Houston Kroger stores, reaching customers in four local zip codes. Store one is located at 10306 South Post Oak Road servicing 77401 […]
Posted inDeli News, Grocery News, National
Bringing Deli To The People: Volume 6
Sponsored content Be Relevant: Arizona Taco Festival by Brad Bennett, channel marketing manager, deli, Tyson Foods Inc. It can be a challenge to create a meaningful and memorable interaction with consumers, especially Millennials, who we know connect more with experiences than products (1). So how can brands successfully engage with this audience? You meet up […]
Posted inSoutheast, Grocery News, Industry News, Perishables, Produce News
Lane Southern Orchards Spending $4M On Peach Packing House
A $4 million renovation and expansion of Lane Southern Orchards’ existing packing house in Fort Valley, Georgia, is underway and is expected to be complete for an early-summer peach harvest. The expansion doubles the capacity of the current packing house from 1.5-3 million cases, or 23,000 25-lb. boxes per day, in preparation for the 2019 […]
Posted inSoutheast, Grocery News, Organic Natural, Perishables, Produce News, Suppliers
That’s Tasty Launching Organic Stir-In Purees For Home Cooks
That’s Tasty, a brand made by Shenandoah Growers in Rockingham, Virginia, is launching Stir-In Purees. The purees, made with organic ingredients, will be available on shelves in the coming weeks, the company said March 7. The purees are available in garlic, ginger, spicy harissa, sun-dried tomato, Italian herbs, parsley, basil and dill flavors. Each features […]
Posted inMidwest, Association News, Suppliers
2019 FABI Awards To Be Presented At NRA Show In Chicago
The National Restaurant Association Show has announced the recipients of the 2019 Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards, which recognize food and beverage products that are “breaking new ground in taste, creativity, packaging and profit potential.” These industry-altering products will shape the future of food and beverage with flavorful and marketable items designed to delight diners […]
Posted inMidwest
Wisconsin-Based Culver’s Restaurants Celebrates 700th Location
The Culver’s restaurant chain, known for ButterBurgers and fresh frozen custard, celebrated its 700th opening in early March with a new restaurant in Chandler, Arizona. Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin-based Culver’s now operates in 25 states after entering Alabama in 2018. The chain opened 46 new restaurants in 2018, and there are plans for 50 more […]
Posted inMidwest, Frozen Food
Indy Chefs Win For Ice Cream, Gelato Flavors At Carpigiani Challenge
Cherry Amaretto Crunch by Indianapolis chef Dan Marinkovich won in the ice cream category and Sofia in the City by Hattie McDaniel of Cunningham Restaurant Group in Indianapolis won for the gelato category in the Carpigiani Challenge on March 5 in Indy. The winners were selected among the 10 competing flavors by a jury of […]