Oliver’s Market, the largest locally-owned grocer in Sonoma County, California, has sold 43 percent of the company to employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The four-store chain also registered with the state of California as a Social Purpose Corporation, allowing leadership to consider employees, the environment and the community in addition to financial position […]
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.
BJ’s Wholesale Opens Its First South Carolina Club
BJ’s Wholesale Club hosted a grand opening June 10 to celebrate its expansion into South Carolina. With the new Summerville location, the company’s footprint now covers 16 states with 215 clubs. “We’re thrilled at the excitement over our newest club and for the warm welcome BJ’s has received in Summerville,” said Dawn Albright, GM of the Summerville BJ’s Wholesale […]
Kings Food Markets, Balducci’s Choose KeHE
Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market have selected KeHE Distributors as a specialty distributor for natural & organic, specialty and private label items. The agreement is effective immediately. The transition is scheduled to be complete this summer. “Across the KeHE community, we are energized to put our compelling service, pricing and promotions model […]
NCA Sweets & Snacks Expo Breaks Records
The 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo, hosted by the National Confectioners Association, set an all-time attendance record for the second consecutive year as more than 18,000 industry professionals from nearly 90 countries were welcomed to McCormick Place to experience the latest trends and innovations in the candy and snack categories. Exhibitors grew nearly 6 percent, […]
Federal Appeals Court Revives Whole Foods Price Suit In NYC
A federal appeals court has revived a proposed class-action lawsuit that accuses Whole Foods Market of overcharging shoppers in New York City. The issue stems from the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs’ report in June 2015, which indicated that all 80 prepackaged foods tested from Whole Foods had mislabeled weights, and 89 percent failed to […]
King Kullen Grows Its ‘Shop OnLine’ Delivery Service
King Kullen recently expanded its Shop OnLine delivery service to now offer online grocery shopping with delivery to nearly all of Nassau County, many parts of Suffolk County and select areas of Queens, New York. In addition, grocery order pickup service is available at the Bay Shore, Bridgehampton, Garden City Park and Island Park store locations. […]
Heineken, Molson Coors Sign Import Pact For Sol Beer In U.S.
Heineken and Molson Coors Brewing Co. have signed a 10-year import agreement whereby Molson Coors will import, market and distribute the Sol brand of beer in the U.S. through its MillerCoors division beginning this fall. Sol will continue to be brewed in Mexico. For MillerCoors, the agreement adds an authentic Mexican beer to its portfolio. Combining Sol’s brand […]
Siakotos Duo Chooses AWG To Supply Freshline Foods
In 1955, John Siakotos made the long journey to the U.S. from southern Greece. His uncle brought him to America so he could have a shot at a better future. Siakotos began working at his uncle’s fruit market in Chicago and his life did indeed begin to improve. As the fruit market prospered over the […]
For Wakefern’s Lane, Reinvention Is Name Of The Game
Leading procurement, marketing, logistics and technology initiatives for Wakefern Food Corp. is Chris Lane, EVP. His leadership ability at Wakefern is one reason why the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) tapped Lane to give the keynote address at its 2017 Trade Relations Conference, scheduled for today, Tuesday, June 6, from 3-6 p.m. at Harrah’s Resort […]
NACS Encourages Members To Help Redraft Menu-Labeling Rules
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) is urging its members to offer their opinions in hopes that they could have an impact on a possible redraft of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) menu-labeling rule. The association is holding a webinar later this week to give its members practical help on how to […]
NJFC Awarded $240K Grant To Train Food Workers
The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC), in collaboration with Rutgers University, has been awarded more than $240,000 to support food safety and management leadership training series. The grant, funded by the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, will pay for one year of training, beginning this month. Areas of training include entry-level food handler […]
Brookshire Grocery Co. Recognizes 10 For Service Excellence
Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) recently honored 10 employees in the company’s inaugural Wood T. Brookshire Jump Over the Counter service excellence program. The program is named to honor Wood T. Brookshire, who founded the company in 1928 and would “literally jump over the store counter to help his customers,” according to BGC. Honorees were nominated by […]
NYC Mayor & City Council Enact Bills For Predictable Work Schedules
Last week, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Council members announced a package of bills designed to ensure predictable schedules for fast-food and retail workers. The new bills will go into effect in 180 days. The fast-food scheduling-related bills, which were announced in part by de Blasio last fall, would […]
ShopRite, American Bone Health Launch Calcium Challenge
ShopRite Supermarkets and American Bone Health have partnered to offer “The Calcium Challenge,” a free interactive event to educate shoppers about the health benefits of eating dairy and calcium-rich foods. The Calcium Challenge will be hosted at select ShopRite supermarkets in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania during June, led by the grocer’s […]
Grocery Checkstands Drive Greeting Card Sales
Hallmark is partnering with several top supermarket retailers to test a new opportunity for greeting card sales at the grocery checkstand and is seeing positive sales as a result. One grocery partner reported seeing not only increased sales, but more units sold and a higher average price per card. “We are always looking for flexible […]
Walmart Testing Associate Delivery
In addition to Online Grocery Pickup, two-day free shipping and its new Pickup Discount program, Walmart likely will add another service to its e-commerce platform: associate delivery. The service currently is being tested in three of the retailer’s stores—two in New Jersey and one in northeast Arkansas. Marc Lore, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. E-Commerce, […]
Olive Crest Hosts Food Industry Roundtable At Northgate Markets
Olive Crest recently hosted its Food Industry Roundtable meeting at Northgate Markets in Southern California. Olive Crest’s mission is to prevent child abuse, treat and educate at-risk children, and preserve the family. The grocery industry has long supported the organization. The roundtable discussed the industry’s recent accomplishments and other items of interest, including: • Food4Less Mobile raised […]
Brookshire Grocery Co. Completes 14th Heroes Flight To Washington, D.C.
Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) escorted a group of 24 World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., May 29-31 on its 14th Heroes Flight. BGC provides the all-expenses-paid trip for WWII veterans to honor them for their service and sacrifices. In addition to visiting the National World War II Memorial, the group was led […]
Ralphs Introduces $5.4 Million Remodel
The Shelby Report’s Bob Reeves was on hand when Ralphs Grocery Co. hosted the grand reopening of its remodeled store at 1730 Manchester Avenue in South Los Angeles on May 26. The renovation of the 45,000-s.f. store included expanded and upgraded produce, meat, seafood, bakery and deli departments. The store now carries more varieties of […]
Pruett’s Food Opening Four New Stores In Oklahoma
Pruett’s Food will open grocery stores in Ada, Durant, Holdenville and McAlester, Oklahoma. The additions bring the company’s total store count to 10, with locations in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. “We’re very excited to be opening stores in these towns,” said Ray Pruett, owner and president. “We’re really looking forward to serving the communities and […]
