United Fresh is bringing back its retail-foodservice speed dating sessions as part of the offerings of United Fresh LIVE! 365, and timed with the 2020 Washington Conference, Sept. 21-23. Vendors who participate will be guaranteed 10 meetings, 15-minutes each, with retail and foodservice companies looking for new partners and products. More than 20 retailers and […]
Author Archives: Mary Margaret Stewart
Mary Margaret is a former Staff Writer at The Shelby Report.
Posted inGuest Contributors, Home Page Slider, National
HR & Benefits: Essential Grocery Store Workers Feeling Mental Health Toll Of Pandemic
by Chris Cooley / co-founder, MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors Grocery stores have seen unusual demands and challenges during the coronavirus pandemic. Their employees are considered essential and have worked hard during this time restocking shelves, putting in additional hours and dealing with consumers so they can have the items they need to survive. In […]
Posted inShelby Originals, COVID News, Home Page Latest News, National
FMI Foundation Exec Sees U.S. Shifting Back To ‘Cooking Culture’
Webinar explored habits at home during pandemic by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer To David Fikes, executive director of the FMI Foundation, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a transformational effect on U.S. kitchens, with more people using their time to cook. “Some would say that it has reversed the trend of America from being an eating […]
Posted inCOVID News, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Northeast, Shelby Originals
Market Profile: Dave’s Fresh Marketplace Stays Nimble During Pandemic
by John McCurry, contributing writer Susan Budlong has worked at Dave’s Fresh Marketplace in Rhode Island for 24 years, currently serving as the independent grocery chain’s director of marketing and communications. Budlong also sits on the executive committee and the board of directors of the Rhode Island Food Dealers Association. She has a clear view […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Southeast
Profile: Meet Katie Hotze, Founder And CEO Of Grocery Shopii
The Shelby Report and The Grocery Group together present this series, People to Watch, to focus on current and future leadership in the grocery industry. In this installment, The Grocery Group Founder and CEO Cindy Sorenson interviews Katie Hotze, founder and CEO of Grocery Shopii. Tell me a little bit about you and what do […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, Southwest
Market Profile: AGRMA Says Success May Hinge On Online Experience
by John McCurry, contributing writer Charlie Spakes, executive director of the Arkansas Grocery and Retail Merchants Association, AGRMA, said the future success of independent grocers may depend largely on how quickly they can adapt to online ordering. “They probably would have liked more time to get ready and get adapted before this whole [COVID-19] crisis […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, Southwest
Market Profile: Allen’s Foods Cultivates Camaraderie Within Caring Community
Bella Vista is a city of about 31,000 in the northwest corner of Arkansas, some seven miles south of the Missouri line. It lies in the middle of a resort area with a large number of retirees and also serves as a bedroom community to nearby Bentonville, home of Walmart’s headquarters. Serving the Bella Vista […]
Posted inCOVID News, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, Southeast
Market Profile: Cash Saver Adds Fourth Store In Memphis Area
Shoppers tired of pandemic, but that ‘does not make it go away’ by John McCurry, contributing writer Rick James, owner and CEO of Castle Group, based in Memphis, operates four Cash Saver stores. That includes the recent acquisition of a store that closed in April due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The stores have performed well so […]
Posted inCOVID News, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, Southeast
Market Profile: TGCSA-Backed Talent Exchange Connected Laid-Off Workers
by John McCurry, contributing writer With areas of the economy – notably hospitality – hit hard by the pandemic, the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association worked with the Tennessee Department of Tourism to connect laid-off hotel and laid-off restaurant workers with jobs in the grocery industry, which was scrambling to find workers. Rob Ikard, […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Home Page Slider, Southeast
Food Lion Expanding Pickup Service To Make Shopping Easier
Salisbury, North Carolina-based Food Lion has added its Food Lion To-Go grocery pickup service at 38 new stores in North Carolina and Virginia, as of July 27. Customers can use the Food Lion To-Go website or the Food Lion To-Go app to confirm availability and place orders. “Expanding this convenient service to additional Food Lion stores is […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Slider, Northeast, Whole Foods
