The Wegmans Food Market that opens in Hanover, New Jersey, on Sunday, July 23, will be led by a team of leaders that have a combined 84 years of experience with the grocer. The team consists of: Store Manager Tim Lockwood; Executive Chef Preston France; Pharmacy Area Manager Jim Rossettie; Perishable Area Manager Megan Doherty; […]
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, Executive News, Northeast
Tops Friendly Markets Reports Staff Promotions, Addition
Williamsville, New York-based Tops Friendly Markets has announced staff promotions as well as one addition. Four were promoted. Ashley Tucker, formerly a manager trainee for the North Country Tops stores, has been promoted to store manager for the Cox Sackie, New York, store. Tucker has more than 17 years of experience in retail management and […]
Posted inGrocery News, Beverage News, Center Store, Northeast
Harvest Hill Beverage Co. Promotes Champlin To President Of Sales
Harvest Hill Beverage Co. in Stamford, Connecticut, has promoted David Champlin to president of sales. Champlin, who has been with the company for about three years, will oversee the company’s selling organization of more than 40 people, and will be responsible for global sales efforts across all channels. Harvest Hill’s beverage brands include Juicy Juice, […]
Posted inGrocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News, Suppliers, West
CAC Says July Fourth Avocado Sales Broke Record
According to the California Avocado Commission (CAC), this year’s Fourth of July avocado sales figures indicate 118.3 million pounds were sold in the U.S. in support of holiday festivities, making it the highest Fourth of July consumption period on record. The results were stronger than the 100-million-pound pre-holiday projection and surpassed the 2016 actual by […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, National
Hunger Fundraiser Under Way In 28 U.S. Grocery Stores
Making Change, a 501(c)(3) organization that partners with retailers nationwide to run point-of-purchase fundraisers, has launched its campaign for summer 2017, “Hunger Knows No Season.” The campaign runs through the end of September, which is Hunger Action Month. A total of 28 stores in different regions across the country are participating in the fundraiser: nine […]
Posted inCenter Store, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
Kroger Atlanta Launches School Supplies Drive In Metro Area
Kroger’s Atlanta Division, in partnership with Children’s Restoration Network and local station WSB-TV, kicked off its 23rd annual “Back 2 School” campaign on Sunday, July 16. During the campaign, which runs through July 29, 124 Kroger stores will serve as dropoff sites for the school supplies. Children’s Restoration Network is a nonprofit agency focused on helping […]
Posted inGrocery News, Corporate Store News, Deli News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, Organic Natural, Sustainability News
Whole Foods To Open First 365 In State Of Ohio This September
Whole Foods Market 365 will open its first Ohio store in Akron on Sept. 14. The store will be the sixth 365 format store to open nationally for Whole Foods. Located at 1745 W. Market Street, the store will feature only products that meet Whole Foods Market’s rigorous quality standards and are free of artificial […]
Posted inGrocery News, Bakery News, Center Store, Food Service News, Home Page Latest News, Private Label Brands, Southwest, Suppliers
Teasdale Latin Foods Grows Reach With Rudy’s Tortillas Acquisition
Teasdale Latin Foods has acquired Rudy’s Tortillas to enhance its position in the Hispanic foods category, especially in the bakery and foodservice arenas. Teasdale provides private label and branded Hispanic foods to the retail, foodservice and wholesale channels nationally. It is majority owned by private equity firm Snow Phipps Group. Rudy’s, which was founded in […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Southeast, Store News
Publix Opening Its First Virginia Store In Glen Allen On Saturday
Publix Super Markets will make its highly anticipated Virginia debut on Saturday, July 15, when it opens its new store at 5400 Wyndham Forest Drive in Glen Allen. This first store is located in the Nuckols Place shopping center; it’s a 54,191 s.f. The Nuckols Place store quickly will be followed by two more stores […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, West
First 365 In Arizona Will Anchor 9-Story Tempe Development
A new mixed-use development in Tempe, Arizona, called The Local is under construction following a groundbreaking in July. It will house the first Whole Foods Market 365 store in the state. Located at the intersection of University Drive and Ash Avenue in downtown Tempe, The Local combines a luxury apartment residence with the 365 grocery market. […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Southeast, Suppliers
Meridian Bird Removal Gets Feathered Friends Out Of Stores
