Mark Caraluzzi is president and CEO of Caraluzzi’s Markets, a family-owned operator of four food stores in Connecticut – Bethel, Georgetown (Wilton), Newtown and Danbury. Caraluzzi is a member of the third generation of ownership of the company, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year. His grandfather, Anthony Caraluzzi Sr., bought Bethel Fruit & Vegetable […]
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 inMarket Profile, News, Southwest
Houston Continues To Experience Growth Of All Kinds
Houston continues to be one of the most vibrant, growing areas of Texas. The Greater Houston Partnership in December released its forecast for job growth in the metro Houston area – 71,200 are projected to be added this year. If that pans out, Houston would finish the year with more than 3.5 million payroll jobs, […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southwest
Founder Of Houston’s Little Red Box Grocery Continues Food-Access Mission
Sam Newman was fresh out of a meeting with the Houston Downtown Management District when The Shelby Report of the Southwest caught up with him April 1. That meeting involved his mission to connect people and fresh food in areas where those connections currently aren’t being made. Newman’s mission started to take form after he […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, Southeast
B&T’s Food Fresh Market Exemplifies Independent Spirit
John Triplett is co-owner of B&T’s Food Fresh Market – a growing independent grocery company with 11 locations in Georgia and South Carolina and more planned – with Clark Brunson. The two are self-described “conservative entrepreneurs” and own other businesses in addition to raising young families. Triplett also is a vocal proponent for tort reform […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, West
At Family-Run Goodwin & Sons In California, Stores ‘Positioned To Serve’ Their Communities
Michael Johnstone, VP of Goodwin & Sons Inc., is a fourth-generation grocer and great-grandson of the company’s founder. He responded to questions from The Shelby Report’s Lorrie Griffith about the grocer’s four stores, three of which are located in Southern California. To start off, tell me about you – your title and history with […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Independent Store News, Market Profile, News, West
Wildfire-Impacted Areas In SoCal On Long Road To Recovery, But Resilience Evident
According to the CA.gov website, cleanup after the January wildfires in Southern California currently is in phase 2. Phase 1, which involved the removal of household hazardous waste, was completed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency less than a month after the fires were contained Jan. 31. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took over […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, Southeast
Family-Owned Milam’s Markets Reflects Metro Miami’s Culture
Milam’s Markets’ foundation was laid in 1984 in a Piggly Wiggly store at the corner of Red and Bird roads in Miami. The store is still in operation, and five more have opened over the 40-plus years since then. Kristie Milam Guzman, chief marketing officer and director of real estate for Milam’s Markets, is a […]
Posted inOrganic Natural, Association News, Feature, National, News
Beyond Organic: CEO On Redefining Health, Industry Honesty
Karen Howard has served as CEO and executive director of Organic & Natural Health Association in Washington, D.C., since its inception in 2014. She has championed causes such as defining the term “natural,” promoting quality manufacturing, ensuring traceable sourcing, advancing regenerative farming, advocating for sustainable practices, addressing nutrient deficiencies and propelling vitamin D research and […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
South Florida Region Is Fastest Growing Market In State
The 2025 Florida State Economic Outlook from Comerica indicates the state’s economic expansion, which boomed in the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, will slow down this year but still outpace the national economy. The report said that “employment growth, a key pillar of Florida’s success in recent years, is set to moderate in 2025, […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, Feature, National, News, Private Label Brands
FMI Committees Doing Important Work On Private Brands, AI, Asset Protection
Doug Baker, VP of industry relations for FMI – The Food Industry Association, spoke to The Shelby Report during the association’s recent Midwinter Executive Conference on Marco Island, Florida. Baker touched on three topics that are of interest to FMI’s membership and the food industry as a whole – private brands, technology advancements and asset […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Northeast
Delaware’s Harvest Market Thriving As 30th Anniversary Approaches
A college assignment helped steer Bob Kleszics into a career in the grocery business. Founder and CEO of Harvest Market in Hockessin, Delaware, Kleszics was an anthropology major at the University of Delaware in 1979 when he took a field methods class. For the course, the student goes outside the classroom and into a group’s […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
‘Modest’ Describes Current, Future Growth In Delaware
The Delaware economy has been on a gradual growth trajectory over the past five years. According to researcher IbisWorld, the population has grown 1.3 percent leading up to 2025, reaching just under 1.06 million. Its gross state product reached $76.3 billion by the beginning of the year, reflecting 1.0 percent growth over five years, and […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Independent Store News, Southwest
Destination Grocery Store To Open At New Address In Marathon, TX
Some grocers are born into the business and some choose it. Some just seem to have it in their blood and are able to create not just stores, but destinations. Sam Stavinoha has created such a place in the tiny West Texas town of Marathon, a stop on the way south to Big Bend National […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Southwest
West Texas Economy Growing But Still Relies On Oil/Gas Fortunes
Gary Huddleston has a rich history in the grocery business, serving nearly 45 years as director of consumer affairs at Kroger and today continuing his service as a grocery industry consultant for the Texas Retailers Association. TRA represents retail companies across Texas, including national, regional, state and main street grocery, mass, home improvement, pharmacy and […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, National
IGA Chief Talks Top Independents, Herculean Wholesalers, Fighting Food Deserts
IGA stores range from 10,000 to 100,000 square feet and are located in big cities, small towns and everywhere in between. But John Ross, president and CEO of IGA, has observed some attributes shared by retailers that achieve the alliance’s highest honor, IGA USA Retailer of the Year. They all begin with C: Curiosity: “When […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, West
Steady Growth In Economy, Population On Horizon In Arizona
Lisa Bednar was promoted to president of the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance last year, taking the helm April 1. She is the first female president in the 80-plus-year history of AFMA. Bednar was promoted from her role as AFMA senior director of community and education, which she had held since February 2022 and was responsible […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, West
Los Altos Ranch Markets’ Growth In Phoenix Area Comes Via Brand Loyalty
The seven Los Altos Ranch Markets in and around Phoenix served more than 6 million customers last year. That number speaks to the affinity shoppers have for the banner, according to Prabash Coswatte, chief operating officer of Los Altos’ parent company, Heritage Grocers Group, based in Ontario, California. The first Los Altos store in Phoenix […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, Southeast
GFIA’s Kuzava Gives Updates On Impact Of Bird Flu, New Administration, Tort Reform
Kathy Kuzava, president of the Georgia Food Industry Association, took time out during one of her busiest seasons of the year – the legislative session that just got underway – to share her thoughts on several issues with existing, or potential, impact on Peach State grocers. Can you tell us the latest on the […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
Georgia’s Favorable Business Climate Beneficial For Food Retailers
Georgia was named the No. 1 state for Best Business Climate in a survey of site selection experts. Results of the survey, published by Site Selection Magazine, were announced in January. Those who responded to the survey choose where to create jobs and invest capital. With Georgia’s favorable business climate has come a steady stream […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, Market Profile, Northeast
More Food Markets Sought Across Washington, D.C.
The Washington, D.C., Economic Partnership, a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes sustainable, equitable and inclusive economic development, says grocery stores and other food markets continue to be sought-after in the District. “Grocery stores are in high demand in Washington, D.C., due to an increasing population and a focus on investments that provide fresh food options in […]