CitrusAd Delivers Ad Network Growth Spanning 23,350 Retail Stores
New York-based CitrusAd has taken on the additional role of media sales sparking growth for the entire e-commerce ad network. The CitrusAd network has catapulted from reaching 968 retail stores to 23,350 retail stores within just three months, representing nearly $180 billion in sales. CitrusAd expanded its ad network coverage by bringing more media partners […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Pillsbury Cookie, Brownie Dough Now Safe To Eat Raw
This summer, Pillsbury is introducing refrigerated cookie and brownie dough that is now “safe to eat raw,” as marked by a seal on packaging, or baked, as always. To celebrate the news, Pillsbury is partnering with Haylie Duff, actress and mom of two, to encourage parents to have fun surprising their kids in a #SayYesChallenge. Now through […]
Posted inCOVID News, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, West
Market Profile: Pandemic’s Efforts Stretch From Bay Area To Oregon Line
by Cynthia Weifenbach, contributing writer The grocery industry has been at the forefront of feeding Northern California communities and doing its best to provide safe environments throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, not unlike other areas of the country, there are differences even within the region, such as San Francisco Bay and Sacramento. “We have these patches,” […]
Posted inExecutive News, Home Page Slider, Southeast
Countertop Productions Recently Appointed Cliff Caldwell To EVP
Alexandria, Virginia-based Countertop Productions recently announced the appointment of Cliff Caldwell to EVP, effective June 29, 2020, in an effort to intensify its goal to grow a presence in grocery retail, wholesale and food service, says the company. Caldwell is based out of the company’s national sales office in Atlanta, Georgia. As EVP, Caldwell will […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Home Page Slider, West
Alden’s Launches Peppermint Twist, Pumpkin Cheesecake For Holidays
Eugene, Oregon-based Alden’s Organic is launching two limited-edition ice creams, Peppermint Twist and Pumpkin Cheesecake, for the holiday season. The brand is pairing rich cheesecake ice cream with their classic pumpkin and adding peppermint candy pieces to their organic peppermint bark ice cream. The limited-edition ice creams will hit shelves this fall at Sprouts, Raley’s, […]
Posted inPlant-Based News, Home Page Slider, Northeast
Northeast Plant-Based Offerings Can Become ‘A Way Of Life Really Fast’
by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Ben Davis had a goal. He wanted to expand the marketplace and bring the plant-based industry together to share brands, products and education. For him and the many others committing to plant-based diets, it’s a movement. “Eating plant-based gives people a lot of power in their own daily choices,” […]
Posted inPlant-Based News, Home Page Slider, Southwest
Colorado-Based Natural Grocers Among Pioneers Of Meat Alternatives
by John McCurry / contributing writer Are plant-based substitutes for meat, dairy and other animal products morphing from trend to staple? Some of the sector’s proponents believe so. These alternatives point to soaring sales over the past two years and increased interest from venture capitalists in investing in startups. “Consumers now more than ever are […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Southeast
Assoc. Grocers CEO With Optimistic Outlook Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
by John McCurry / contributing writer Overall, grocers in Louisiana and Mississippi have handled the coronavirus pandemic well. That’s the assessment of Manard Lagasse, president and CEO of Baton Rouge-based Associated Grocers. Associated Grocers provides resources and support for more than 200 independent grocers in those states and Texas. “Obviously, there have been some issues […]
Posted inPlant-Based News, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Originals, Southeast
No Evil Foods, ANF Feed Growing Appetite For Plant-Based Products
by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer For Mike Wolianksy and Sadrah Schadel the journey to running No Evil Foods, a plant-based meat company in Asheville, North Carolina, began with the homesteading life in upstate New York. “We just were doing as much as we could from scratch because we wanted to try to know more […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Executive News, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Tyson Names Worpel Director Of Fresh Meats Marketing
Tyson Fresh Meats has appointed Ozlem Worpel the new director of Fresh Meats marketing, a promotion from her previous position of senior brand manager. Worpel will be responsible for leading the organization’s strategic direction across the Fresh Meats brand portfolio, developing new product lines and brand identities. She will also provide direction on a comprehensive sales […]