Piggly Wiggly Alabama’s Food Show, coming up May 10-11, will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Piggly Wiggly store, which opened Sept. 6, 1916. Piggly Wiggly, which bills itself as America’s first true self-service grocery store, was founded in Memphis, Tennessee, by Clarence Saunders. In grocery stores of that time, shoppers presented their orders […]
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, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, West
Food City Holding Grand Opening ‘Fiesta’ In Phoenix
Food City says Cinco de Mayo will kick off a day early in west Phoenix as it opens the doors of its newly-remodeled location at the northwest corner of McDowell Road and 51st Avenue in Phoenix on Wednesday, May 4. In addition to several food sampling stations throughout the store, shoppers will be treated to […]
Posted in, Center Store, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, National
Impact Of Millennials Explored At Home + Housewares Show
New research from Home Furnishings Network (HFN) on how Millennials make themselves at home was shared at the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago in March. HFN chief brand officer Maureen Azzato opened the session, “How Millennials Make Themselves at Home,” with findings from HFN’s “2016 The Housewares Consumer Speaks” report. “There are now […]
Posted in, Center Store, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National, Suppliers
GMDC Reveals Retail Trends From IHA Show
The Global Market Development Center (GMDC) offered its take on the top four grocery retail sales strategies that emerged from this year’s International Home + Housewares Show that will drive the industry of tomorrow. “Next practices” for how retailers can start creating the store of the future and win more sales were discussed throughout the […]
Posted in, Deli News, Food Service News, Home Page Latest News, Southeast, Suppliers
Everest Climber Speaks At RFA’s Annual Conference
Ed Viesturs, the only American climber who successfully reached the summits of all the world’s 14 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen, kicked off the Refrigerated Foods Association’s 36th Annual Conference in March with his lessons on risk management and patience. The conference was March 6-9 at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida. Viesturs’ […]
Posted in, Center Store, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Northeast, Suppliers
CEO Gamgort Leaving Pinnacle Foods
Pinnacle Foods’ CEO Robert J. “Bob” Gamgort will leave the company at the end of April and become CEO of Keurig Green Mountain in Waterbury, Vermont. Gamgort, who also is a board member, has served as CEO of Parsippany, New Jersey-based Pinnacle since July 2009. The Pinnacle board is seeking a new CEO, evaluating both […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, West
Raley’s Named Official Grocery Partner Of NBA’s Kings
Raley’s Family of Fine Stores has been named the official grocery partner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. The two organizations say they share a commitment to encourage health and wellness in Northern California residents. So as the Kings move into their newly built arena, Raley’s will join Golden 1 Center with two concessions kiosks that […]
Posted in, Dairy News, Home Page Latest News, West
Bashas’ Going Cage-Free With Its Private Label Eggs This Year
Bashas’ will begin transitioning all of its private-label Bashas’-branded eggs to cage-free eggs starting this fall. The Chandler, Arizona-based chain, which will launch its cage-free-egg changeover this November, says it will be the first mainstream grocer in Arizona to make the transition with its own brand of eggs. “We are committed to being a good […]
Posted in, Executive News, Independent Store News, National
NGA Promotes Four Executives
The National Grocers Association (NGA) on Jan. 11 announced the promotions of four of its staff members. NGA, an Arlington, Virginia-based national trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, promoted Greg Ferrara to SVP-government relations and public affairs; Matthew Ott to COO; Maggie Lyons to senior director of government relations; and Laura Strange to senior […]
Posted in, Center Store, Frozen Food, Southwest
Blue Bell: No Listeria Discovered In Plants
To proactively communicate with customers about its efforts to keep its production facilities free of potential sources of contamination, Blue Bell sent out a press release Jan. 7 to outline what it is doing. Unfortunately, some of the company’s statements were misinterpreted by a large enough number of media outlets that Blue Bell was prompted […]
