Associated Food Stores (AFS) staff members recently donated time and effort to put together care packages for Utah’s homeless teens. AFS, the locally owned grocery supplier in Salt Lake City, donated 750 personal care kits to the Volunteers of America (VOA) Homeless Youth Resource Center on Wednesday, May 20. The kits contain basic hygiene items […]
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.
Michael Teel Becomes Majority Owner Of Raley’s
A May 18 statement from Jim and Joyce Raley Teel revealed that the couple will transfer majority ownership of Raley’s Family of Fine Stores to their son, Michael Teel, who is president and CEO. Michael is the third generation owner of the family business. His four sisters will hold minority ownership of the West Sacramento, […]
Memorial Service For Save Mart’s Piccinini Is April 11
A memorial service for Mr. Robert “Bob” Piccinini, owner of the Save Mart chain of stores in Northern California, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at CrossPoint Community Church, 1301 12th Street, Modesto. Mr. Piccinini died March 24 at his home in Modesto. He was 73. The Modesto Bee reported that Mr. Piccinini’s health […]
Sheetz’s 500th Store Opening Feb. 24 In North Carolina
Sheetz will celebrate the opening of its 500th store Feb. 24 with free coffee at all its stores. At the 500th location, at 1810 Liberty Drive in Thomasville, North Carolina, a grand opening event will take place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 24. “Sheetz is experiencing exponential growth, and this marks a significant milestone, not […]
Believe In Heroes Campaign Raises $21M+ For Wounded Warrior Project
Jacksonville, Florida-based Acosta Sales & Marketing has reported that the 2014 “Believe in Heroes” campaign raised $5,765,292 in support of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). This donation brings the cause marketing campaign’s total contributions to more than $21 million since Acosta founded the program five years ago. WWP is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to […]
Bi-Lo Hires International Exec As President/CEO
At the end of the day Thursday, Jan. 22, Bi-Lo Holdings announced its choice for its new president and CEO. Ian McLeod, whose 30-year career in the food industry includes overseeing more than 2,000 Coles stores in Australia, will become president and CEO of Jacksonville, Florida-based Bi-Lo Holdings on March 2, the same day current president and […]
Fresh Summit Contest Spotlights Healthy Eating For Kids
Students from the Walker Junior High School in La Palma, California, will put 10 produce-centric recipes to the test at the 4th annual PMA Fresh Summit Sensory Experience Contest this coming Friday, Oct. 17. The contest, sponsored by Bolthouse Farms and supported by Disney Consumer Products, features the top 10 recipes submitted by exhibitors. They […]
Mi Pueblos In NorCal Offering All Western Union Services
Mi Pueblo Food Centers has partnered with Western Union to offer shoppers access to Western Union Money Transfer®, money order and bill payment. The services are available at Mi Pueblo stores in the Bay Area, Monterey Peninsula and Central Valley of California. The collaboration is part of Western Union’s efforts to strengthen its independent retail […]
Another Limited Batch Flavor Launched By Tribe
Tribe’s latest Limited Batch hummus flavor, Herb Infused Olive Oil, hits grocery store shelves this week. The company says this latest product “has a bold taste that is both rustic and refined.” It combines Tribe’s Classic hummus with za’atar, a mixture of sumac, sesame seed and herbs frequently used in Mediterranean foods. It is then […]
NGA, PBH Partner For Dietitian Education
The Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) and the National Grocers Association (NGA) this morning announced a newly formed partnership between the two organizations focused on the continuing education of supermarket dietitians within independent and small retail chains and wholesale grocers. One outgrowth of the new partnership is dedicated educational and networking events during the […]
Mondelez Names Advertising Veteran SVP/CMO
Dana Anderson was named SVP and chief marketing officer (CMO) for Mondelez International, Deerfield, Ill., today. Mondelez is a snack maker whose portfolio includes nine brands that each generates more than $1 billion in revenues. Anderson, 60, will be accountable for the company’s global portfolio of advertising, media and marketing partners and oversee the teams […]
Popchips Launches First-Ever National Television Campaign
Popchips Launches First-Ever National Television Campaign Sept. 22 was the launch date for Popchips’ first national TV campaign, in which it shares the “magic” of its creation of popped potato and veggie chips that have “all the flavor and half the fat of a greasy, fried chip.” The campaign is called “the popchips way.” The […]
Stukenberg Named Retail Marketing Director At CAC
The California Avocado Commission (CAC) announced Tuesday that produce veteran Connie Stukenberg has returned to the commission staff full-time as retail marketing director. Stukenberg, who had worked on CAC’s merchandising staff from 2000-09, then continued her affiliation with the commission as part of her own business consultancy, CS Sales and Marketing for Results. She rejoined […]
CGAEF, Cal Poly State Partner To Bolster Grocery Workforce
In a historic partnership to strengthen California’s future grocery industry workforce, the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation (CGAEF) has committed to provide scholarships, internship stipends and professional development opportunities to Cal Poly’s Agribusiness Food Retail Management Program (CPAFRM) for the 2015-16 academic year. “By partnering with California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), we can provide […]
Dorer To Succeed Knauss At Helm Of Clorox Co.
Benno Dorer will become CEO of The Clorox Co. on Nov. 20, succeeding CEO Donald R. “Don” Knauss, who will afterward fill the newly created position of executive chairman. Knauss, 63, has served as chairman and CEO of the Oakland, Calif.-based company since October 2006, holding overall responsibility for directing the company’s worldwide business, which […]
Publix, H-E-B Among Companies Honored By March Of Dimes
For their efforts to fund research and programs that promote healthier pregnancies and bring hope and comfort to families with a sick or premature baby, 10 leading companies were honored in mid-September by the March of Dimes. “We celebrate the important role your company, your employees and your customers have played in the success of […]
Kroger Opens 2,000th Fuel Center Location
With three openings in the Southeast last week, The Kroger Co. has reached the 2,000 mark in terms of fuel centers. The total comprises 1,275 supermarket fuel centers and 725 convenience stores with fuel. The new fuel centers opened in Abingdon, Va., Decatur, Ga., and Louisville, Ky. Kroger has rewarded customers with savings on fuel […]
SFA Adds Retailer Network Committee Members
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has elected four members to its Retailer Network Committee for a two-year term. “The committee’s mission is to build a community of specialty food merchants that facilitates communications and relationships among all constituents in our industry and helps all segments to grow and succeed,” according to Ron Tanner, VP of […]
Cauliflower Crust Pizza Launching Nationally
Bayonne, N.J.-based Absolutely Gluten Free Foods is introducing a flourless, cauliflower crust gluten-free pizza, which will be hitting supermarket shelves in August. Absolutely Gluten Free pizzas are available in two varieties: Mozzarella and Non Dairy Mozzarella Style topping. Individual pizzas are just 57 calories each and contain only 1.7 grams of fat or 2.0 grams […]
Price Chopper Adds Food Rewards To Chopper Shopper Card
This month Price Chopper is adding more choices to its popular Chopper Shopper Rewards Card. Now, shoppers can choose between the existing fuel program or switch to the new food program, the Kansas-based grocer said July 11. With the Chopper Shopper Rewards program, every dollar the customer spends at Price Chopper earns points. For the […]
