The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) on Wednesday recognized Ellie Taylor, president of the Alabama Grocers Association, with the 2017 Donald H. MacManus Award for her outstanding leadership and dedication to the grocery industry. FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin presented Taylor with the award at FMI’s Day in Washington fly-in event on Capitol Hill. […]
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.
NGA Honors Georgia’s Kuzava With Association Leadership Award
The National Grocers Association (NGA) on Wednesday recognized Kathy Kuzava, president of the Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA), with its Association Leadership Award for her dedication and contributions to the independent supermarket industry. “I am pleased to honor Kathy for her passionate leadership and dedication to her members and the independent supermarket industry as a […]
Allegiance Names Three Senior Directors
Allegiance Retail Services of Iselin, New Jersey, has promoted Daniel Dinkowitz to senior director of sales and merchandising, Samer Rahman to senior director of meat and seafood, and Vic Savanello to senior director of produce and floral. Dinkowitz manages the Allegiance field merchandisers and reset coordinators, resulting in increased store sales and customer count. His additional […]
C-Store Distributor Garber Bros. Finds A Buyer
J. Polep Distribution Services of Chicopee, Massachusetts, on Wednesday announced its acquisition of certain assets, including inventory, from Garber Bros., a Northeast convenience store distributor that abruptly shuttered its operations on April 10. J. Polep will not acquire Garber’s accounts receivable or its facility in Stoughton, Massachusetts. J. Polep is now New England’s largest family-owned and […]
Remodeled Food City In Tempe Hosting Grand Reopening Wednesday
Food City in Tempe, Arizona, is hosting a grand reopening of its remodeled store at 1845 N. Scottsdale Road on Wednesday, just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Festivities will run through Sunday. The store includes festive décor as well as expanded product and service offerings, including: • More than 2,000 new items; • A new seating area […]
Oscar Mayer Brand Changes Its Hot Dogs
The Oscar Mayer brand has made what it calls “radical changes” to its full line of hot dogs, making it the first to market with no added nitrates or nitrites, no artificial preservatives in its meat and no by-products in every one of its hot dogs. The overhaul comes after more than a year of recipe testing and […]
Ray’s Grocery In Breckenridge, Texas, To Close; Forms Partnership With United
Ray’s Grocery & Market on West Walker Street in Breckenridge, Texas, will close May 16. The store’s owners, Ray and Beverly Olson, made the announcement on the company’s Facebook page Monday evening. Ray’s opened in 1974. “Any small-business owner knows that there are many seasons of success within the span of your career,” the Olsons […]
Produce Industry Leader Joins Trump, Ag Secretary For Roundtable Discussion
Maureen Torrey of Torrey Farms in Elba, New York, a United Fresh Produce Association member and former board chair of the group, participated in an April 25 roundtable discussion at the White House with President Trump and new Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue regarding the policy needs of rural America and the agriculture industry. The meeting […]
Kremser Joins Acosta As Chief Strategy And Transformation Officer
Acosta has named Steve Kremser, former partner of Boston Consulting Group, as chief strategy and transformation officer. He will be responsible for the planning and execution of Acosta’s overall strategy and corporate development, including steering the company’s transformation initiatives. Kremser brings to Acosta nearly two decades of experience with Boston Consulting Group, where he was […]
Perishables, Prepared Meals On Showcase At New Dave’s Marketplace In Rhode Island
A nearly 30,000-s.f. Dave’s Fresh Marketplace has opened in Cranston, Rhode Island. Dave’s is a locally owned and operated supermarket chain focused on high-quality, fresh foods. More than half of the new store is focused on perishables and prepared meal items. In January, GM Bill Hogan said, “Neighborhood markets are the cornerstone of communities. We are happy […]
Cozy Harbor Seafood Wins Grand Prize For Best Retail Product
Cozy Harbor Seafood, a Portland-based seafood processor, distributor and supplier, won the grand prize for “Best Retail Product” for its Lobster Meat product at the Seafood Excellence Global Awards held recently in Brussels. The Best Retail Product prize was given for the entire line of lobster meat. Additionally, the company won the Seafood Excellence Global Special Award for its […]
L.E. Belcher Sold To Petroleum Marketing Group
All of Leonard E. Belcher’s retail assets and its branded and unbranded wholesale business has been sold to Petroleum Marketing Group (PMG) of Woodbridge, Virginia. The company’s retail assets acquired by PMG consist of 13 company-operated stores, one new-to-industry store that is scheduled to open in early June and one developmental property. Also included in the […]
Bakery Manager At Fitzgerald’s Foods Wins Bozzuto’s Award
Terry Campbell of Fitzgerald’s Foods in Simsbury, Connecticut, has been recognized as Bakery Manager of the Year in the Bozzuto’s Retailer Excellence Awards, hosted during the wholesaler’s recent Independent Retailer Conference. The awards ceremony recognized the best retailers and store managers, as well as the best managers of bakery, deli, produce, meat and grocery. Campbell started his career at Fitzgerald’s Foods […]
Highland Park Market Recognized For 25-Year Bakery Partnership
Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café, a growing bakery café and bagel shop with locations in Connecticut, recently celebrated its silver anniversary partnership with Highland Park Market, a five-unit family-owned supermarket business in the Hartford area. For 25 years, Between Rounds has supplied its signature bagels to Highland Park Market stores in Coventry, Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester and Suffield. Founded […]
Southwest Fuel & Convenience Expo Set for May 16-18
The Texas Food & Fuel Association will host the sixth annual 2017 Southwest Fuel & Convenience Expo at the Fort Worth Convention Center & Omni Hotel in Fort Worth May 16-18. New in 2017 is a designated section of the exhibit hall exclusively for first-time exhibitors. Companies range from packaged meat snacks and fuel management […]
Martin’s Opens Its First Café At Indiana’s Elkhart General Hospital
South Bend, Indiana-based Martin’s Super Markets has opened its first Martin’s Café at Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart. The new café is located in the hospital’s first floor public area. Recent renovation at Elkhart General Hospital made the new café location possible. It is the first partnership venture between Martin’s and the hospital. Martin’s Café […]
AG Of The South’s Former CEO Dies Unexpectedly
Mr. Gerald “Gerry” Totoritis, the former president and CEO of Associated Grocers of the South, based in Birmingham, Alabama, died of a heart attack on April 25. “He had just finished one of his favorite activities, a round of golf with friends at Craft Farms in Gulf Shores,” according to his obituary. Mr. Totoritis had […]
Topco Promotes Hooks To EVP
Topco Associates’ Chris Hooks, SVP of center store, fresh and supply chain, has been promoted to EVP, expanding his responsibilities to include Topco’s marketing and national brands teams in addition to center store, fresh programs and supply chain. “Over the past three years, Chris has driven Topco’s strategic business objectives with his expertise, which extends […]
FDA Delays Menu-Labeling Rule
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on April 27 submitted an interim final rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget that signals a delay in the agency’s final menu-labeling rule set to take effect on May 5. While the FDA announced the submission that has yet to be published, the final rule […]
Michigan’s Busch’s Fresh Food Market Debuts First In-Store Restaurant
Busch’s Fresh Food Market recently opened a new location in Canton Township, Michigan, that has the company’s first in-store restaurant. J.B.’s Smokehouse seats 170 people and serves St. Louis-style barbecue ribs, Texas-style beef brisket, North Carolina-style pulled pork, mac ‘n cheese, sweet potato coins and fried pickles, and has a full bar with 22 Michigan draft […]
