Collegedale, Tennessee-based McKee Foods, the maker of Little Debbie snacks, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake. Known for its signature yellow cake, creme filling and red and green sprinkles, the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake has grown from a limited holiday offering into a seasonal symbol. “For 40 years, […]
Author Archives: Shelby Report Staff
The Shelby Report newsroom covers the grocery industry for retailers, wholesalers and suppliers. Staff reports include store openings, executive appointments, company announcements and industry event coverage. Since 1967, The Shelby Report has covered supermarkets, grocery chains and independent grocers through five regional editions.
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Tops Friendly Markets
Northeast Grocery Inc. Upgrades Website, Apps With Instacart Storefront Pro
Northeast Grocery Inc. has launched redesigned websites and mobile apps for its Market 32, Price Chopper and Tops Markets banners, powered by Instacart’s Storefront Pro, the company’s white-label e-commerce technology. The upgraded platforms provide a customer-friendly, personalized digital shopping experience and are designed with customers at the center. They aim to simplify navigation, making search and […]
Posted inBakery News, News, Southwest
Mission Foods Adds Zero Net Carbs Spinach Tortillas To Product Lineup
Mission Foods has expanded its better-for-you product line with Zero Net Carbs Spinach Tortillas. The soft taco-sized tortillas offer flavor and nutrition for consumers seeking low-carb choices that don’t affect taste. Whether following a keto diet, supporting a GLP-1 lifestyle, looking to lower net carbs consumption or add more nutrient-dense foods to a diet, Mission […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Grocery Store Equipment, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, News, Southwest, Walmart
Walmart, Avery Dennison Aim To Increase Operational Efficiency Using RFID
Walmart and Avery Dennison have announced a new innovation to advance the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in fresh categories. Addressing food waste and ensuring freshness are important for consumers, producers and retailers. This first-to-market solution seeks to transform inventory processes and enhance employee and customer experiences across fresh departments – particularly bakery, meat […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National, News
Kies Receives NGA’s Industry Service Award
The National Grocers Association (NGA) recognized Bill Kies with NGA’s Industry Service Award at the Executive Conference & Public Policy Summit Oct. 21 in Washington, D.C. The honor recognizes a person or company whose years of service in the food industry have contributed to better working relations and understanding between retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers. Kies, […]
Posted inAssociation News, Midwest, News
MGA, RGA Unite To Form Midwest Retail And Grocery Alliance
The Missouri Grocers Association (MGA) and the Retail Grocers Association of Greater Kansas City (RGA) have united to form the Midwest Retail and Grocery Alliance (MRGA). The move strengthens the collective voice of the grocery and retail community across Missouri and Kansas, combining decades of experience, advocacy and service to better support independent grocers, retailers […]
Posted inGrocery Research, National, News, Snacks Brands
Report: 81% Of Consumers Plan To Purchase Halloween Candy
Numerator, a data and tech company serving the market research space, has released a Halloween report, sourced from verified purchase data and a sentiment survey of more than 5,000 consumers on their fourth quarter 2025 holiday intentions. Overall, more than half (56 percent) of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween, with participation higher among Gen Z […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, CERTCO Inc., Midwest, News
Certco Inc. Reflects On 95 Years Of Service To MW Independents
It was 1930. The Roaring Twenties had ended, and The Great Depression hit America. Consumers could buy a box of cereal for eight cents and a 10-lb. bag of sugar for 49 cents on a weekly salary of less than $40. That was 95 years ago. It was the year five retailers in the Madison, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
Independent Grocers Gather For 2025 NGA Executive Conference
The National Grocers Association (NGA) kicked off its 2025 Executive Conference and Public Policy Summit on Oct. 20 in Washington, D.C., bringing together independent grocers and industry leaders from across the country to examine trends, gain insights and network. This year’s conference kicked off with the association’s volunteer leaders holding a series of committee and […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
Vallarta Supermarkets Named National Mango Board Retailer Of The Year
The National Mango Board (NMB) presented Vallarta Supermarkets with the Mango Retailer of the Year award for 2025, recognizing the company for its year-over-year sales growth, creative in-store merchandising and consumer engagement campaigns. Each year, the award celebrates retail partners that go above and beyond in their support of the mango industry. Honorees are selected […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Meijer, Midwest, News
Meijer Team Gives Campaign Donates $3M To Nonprofits
Meijer has completed its fifth annual Meijer Team Gives campaign, with employees choosing more than 500 local organizations across the Midwest to support. Since the inception of Meijer Team Gives in 2021, each Meijer store, distribution facility and supply chain location has had the opportunity each year to donate $10,000 to a nonprofit or $5,000 […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southeast
Southeastern Grocers To Rebrand As The Winn-Dixie Co.
