Product of the Year USA, the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation, has revealed its 2016 award winners. The winning products are selected through the votes of more than 40,000 consumers in a national representative survey each year conducted by research partner TNS, a global leader in consumer research. “Consumers are looking for quick, in-and-out […]
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.
Whole Foods’ Mobile App Now Offers Digital Coupons
Whole Foods Market’s mobile app now features digital coupons, offering shoppers a convenient way to save on a mix of products, ranging from everyday staples to seasonal offers, according to the Austin, Texas-based grocer. Initial coupons include: • $5 off one-dozen Whole Trade Guarantee Roses • Free lobster tail (priced under $12) with purchase of […]
Iowa Town Seeking Grocer
In downtown Emmetsburg, Iowa, there is a building waiting for a grocer. Billie Jo Joyce, economic developer for the city, has raised $300,000 locally to purchase the building, but won’t take that step until the city finds a grocer that will go into it. She also purchased the fixtures inside the building, which currently is […]
Super King Markets Wins Unified’s 2016 Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award
Southern California’s Super King Markets is the recipient of Unified Grocers’ 2016 “Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award.” The award was presented during a special dinner in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The award is named after Ben Schwartz, the 96-year old former board chairman for Unified. Schwartz was in attendance at the awards dinner. “This […]
Brookshire Brothers Celebrates Canyon Lake, Texas, Opening
Brookshire Brothers says the Canyon Lake, Texas, community showed up in big numbers on Feb. 3 for its new store’s soft opening there. The ribbon was officially cut today (Feb. 10) during a ceremony that featured the local high school band, prizes and sampling. The grocer said the event kicked off of a month of grand […]
ZeroWater ‘Filters For Flint’ Doubles Donations With Help From Target
On the coattails of a donation program for the residents of Flint, Michigan, Target has announced a donation of 5,000 ZeroWater filters, a figure that ZeroWater will match through its “Filters for Flint” program, bringing the total to 10,000 units being donated to the United Way of Genesee County. Target’s contribution more than doubles the total donations to date through […]
Specialty Snack Company Opens Global Headquarters In Tennessee
Pure Foods, a specialty snack company, celebrated the opening of its global headquarters and primary manufacturing location late last month at Gateway Commerce Park in Kingsport, Tennessee. The 88,000-s.f., state-of-the-art manufacturing facility produces nutrient-dense and reduced-fat snack foods for distribution in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. “Today marks an exciting new chapter for Pure Foods […]
Boston Wine Expo’s ‘Grand Tasting’ Coming This Weekend
The Boston Guild of Oenophilists is hosting the 25th annual Boston Wine Expo at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center, Feb. 13-14. It is considered the first major foodservice event of the year in the Boston area. The silver anniversary “Grand Tasting” gives guests a global adventure in a glass, according to organizers. There […]
Key Food Stores, Allegiance Retail Services Buy Banners From A&P
Key Food Stores, a supermarket co-operative with 217 stores, has acquired the SuperFresh banner name and related intellectual property assets from A&P. Key Food plans to open several stores under the SuperFresh banner in the near future, the first of which may debut as early as this month. Key Food recently purchased 24 stores from A&P, […]
Mars Decides To Remove All Artificial Colors From Food Portfolio
Mars Inc. says it will remove all artificial colors from its food products as part of a commitment to meet changing consumer preferences. Products across the range of the company’s chocolate, gum, confection, food and drink businesses will be affected by the change, which will take place incrementally over the next five years. “We’re in the business […]
Chipotle Commits $10M To Help Local Farmers
Chipotle Mexican Grill announced at its national employee meeting this week the formation of the Chipotle Local Grower Support Initiative, a new program to help smaller, local suppliers meet its heightened food safety standards. Chipotle closed its doors at its 2,000 restaurants for four hours on Feb. 8 to hold a meeting with its employees about […]
NRA Launches #RestaurantsDecide, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… The National Restaurant Association has launched #RestaurantsDecide, an initiative showcasing the role restaurants play as cornerstones of their community during elections—convening candidates, voters and employees, managers and owners on the campaign trail. Using Twitter and Facebook, #RestaurantsDecide will encourage restaurants, employees and patrons across America to join the National Restaurant Association […]
Expert: How Independents Can ‘Win’ With Technology
Ross Ely, president and CEO of ProLogic Retail Services (PLRS), a provider of loyalty and customer relationship marketing services for the grocery industry, attended this year’s FMI Midwinter Executive Conference, held recently in Miami Beach, Florida, and he came prepared to share his technology expertise with conference attendees. A growing concern for independent retailers is […]
Ingles’ New Greeneville, Tennessee, Store Opens This Week
Ingles Markets will open its new Greeneville, Tennessee store, on Thursday. The store replaces an old unit on East Andrew Johnson Highway that closed in May and is double the size—nearly 80,000 s.f.—of its predecessor, which was demolished to make way for the new store. According a story from The Greeneville Sun last year when […]
Former QFC In Gig Harbor, Washington, Opens As Main & Vine
The Kroger Co. has opened its first Main & Vine store, a concept that’s been described as “experimental,” at a former QFC location in Gig Harbor, Washington. The approximately 27,000-s.f Seattle-area store at 5010 Point Fosdick Drive NW debuted Wednesday. According to its website, “at Main & Vine, we love where we live…the people, places […]
Affiliated Foods Midwest’s Martin Arter Honored With NGA Spirit Of America Award
Martin Arter, president and CEO Affiliated Foods Midwest, has been recognized with the National Grocers Association (NGA) Spirit of America Award. The presentation was made at the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association’s (NGIA) annual legislative dinner on Jan. 28. The award, presented by NGA President and CEO Peter Larkin, is one of NGA’s top honors and recognizes […]
Tennessee Industry Discusses Issues It Faces With Lawmakers During ‘Day On The Hill’
The Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association (TGCSA) held its annual legislative “Day on the Hill” on Feb. 2. A strong contingent of food industry retailers, suppliers and manufacturers fanned out across Nashville’s Legislative Plaza, talking to lawmakers about legislation affecting the upcoming implementation of wine in grocery stores, a bottle deposit bill and the […]
Wegmans Installs Flour Mill Inside Pittsford, New York, Store
Wegmans has installed a flour mill inside its Pittsford, New York, store; it will produce flour to be used in the store’s bakery. It is likely the first mill inside a supermarket in the nation, according to the Rochester-based grocer. The mill is 10 x 4 x 7 feet and is visible in the store. […]
Major House Vote Coming This Week For Menu Labeling Bill
U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy says that menu labeling legislation will be voted on in the House of Representatives this week. The bill, House Resolution 2017—the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act—introduced by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) and Loretta Sanchez (D-California), is supported by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and is one of the […]
Pepsi Unveiling New Hospitality Venture In New York City
Pepsi plans to launch Kola House, the first experimental kola bar, restaurant, lounge and event space in New York City’s Meatpacking District this spring. “We wanted to create a modern hub for consumers to share social and immersive experiences that were anchored in the exploration of our cola’s artisanal craft and flavor,” said Seth Kaufman, […]