Posted in, Beverage News, C-Store News, Southwest
7-Eleven Offers Own-Brand Single-Serve Coffee Pods
More than 50 years after 7-Eleven pioneered on-the-go-coffee in the U.S., the Dallas, Texas-based retailer has launched 7-Eleven-branded coffee for single-serve brewing systems. Sold exclusively at participating 7-Eleven stores, the single-serve brew cups are available in two package sizes—an eight-pack for $3.99 and a two-pack for 99 cents. The larger packs are available in three […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, West
NorCal Chains Reach Tentative Agreements With Union
UFCW 8-Golden State has reached tentative contract agreements with both Safeway and Vons in California markets, the union announced Sept. 23. The tentative agreements were signed with Safeway stores in Northern and Central California and Vons in Fresno. The four-year agreement with Safeway “protects and enhances” the wages, benefits and workplace standards for about 9,000 […]
Posted in, Center Store, Midwest, Suppliers
Mars Chocolate Investing $100M More In Topeka
Mars Chocolate North America will invest an additional $100 million at its Topeka, Kansas, manufacturing plant that opened just over a year ago. Mars will build a new 90,000-s.f. facility, creating 70 permanent full-time jobs. The company says the new investment in Topeka underscores its commitment to manufacturing its products in the U.S. More than […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Advantage, Smollan Form Groundbreaking Global Partnership
Irvine, California-based Advantage Sales & Marketing LLC and Smollan Group announced on June 12 their strategic international partnership to become the first and only global provider of outsourced sales and marketing solutions for consumer goods companies and retailers. Advantage’s more than 40,000 associates in North America provide consumer goods suppliers and retailers with headquarter sales, […]
Posted in, Center Store, Midwest
New Joint Venture Launches New Choice In Canning Jars
Empire Canning Jars, a new joint venture led by Alliance Foods Inc., is being described as “the first new and independent line of true ‘Mason’ jars to reach the retail market in more than 25 years.” Featuring thicker glass than other canning jars in the lip, shoulder, wall and base areas—as well as 100 percent […]
Posted in, West
Triple Crown-Winning Jockey A Longtime City Of Hope Supporter
On June 6, jockey Victor Espinoza and American Pharoah captured the first Triple Crown in American horse racing since 1978, coming out ahead in the Belmont Stakes after having won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Also a winner that day was City of Hope, a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes […]
Posted in, Center Store, Southeast
Venezuelan Cornmeal Brand Comes To The U.S.
P.A.N., the top pre-cooked cornmeal brand in Venezuela and the leading cornmeal product in Latin America, launched its U.S. marketing efforts June 9 to inspire American foodies to try the brand and make it a pantry staple. P.A.N., short for Productos Alimenticios Nacionales (National Food Products), was launched in Venezuela in 1960 by Empresas Polar. […]
Posted in, Center Store, West
Save Mart, Lucky Stores Again Collecting Peanut Butter
Save Mart and Lucky Supermarkets supermarkets have kicked off the “Peanut Butter with a Purpose” partnership with food banks throughout California and Northern Nevada to collect donations of peanut butter and raise awareness of the struggle many families have feeding their children during the summer months. Last year, food banks throughout the region received more […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Walmart CEO Tells Associates: ‘You Are Our Heroes’
On June 5 during the company’s annual shareholders meeting, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. President and CEO Doug McMillon challenged the company’s more than 2 million associates to win the future of retail “one customer at a time.” He then shared his strategy to attain that goal: “We’ll save customers money on their everyday needs with an […]
Posted in, C-Store News, Store News, West
N.Y.-Based Getty Realty Acquires 77 Fuel/C-Stores In West
Getty Realty Corp. in Jericho, New York, has acquired 77 convenience store and retail motor fuel stations located in several high-growth regions in the western U.S. for approximately $214 million. The acquired properties operate under well-known brands such as 76, Conoco, Circle K, 7-Eleven and My Goods Market and are located in Northern California, Southern […]