Aloha, maker of plant-based protein products, has a newly reformulated protein powder along with a substantial increase in national retail availability. The reformulated protein powder comes in Chocolate, Vanilla and Banana varieties and now contains MCT oil, which is linked to energy, gut health, enhanced mood and performance, says Aloha. “At Aloha, we are always […]
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.
Members Of The Food Industry React To Government Shutdown
Some members of the food industry are offering assistance to government employees affected by the shutdown. Weis Markets, based in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, has accelerated store shipments of high-demand items purchased by customers who use SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, to purchase groceries. Due to the government shutdown, SNAP recipients in Weis’ seven-state market […]
Big Y Opening Marlborough, Connecticut, Store Jan. 24
Big Y will celebrate the opening of a new 53,935-s.f. store located at 7 East Hampton Road Route 66 in Marlborough, Connecticut, on Jan. 24. The Springfield, Massachusetts-based retailer will host an opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. State and community officials as well as representatives from local school districts are expected to be in attendance. As […]
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Promotes Key Executives
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has made changes to its East Region executive team effective immediately. Walter Cowell, most recently the VP of commercial operations for Florida, has been promoted to EVP and GM of Mid-Atlantic, responsible for the Maryland, D.C. and Delaware markets. In this new role, he will report to Gene Sullivan, president, East […]
The Griffin Report Of The Northeast’s 2018 Year In Review
New store concepts, new executives and some financial setbacks marked the top 10 news stories in the Northeast region over the past year. 1. UNFI acquires Supervalu United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) in October finalized its acquisition of Supervalu in a deal worth about $2.9 billion. The deal first was announced July 26. Providence, Rhode Island-based […]
Heineken USA Debuts Alcohol-Free Malt Beverage
Heineken USA, a White Plains, New York, company, has launched Heineken 0.0, an alcohol-free malt beverage containing 69 calories per bottle. The label has been turned blue to match the color associated with the alcohol-free category globally. Heineken brewers created the zero-alcohol beverage with natural ingredients. Heineken 0.0 is available now in 6-pack cans and […]
5W Public Relations Launches CBD Specialty Division
5W Public Relations, an independently owned public relations firm based in New York, has launched a cannabidiol (CBD) specialty team that will work across areas including health and wellness, beauty, food and beverage, and consumer. 5W’s CBD specialty team will combine the capabilities of health and wellness practices with the expertise within the consumer brand space, […]
Kayco To Offer New Passover Products At Whole Foods Market
Kayco will offer more than 20 new and traditional Kosher-for-Passover products in March at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. Kayco, located in Bayonne, New Jersey, is a kosher food distributor, representing brands such as Gefen, Hadar, Chef Jeff, Kedem, Yehuda, Glicks, Fox’s and Harrison’s among others. Kayco EVP Harold Weiss says the company’s partnership with Whole […]
H.I.G. Capital Acquires Lipari Foods
An affiliate of private equity investment firm H.I.G. Capital (H.I.G.) has acquired from Sterling Investment Partners and certain other selling shareholders, their interests in Warren, Michigan-based Lipari Foods Operating Co. H.I.G. is partnering with the Lipari family and the current management team to grow the company’s distribution and manufacturing platform. Terms of the transaction were […]
Chobani Offers Non-Dairy, Plant-Based Recipe
Norwich, New York-based Chobani LLC has launched its first plant-based recipe, Non-Dairy Chobani, to give consumers looking for non-dairy products an option containing probiotics, less sugar than other non-dairy brands and only natural ingredients. “We have a belief: if we can’t make something better, we don’t make it at all. And for some time, we’ve felt that […]
Big Y To Eliminate Single-Use Plastic Bags In 2020
Big Y Foods Inc., based in Springfield, Massachusetts, will eliminate single-use plastic bags at checkouts from its supermarkets and specialty stores as well as its Big Y Express Gas and Convenience stores in 2020. The company has been complying with single-use plastic bag bans in six of the local communities in Massachusetts (Adams, Amherst, Great Barrington, Lee, […]
Chabaso Bakery Launches New Branding And E-Commerce Platform
Chabaso, a family-owned bakery in New Haven, Connecticut, is launching a new chapter in its history with a rebranding effort, including a new graphics package and website that includes an e-commerce platform. “It’s always time for reinvention and challenging ourselves to come up with something even better than the best ciabatta in production,” said Charles […]
Rise Brewing Co.’s Latte Receives Industry Awards
Rise Brewing Co., a nitro cold-brew coffee brand located in Stamford, Connecticut, has taken home several awards for the creation of what it says is America’s first Organic Nitro Cold Brew Oat Milk Latte. The company won BevNet’s 2018 Best New Product Award and Best New Organic Beverage at the Nexty Awards. Beverage Industry named the […]
Minnesota Nice Could Get Tested In St. Paul This January
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest There is much that is new and unique in Minnesota right now. Let’s start with the Minnesota Grocers Association’s (MGA) new logo. It was refreshed in 2018 after almost 20 years to more accurately reflect the association’s mission. The logo now features a grocery cart as the foundation for the state, reflecting […]
Whole Foods Opens In Chappaqua, New York
Whole Foods Market recently opened a new 40,000-s.f. store in Chappaqua, New York, located at 480 N Bedford Road. “We feel privileged to be part of this significant moment for this great community,” said Alex Saa, store team leader and a Hudson Valley resident. “Whole Foods Market is proud to be able to offer the highest quality […]
Hain Celestial Leadership Changes Include Elimination Of CEO North America Role
The Hain Celestial Group Inc., an organic and natural products company headquartered in Lake Success, New York, has appointed Chris Boever to the role of chief customer officer (CCO) and Robert Gulliver to chief human resources officer (CHRO), both reporting to Mark Schiller, president and CEO. Gary Tickle, CEO Hain Celestial North America, will leave the company after a brief […]
The Shelby Report Of The Southwest’s 2018 Year In Review
A super buy, first-ever closure and a great American is honored in Oklahoma There were some unexpected closures in 2018 brought to readers by Natural Grocers and Sam’s Club. Down in San Antonio, H-E-B has delved deep into high-tech with its acquisition of on-demand delivery service Favor and upcoming tech facility and innovation lab for […]
Half-Ton Butter Sculpture Highlighting Pennsylvania Farm Show
The Choose PA Dairy “Find Your Power” Campaign is being highlighted at the Pennsylvania Farm Show with a sculpture carved from a half-ton of butter. Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding attended the show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and helped unveil the sculpture, a long-time farm show staple, encouraging Pennsylvanians to support the state’s […]
Kings Food Markets & Balducci’s Promote Slate Of Executives
Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market have made a number of executive promotions. Joseph Parisi has been named COO; Allen Merken has been named VP, engineering, real estate and construction; Kathe Benjamin has been named VP, human resources and labor relations; and Sharon Bastianelli has been named VP, information technology. “At Kings and Balducci’s, […]
Tuscanini Introduces Line Of ‘Gourmet’ Italian Products
Tuscanini Foods is rolling out a new line of Italian products. Tuscanini’s foods are imported from Italy. “From the mountainous Dolomite region to the idyllic Sardinia Island, products are sourced from artisans that specialize in offering only the best quality ingredients,” the company says. The new host of products from Tuscanini—from sparkling, cold-pressed beverages to Italian […]
