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 […]
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 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 […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Grocery News, Home Page Slider, National, Perishables, Suppliers
Tyson Unveils New Chairman’s Reserve Prime Beef Offering, Look
Tyson Fresh Meats in late February revealed a new Chairman’s Reserve Prime beef item and a refreshed brand look. “Our USDA Prime quality grade beef keeps in step with the exacting standards of our Prime Pork counterpart,” says Ozlem Worpel, senior brand manager of Tyson Fresh Meats, based in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. The Prime […]
Posted inHome Page Slider, Southeast, Store News
Dollar Tree To Close Up To 390 Family Dollar Stores This Year
While Dollar Tree said March 6 its sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 were “strong,” the Chesapeake, Virginia-based discount variety store retailer also reported that on the heels of closing 84 Family Dollar stores last year, it will close as many as 390 this year. In addition, about 200 Family Dollar stores will […]
Posted in, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Simon Retiring As Certco CEO; Niemetscheck To Succeed Him
At the Certco Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, March 5, Randall M. “Randy” Simon announced that he will retire from his role as president and CEO of the Fitchburg, Wisconsin-based cooperative wholesaler next month. “With my retirement date set at April 27, 2019, it will help me transition into my new lifestyle,” Simon said […]
Posted inBakery News, Grocery News, Suppliers, West
La Brea Bakery Founder To Help Create Breads For 30th Anniversary
La Brea Bakery is partnering with founder Nancy Silverton to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary. Silverton, who founded the bakery on South La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles in 1989 and is credited with bringing the artisan bread movement to the U.S., is working with the bakery to develop special edition breads to commemorate the […]
Posted inShelby Content, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, National, Organic Natural, Recommended Reading, Store News, Whole Foods
Recommended: Whole Foods Drops Small-Format 365 Store Name
Whole Foods 365 stores will soon become a thing of the past. The grocery chain owned by Amazon plans to convert all of its existing 365 stores into regular Whole Foods stores by the end of this year, Yahoo Finance has learned. The move follows its decision to stop expanding the smaller format stores, revealed […]
Posted inShelby Content, Corporate Store News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Slider, Organic Natural, Recommended Reading, Southeast, Store News
Recommended: Largest Whole Foods In SE To Open In Atlanta In April
Midtown will soon be home to the largest Whole Foods in the Southeast. Bobby Turner, the grocer’s south regional president, recently announced the store’s April 5 opening at the Midtown Alliance Annual Meeting. The 70,000-square-foot store — twice as large as the average Whole Foods — will sit at 22 14th Street and include a rooftop terrace, a […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Equipment & Technology, Grocery Store Equipment, Industry News, National
Balance Innovations Helps Retailers Put Idle Cash To Use Effectively
Taking idle cash and making it available for other purposes is the idea behind Balance Innovations’ new cash forecasting capability. CEO Darren Knipp of the Lenexa, Kansas-based company, told The Shelby Report at the National Retail Federation’s 2019 Big Show, “We’ve historically provided an operational focus solution for stores to help automate their cash management, […]
Posted inAssociation News, Albertsons, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, West
Mark Miller Named Arizona Food Marketing Alliance’s New President
The Arizona Food Marketing Alliance (AFMA) announced Feb. 22 that it has selected Mark J. Miller as its new president. Miller most recently was a consultant for the City of Hope. Before that, he spent three years with Talking Rain Beverage Co., and before that, he spent 36 years as an SVP for Hensley & […]