“I guess I would say that it is getting harder and harder to hold the line.” That’s the assessment of Grier Bailey, executive director of the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, referring to the livelihoods of smaller retailers in Colorado such as convenience stores and independent grocers. “There aren’t a lot of good things to […]
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 inIndependent Store News, Feature, News, West
Zupan’s Celebrates 50th Anniversary In Portland, OR
Zupan’s Markets is celebrating its 50th anniversary all year long. “We’re proud of our family’s legacy and deeply grateful for the customers, associates and partners who’ve supported us over the years,” said Mike Zupan, president and CEO. “This milestone is as much theirs to celebrate as it is ours.” Zupan’s, operating three gourmet markets in […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, West
Ray’s Food Place Filling Grocery Needs Of Happy Camp, CA
Happy Camp, California, sits about as far north in California as one can go. The Siskiyou County town – population about 900 – sits in the middle of the Klamath National Forest, on the banks of the Klamath River. The memorable name of the town, legend has it, was bestowed by a prospector who found […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, News, West
Legislation Impacting Grocers Across California Coming From Many Directions
Ron Fong, president and CEO of the California Grocers Association, has his hands full. Legislation impacting his membership has been wide-ranging and ongoing this year, from immigration and SNAP to self-checkouts and even shopping cart retrieval. As of this publication date, the California legislature had reconvened for two weeks to try and come to a […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, News, Southeast
SNAP, HDCPs, EPR Among Top Issues In Tennessee’s 2025 Legislative Session
The 2025 state legislative session in Tennessee involved some heated battles to try and protect the interests of grocery and convenience stores. Some battles were won; others were lost. Rob Ikard, president and CEO of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association, provided a roundup from the 114th Tennessee General Assembly that ended April 22, […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Independent Store News, News, Southeast
Chappell’s Third-Generation Leaders Carrying Strong Legacy Forward
Chappell’s Home Town Foods was born in Middle Tennessee in 1962, when Chappell’s Cee Bee in Hilltop, just outside Clarksville, opened its doors. Founder Jack Chappell and his wife, Kate, worked for two years straight, opening and closing the store every day, until they were able to open a second location in 1964 in Charlotte. […]
Posted inGrocery Research, Association News, National, News
FMI Briefing Sheds Light On Likely Impacts Of Tariffs
U.S. grocery shoppers remain highly price-conscious, and 55 percent say tariffs are their top concern, according to FMI’s August 2025 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends report. The tariffs, however, have yet to be fully felt at the shelf. “Over the next three, six, nine, 12 months, we will see those factors filter into food prices pretty […]
Posted inAnniversary Issues, Corporate Store News, Feature, News, West
Pavilions Stores Specialize In Selection Of Stellar Wines, Liquors
“There’s no other supermarket in Southern California that carries the selections and the varieties that we’re able to get in Pavilions.” That’s how Wayne Heaton, VP and GM of the Pavilions banner, describes the stores’ wine and liquor offerings. He credits Phil Markert for stewarding those departments so well. “We have a very special director […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, Northeast
Minier’s Unlikely Mix – Meat Destination With ‘Pottery Barn’ Feel In Big Flats, NY
Minier’s has a long, rich history, stretching back to the 1870s when Henry Minier opened a general store in Big Flats, New York, in the state’s Southern Tier. That store was about half a mile from where Minier’s full-service supermarket sits today at 84 Canal St. The family-owned store, known as Minier’s Neighborhood Meat Store […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southwest
Past Inflation, Current Tariffs Driving Shoppers To Seek Best Deals In U.S., Mexico
U.S. grocery shoppers continue to battle to affordably feed their families, wherever they live. From inflation following the COVID-19 pandemic to tariffs going into effect under the new presidential administration, prices are driving shoppers to form new habits and/or make some tough decisions. In towns along the U.S. border with Mexico – located in the […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, News, Northeast
Orange May Not Have Lock On Future Shelf Tag Color In Massachusetts
In late May, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced she was eliminating outdated regulations to save businesses and business owners time and money. The change that affects grocers in the commonwealth was the overhaul of unit price disclosure requirements that had not been adjusted since the 1990s. Brian Houghton, SVP of government affairs and communications at […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, Northeast
Cape Cod’s Ring Bros. Marketplace Staying Fresh In Offerings, Branding
Ring Bros. Marketplace got its start 100 years ago, when teenager Stephen Ring Sr. and his older brother, Edmund, sold produce from a horse-drawn wagon on the streets of Boston. Later, Stephen Sr. would take his sons, Ed and Stephen Jr., along to help. The sons eventually made the business their life’s work, like their […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southwest
Grocers Large, Small Serving Shoppers In ‘Strong And Growing’ South Texas
While H-E-B and Walmart garner a large portion of grocery dollars in the South Texas market, independent grocers play a vital role as well, especially in the large number of smaller towns that dot the landscape. For chains and independents alike, South Texas has a number of upsides. Grocery stores provide good, steady jobs in […]
Posted inDairy News, Feature, Northeast, West
French Yogurt Brand La Fermière Fortifies U.S. Operations
Since entering the U.S. market eight years ago, French yogurt company La Fermière has maintained a 35-40 percent year-over-year growth rate. In 2024, the brand sold about 16 million ceramic pots of yogurt and oven-baked crème desserts. The company has a manufacturing plant in New York, as well as a newly opened West Coast facility […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Independent Store News, News, Northeast
Marty’s 1st Stop On Cusp Of Major Expansion In Danville, VT
Sometimes a career change comes when one sees the handwriting on the wall. For Marty Beattie, this happened in 1989. Vermont farms were going out of business, and he was working for a grain company. He had invested 15 years in that industry, but he knew he needed to pivot to something with a brighter […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southeast
Still Much Work To Do As Western NC Continues Helene Recovery
In the last weeks of April, roughly seven months after Hurricane Helene ripped through Western North Carolina, new federal and state grant programs were rolled out to help the area continue on the path toward recovery. On April 25, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southeast
New Potential Shoppers Continue To Pour Into North Carolina
North Carolina grocers have great incentive to keep their stores and product offerings at the top of their game – new customers coming into the state who have no pre-existing loyalty. Lindsey Kueffner, executive director of the Carolinas Food Industry Council, which covers both North Carolina and South Carolina, said that North Carolina’s population has […]
Posted inDeli News, Feature, News, Northeast
Caraluzzi’s Commits To Taking Back Sandwich Biz
Caraluzzi’s Markets made a proactive decision to take back the sandwich business that it was seeing migrate to franchise sandwich shops in the areas around its four stores in Connecticut. Mark Caraluzzi, president and CEO of the family-owned company that has been in business for 75-plus years, said that in the past, customers knew they […]
Posted inDairy News, Bakery News, Deli News, Feature, National, News
Consumers Carry High Expectations When Making Dairy Purchasing Decisions
Product quality is the most critical factor in consumers’ dairy product purchasing decisions. That’s according to a March article from Innova Market Insights based on its Top Trends 2025: Dairy & Dairy Alternatives – Global report. Dairy products play an essential role in global diets, providing vital nutrients like calcium and protein while promoting overall […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, Southwest
Mother, Daughters Aspire To Serve More Houston Food Deserts
Eladia Ayala has had an affinity for food since she was a young girl in Mexico in the 1970s. She started cooking early, having closely watched her mother create dishes like tamales and tacos and whip up frozen sweets. Eventually, she sold her own creations at her town’s central market on Saturdays. During the week, […]