The Department of Labor’s new overtime ruling officially will be issued today, May 18. However, many of the pertinent facts were leaked yesterday, according to Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge, who provided this information to The Shelby Report. The final ruling will: • Increase the overtime exemption from $23,660 to $47,476. The exemption level is […]
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.
NACS, Pinnacle Launch First Skimming Defense App
Fuel dispenser security is of great concern for the convenience store industry. Approximately 39 million Americans fill up their gas tanks every day, and fuel dispensers have become one of many targets for thieves looking to steal credit and debit card information by “skimming,” an aggressive tactic used to illegally obtain consumer card data for […]
USC FIM Capstone Team: Bring Store Technology Into 21st Century
Team Invisible Hands, one of two USC Food Industry Management (FIM) Program teams chosen to present their capstone projects at the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) convention in April in Hawaii, wants to drastically change the way grocery stores operate. With the rise of online and high-tech retailers like Amazon, the average brick-and-mortar grocer […]
Krispy Kreme Signs Distributor To Serve C-Stores Nationally
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. has entered a partnership with TSW Foods LLC to bring Krispy Kreme brand packaged goods like snack bags, honey buns and single-serve pies to convenience stores across the U.S. The products will join Krispy Kreme Doughnuts’ other primarily yeast sweet treats already available via direct store delivery in more than 5,000 […]
Stater Bros. Charities To Send 1,000 Care Packages On Armed Forces Day
More than 200 members of the Stater Bros. “family” of employees, friends and suppliers as well as representatives from Operation Community Cares, a local organization that supports the U.S. troops, will gather to prepare 1,000 care packages for local military members currently serving overseas in celebration of Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 21. The event […]
Tic Tac Minion Mints Back By Popular Demand
Minion Mints, based on the comical characters from the “Despicable Me” movies, have returned after a highly successful run last summer. Tic Tac received an overwhelming response when it launched the mints for a limited time last year. Social media was buzzing with tips on where to purchase the mints, as stock flew off the […]
CST Brands Selling Stores In Two Western States To 7-Eleven
San Antonio, Texas-based CST Brands, which is in the midst of exploring its strategic alternatives, said May 5 that it has agreed to sell its 79 stores in California and Wyoming to 7-Eleven and its wholly-owned subsidiary, SEI Fuel Services Inc. The transaction involves 76 stores in California and three in Wyoming. The purchase price […]
Smart & Final’s Net Sales Up Double Digits In 1Q
Smart & Final Stores, the value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer, reported May 3 that its net sales increased 10.5 percent to $908.5 million in the 12-week first quarter ended March 27. Its comparable store sales growth was 2 percent, and it operated 290 stores at quarter-end, including 143 Smart & Final Extra! stores, which […]
Whole Foods Market Announces Upcoming Store Locations
In its second quarter earnings report, Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market said it has signed leases for six new stores and renegotiated leases for three of its stores in development to be 365 by Whole Foods Market stores instead of traditional Whole Foods Markets. The new leases for Whole Foods Market stores include Santa Monica, […]
Marquez Bros. Mexican Products: Healthy and Authentic…Si!
by Sudie Crouch/contributing writer Marquez Brothers International Inc. is known for authentic, traditional Mexican products in several categories—dairy, canned and dry as well as meat products under several brands, including its El Mexicano® flagship brand. The products are distributed across the U.S., with distribution hubs in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Chicago and Atlanta. Even […]
Kellogg Brands Add Breakfast, Snack Choices
Kellogg Co. brands like Raisin Bran, Pop-Tarts, Special K and Cheez-It are launching new items this spring. Battle Creek, Michigan-based Kellogg says that “the new products reflect people’s desire for wholesome foods with recognizable ingredients, the need for convenient options and the continued wish for food that is fun and delicious.” The Kellogg’s Raisin Bran […]
Hershey Rolling Out Simply 5 Syrup
The Hershey Co. is introducing Simply 5 Syrup, a new, five-ingredient take on its classic that has no high-fructose corn syrup or artificial preservatives and flavors, and is made from non-GMO ingredients. It rolls out in May. “People are looking for products that taste great and have ingredients that they recognize, know and trust,” said […]
Piggly Wiggly Ala. Food Show Celebrates Piggly Wiggly’s 100th
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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’ […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