Southeastern Grocers LLC announced it will rebrand as The Winn-Dixie Co. in early 2026, uniting under the new name with a renewed focus on its home state of Florida. As part of the shift, SEG has decided to transition ownership of most of its locations outside of the Sunshine State. It has reached agreements or is […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News, SpartanNash
Family Fare Debuts Remodeled Store In Coopersville, MI
SpartanNash, a member of the C&S Wholesale Grocer’s (C&S) family of companies, recently celebrated the grand reopening of its remodeled Family Fare at 1181 W. Randall St. in Coopersville, Michigan. “We’re thrilled to debut this updated Family Fare in conjunction with Coopersville High School’s senior night,” said Jay Mahabir, VP of retail operations, SpartanNash. “The […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Fareway, Midwest, News
Fareway Adds Personalized Cash Back Offers Through Upside
Fareway Stores, a Midwest grocery retailer with locations across Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota, has partnered with Upside, a digital marketplace that connects retailers with customers through personalized cash back offers. The partnership brings Upside to Fareway’s 140 grocery and meat market stores, giving shoppers more value on the products they […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Festival Foods, Midwest, News, Schnucks
Schnucks, Festival Foods, Hometown Grocers Form 1939 Inc.
Todd Schnuck, chairman and CEO of St. Louis-based 1939 Group Inc., has closed the purchase of Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers, bringing the family of companies’ footprint to 164 stores. In Wisconsin, Festival Foods operates 42 stores and Hometown Grocers operates nine under the following banners: Dave’s County Market, Denny’s Supervalu, Don’s Quality Market, Lake […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Wakefern
Wakefern Highlights Growth At Annual Shareholders’ Meeting
Wakefern Food Corp. is leveraging technology, new growth opportunities and the power of its family-owned member companies to ensure success for generations to come. That’s the message leadership delivered during the cooperative’s annual shareholders’ meeting Oct. 16 at the Hilton in Parsippany, New Jersey. Wakefern reported retail sales of $20.7 billion for the 52-week fiscal […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News
IFPA State Of The Industry Highlights Advocacy Progress, Innovations, Opportunities
Following up from a commitment made a year ago to Fight for Fresh on behalf of its members and the worldwide fruit, vegetable and floral community, International Fresh Produce Association CEO Cathy Burns shared how the organization delivered on that promise in the 12 months since the last Global Fresh Produce & Floral Show. During […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News
Record Buyers, Big Ideas Define IFPA’s Global Produce, Floral Show
The International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Global Produce & Floral Show has come to an end after three days devoted to fresh produce and floral. “The Global Show brought out the best in worldwide fresh fruit, vegetable and flower innovations this year,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns. “United by our bold beliefs and relentless advocacy, […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Merchandising News, National, News
Brain Corp, Driveline Launch ShelfOptix Subscription Service
Brain Corp, an autonomous technology company creating solutions in robotics and artificial intelligence, and Driveline Retail, one of the largest retail service networks in the U.S., have launched ShelfOptix, a service that provides robot-powered shelf intelligence at scale without the cost or complexity of tech ownership. Retailers and brands struggle to understand where in-store execution […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Southeast
Red Arts Capital Acquires Produce Distributor Forestwood Farm
Red Arts Capital, an investment firm specializing in supply chain-related and logistics businesses, has acquired Forestwood Farm, a family-owned produce distributor based in Birmingham, Alabama. With the acquisition, Red Arts continues to expand its produce distribution footprint in the Southeastern U.S. and represents the firm’s second investment in the sector within the market. “This investment […]