by Lorrie Griffith/editor-in-chief A bird inside a retail store can cause thousands of dollars in damage in a short amount of time, so it’s imperative that the manager acts fast to get the bird, or birds, back outside where they belong. The question is who to call. Some try their local humane society, but its […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Online Grocery Technology, Southeast, Supply Chain News
Publix And Instacart Expanding Delivery Service Due To Demand
Nearly a year after they first formed a partnership that covered some stores, Publix and Instacart are gearing up to offer same-day grocery delivery to all Publix customers by 2020. Publix and Instacart began same-day grocery delivery to select customers in July 2016 via delivery.publix.com and instacart.com. Customers have embraced the service, the companies say. Publix […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Southwest
Walmart CEO: We Will Be ‘People-Led And Tech-Empowered’
At Walmart’s 47th Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on Friday, June 2, President and CEO Doug McMillon said Walmart has “started to invent the future of shopping again,” leveraging technology to “empower associates and improve the customer experience.” The goal is to offer the “best prices and great merchandise, while saving customers time and creating a fast, […]
Posted inGrocery News, Bakery News, Food Service News, Home Page Latest News, National, Suppliers
Owens Succeeds Polhill As CEO Of In-Store Bakery Supplier
Phoenix, Arizona-based Café Valley has appointed Brian Owens CEO, effective June 2. Owens succeeded Larry Polhill, Café Valley’s current CEO and president, who assisted in taking the company from a regional bakery to a leading national brand and global supplier during the past 12 years. Today, Café Valley is a global manufacturer of ready-to-eat bakery […]
Posted inProduce News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Perishables, Sustainability News
Hy-Vee Awards $156,000 To Fund Community Gardens
Hy-Vee recently awarded 156 One Step Garden Grants totaling $156,000 to community organizations and Hy-Vee stores as part of the Hy-Vee One Step program. The $1,000 grants will be used to purchase seeds, plants, garden tools and food preservation equipment for community gardens. One Step Garden Grants are given to community gardens that teach those […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Online Grocery Technology, Supply Chain News, West, Whole Foods, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Amazon To Open Fulfillment Center In Fresno, California
Amazon said June 2 that it will open its first fulfillment center in Fresno, California. The Seattle-based online retailer said the center will “continue its growth in California’s Central Valley” and create 1,500 new full-time jobs. The Fresno center will be Amazon’s fifth fulfillment center in the Central Valley, with three operating fulfillment centers located […]
Posted inGrocery News, Bakery News, Food Service News, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
Men Rule At 2017 National Pie Championships; Publix Baker Top Pro
For the first time ever in the American Pie Council (APC) National Pie Championship’s 23-year history, both the Amateur and Professional Divisions’ Best in Show winners were men. The professional winner was Andy Hilton, a Publix baker from Davenport, Florida, who topped the Professional Division with his Dreamy Lemon Pie. Christopher Taylor, an amateur baker […]
Posted inGrocery News, Bakery News, Food Service News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, West
Bashas’ Names 13 Finalists In Donut Flavor Contest
Thirteen kid and teen finalists have been named in Bashas’ Supermarkets’ second annual Donut Flavor Craze Contest. After reviewing more than 100 entries, a team of judges whittled down the field to the 13 finalists–a baker’s dozen. The judges weighed creativity, flavor combination and individuality to choose the finalists. The kids and teens ages 6 to […]
Posted inGrocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, International Foods, Midwest, Perishables, Specialty, Wholesaler/Distributor News
AWG Ramps Up Kenosha D.C. With New Chicago Retailers On Board
Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (AWG) has begun serving additional Chicago-area supermarket retailers, the Kansas City, Kansas-based wholesaler said May 5. With the new Chicagoland business coming on board, AWG is ramping up full-scale deliveries out of its Kenosha, Wisconsin, division—acquired following its merger with Affiliated Foods Midwest (AFM) last October—which will be the main distribution center […]
Posted inGrocery News, Amazon Fresh, Bakery News, C-Store News, Center Store, Home Page Latest News, Snacks Brands, Southeast, Suppliers, Whole Foods
Bud’s Best Cookies Founder Inducted Into Baking Hall Of Fame
Albert L. “Bud” Cason, founder and chairman of Birmingham, Alabama-based Bud’s Best Cookies, was inducted into the Baking Hall of Fame by the American Society of Baking (ASB) during BakeTech2017 in Chicago Feb. 26-28. The award recognizes industry innovation and entrepreneurial spirit as well as organizational growth and development, equipment design and innovation, advancements in […]