Acme Markets, a banner of Albertsons Cos., has made a leadership change, with Jim Perkins, EVP of retail operations and special projects for Albertsons, taking on the additional role of president for Acme. Former Acme President Dan Croce continues with the company as SVP of retail operations. The change in leadership is related to the transition […]
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.
National Turkey Federation Tour Coming To Boston
For the second year in a row, the National Turkey Federation is embarking on a multi-city tour to “bridge the distance” from farm to table for chefs, registered dietitians, retailers and food bloggers. This year, the tour stops in Boston on June 27 at Action Kitchen, located in the Boston Seaport District. Stops focus on turkey’s […]
Wind-Down Sale Under Way At Central Grocers
Inventory of Central Grocers, a retailer-owned cooperative that operated as a wholesaler for approximately 400 independent grocery stores before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, is being liquidated “through an orderly wholesale wind-down sale” at the company’s headquarters and distribution center in Joliet, Illinois. More than $20 million of dry grocery products, frozen foods and […]
Industry Comes Together For Independents Day Of Giving
The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, NGA Research and Education Foundation and Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) recognized June 21 as the “Independents Day of Giving” to help fight hunger and raise community awareness with more than 1,600 independent grocers across the country participating. Shoppers are […]
Topco Associates Adds Two Executives To Board
Topco Associates has added Emile Breaux, president and CEO of Associated Grocers-Baton Rouge, and Dave Staples, president and CEO of SpartanNash Co., to its board of directors. “We are fortunate to have these two strong leaders on Topco’s board. I am confident that their strategic insight, industry knowledge and deep commitment will help Topco advance […]
Perch’s IGA Is Great North Foods’ Retailer Of The Year
Perch’s IGA in Alpena, Michigan, has been named Great North Foods Retailer of the Year. Great North Sales Manager Steffen Nizinsky made the presentation during the company’s annual food show recently. The Curtises won the national IGA Fall Into Savings Exclusive Brands sales contest and a trip to the Super Bowl, and also received IGA […]
Grocers Growing Social Media Usage
Although 87 percent of supermarket shoppers say that they regularly follow one or more social media sites, just 25 percent indicate they are friends with or connected to their primary grocery store. Those stats are from our previous article featuring the Retail Feedback Group’s “U.S. Supermarket Shopper Digital Update.” Interaction Marketing’s report, “Social Media: Invest […]
Montana Community Comes Together To Build A Desperately Needed Store
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer Lodge Pole, Montana, located within the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, will have its own grocery store for the first time in decades when the Red Paint Creek Trading Post and Pantry, a nonprofit cooperative, opens this summer. Leslie “Josie” Cliff, GM and project manager, told The Shelby Report in late May […]
Moe’s Southwest Grill Partners With Kellogg’s On Frozen Breakfast Bowls
Fast-casual restaurant chain Moe’s Southwest Grill is bringing Moe’s Breakfast Bowls to the frozen food section of grocery stores nationwide with help from Kellogg Co. Moe’s Breakfast Bowls, inspired by the chain’s burrito and bowl varieties, each contain a minimum of 12g of protein and include items like meats raised without hormones and no artificial […]
New Pack Expo Scholarship Program Will Include Six $5K Rewards
The new Pack Expo scholarship program will provide $30,000 annually to support the future packaging and processing workforce. Each year, six $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to students studying packaging and processing at PMMI partner schools. A portion of the proceeds from the Pack Gives Back events at Pack Expo International and Pack Expo Las Vegas […]
ShopRite Expands Its Locally Grown Program
ShopRite will expand its Locally Grown program, offering a variety of area products across its supermarkets—from farm-raised beef to seafood, flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, honey, craft beer and roasted coffees. “ShopRite has been partnering with local farmers since our inception almost 70 years ago,” said Derrick Jenkins, ShopRite’s VP of produce and […]
Gulf Oil Appoints Johnson CEO
Gulf Oil of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, has appointed Eric Johnson president and CEO. He succeeds Jerry Ashcroft, who resigned June 10 to pursue other interests. Johnson is a 26-year veteran of the energy industry with extensive executive leadership experience. Prior to joining Gulf, he held several leadership roles in operations and logistics. “Gulf is an iconic brand and a […]
Publix Sets Opening Date For First Virginia Store
Publix Super Markets will make its Virginia debut when it opens a store at 5400 Wyndham Forest Drive in Glen Allen next month. Publix at Nuckols Place will host a grand opening celebration beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, July 15. Publix first announced its intentions to enter the Old Dominion State in early 2016, saying […]
Dallas-Fort Worth Target Stores Debut Remodels
They say everything is bigger in Texas—so when Target announced plans for a $220-million, 28-store renovation project in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the company said there would be no holding back. It’s the retailer’s largest remodel investment in a single market in 2017 and part of its plan to reimagine hundreds of stores across the country over […]
Schnucks Launches Double Up Food Bucks At All Missouri Stores
Through a partnership with Fair Food Network and a grant provided by the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), Schnucks is launching Double Up Food Bucks at all 56 of its Missouri stores. The program starts immediately and will run as long as local produce is available. Double Up Food Bucks is a national model for healthy […]
Foodservice Packaging Opportunities Abound In C-Store, Grocery Sectors
A new survey by the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) revealed strong industry growth and sales in 2016 and expected volume growth and profit expansion in 2017. “This year’s State of the Industry Survey forecasts a promising outlook for the foodservice packaging industry and our members,” said FPI President Lynn Dyer. Compiled from FPI’s annual State of […]
Food Markets For Converted Flexible Packaging To Reach $15.5 Billion
Food markets for converted flexible packaging accounted for 71 percent of total demand in 2016 and are expected to rise to $15.5 billion in 2021. Ongoing product introductions and trends favoring smaller package sizes will fuel opportunities as will the need for enhanced shelf life and package resealability. These and other trends are presented in […]
Safeway To Open Fifth Mountain View, California, Store On Wednesday
Safeway will open a new store in Mountain View, California, at 580 North Rengstorff Avenue in Monta Loma Plaza on Wednesday, June 21. It will mark the fifth Safeway location in Mountain View, and the new Monta Loma store will bring an estimated 100 new jobs to the community. “We are excited to open this […]
Harry Blazer: Reflections On The Proposed Whole Foods Purchase By Amazon
Harry Blazer founded Harry’s Farmers Market in the Atlanta area in 1987, opening in Alpharetta. Two others later opened in metro counties Cobb and Gwinnett. Whole Food Market purchased the three Harry’s megastores in October 2001 as well as a distribution center, commissary kitchen, bakehouse and office facilities. Today, Blazer is a consultant ([email protected]). Here […]
Bertram Tapped To Lead Giant/Martin’s
Ahold USA has named Nick Bertram, SVP of merchandising, as the new Giant/Martin’s president. His appointment becomes effective in January 2018. Tom Lenkevich, who has been president since 2014, is retiring at the end of the year. Bertram has more than 20 years of retail experience, including several years at Ahold USA, which he joined […]
