SpartanNash has signed a long-term contract to be the primary wholesaler to Gordy’s Market, the largest locally-owned and -operated grocer in the western Wisconsin area. SpartanNash will begin distributing private brand product to Gordy’s in mid-February and will be servicing the retailer as its primary distributor by May. Gordy’s will be serviced out of SpartanNash’s St. Cloud, […]
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.
Giant Food Stores To Acquire Nell’s Shurfine In Carlisle From C&S
Giant Food Stores has entered into an agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers to acquire the Nell’s Shurfine Market at 951 Walnut Bottom Road in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The acquisition, expected to be completed by the beginning of March, will mark the second Giant location in Carlisle. The 51,800-s.f. store plans to close temporarily Feb. 28 for […]
Brands That Are ‘Innovating’ Appear On Instantly’s Newest Shelf Score Report
Instantly has released its latest Shelf Score report, a monthly top 10 list of the newest CPG products ranked by consumer purchase intent. The December Shelf Score shows that brands are investing heavily in innovation. Appearing on the latest top 10 are products featuring creative flavors like cheddar and sour cream potato chips as well […]
Robust Sales Forecasted For First Quarter Of 2016
Convenience store retailers expect the robust sales in 2015 to continue into the first quarter of 2016, according to the results of a survey released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Retailers said that overall sales in 2015 were strong, with more than three in four (78 percent) reporting an increase in foodservice […]
Wegmans Removes HBW Products That Contain Microbeads From Stores
Tiny plastic microbeads are causing big environmental concerns in waterways, prompting Wegmans Food Markets to remove all personal care products containing this ingredient from store shelves by mid-February. Microbeads are found in some face washes, body scrubs and toothpaste formulas. These synthetic plastic particles, smaller than pin heads, pass through drains, slipping through wastewater treatment […]
Mars Chocolate, Wrigley Partner On Super Bowl Store Promotions, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… Wrigley and Mars have rolled out their first-ever joint, in-store promotion for the Super Bowl. The program includes in-store displays and consumer promotions designed to help retailers drive sales around the Super Bowl, the year’s biggest snacking occasion behind Thanksgiving… Greg Levitan has joined the National Association Of Convenience Stores […]
Fast Food Chains Compete In Value Meals, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… Burger King and Pizza Hut are the latest fast food chains to unveil meal deals. Burger King has unveiled a new, five-item meal for $4. The fast-food chain is competing to catch up with McDonald’s McPick 2 and Wendy’s 4 for $4 deals. Burger King’s promotion provides small fries, a small drink, […]
Washington, D.C., Foam Ban Takes Effect, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… On Jan. 1, the nation’s capital no longer allowed restaurants and other foodservice establishments to package food or beverages in polystyrene containers. The city council approved of the styrofoam ban in 2014 in a package of environmental proposals aimed at helping the Anacostia River recover its health. Nearby Montgomery County, […]
Specialty Food Retail Exec Wolpert Passes Away
Mr. Tracy Wolpert, VP of operations for Southern California’s Bristol Farms, died in Long Beach last month. Additional details about his passing and funeral arrangements were unavailable at the time of this report. “While he was only with us for a short period of time, he had a big impact on our Bristol Farms family,” […]
NGA Launches Enhanced Website
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has launched a new, redeveloped website to better serve its members and educate consumers about the independent supermarket industry. “In today’s information age, people are going online on a daily basis, seeking information on a variety of issues, and NGA wants our website to be a destination that provides timely […]
C-Stores Optimistic For 2016 With Growth In Food Sales, Low Gas Prices
Convenience store retailers expect the robust sales of 2015 to continue into the first quarter of 2016, according to the results of a survey released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Retailers said that overall sales in 2015 were strong, with more than three in four (78 percent) reporting an increase in foodservice […]
Teacher And Oregon Ducks Fan Wins Kiolbassa VIP Bowl Experience
For San Antonio, Texas, teacher, father of six and devout Oregon Duck fans Spencer Lake, Christmas came early. On Dec. 21, Kiolbassa Provision Co. named him the recipient of its online Valero Alamo Bowl VIP Package promotion. Lake and three family members attended the Jan. 2 match up between PAC 12 Oregon Ducks and the […]
Fresh Thyme To Open First Nebraska Store Soon
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market plans to debut its first Nebraska store in Lincoln this spring. The Midwest grocer, headquartered in Illinois, will open the Lincoln store at 5220 O Street. Fresh Thyme focuses on value-priced fresh, healthy, natural and organic offerings. It features an extensive produce department with organic and local fruits and vegetables, a […]
Minnoco Retailers Raise $13,000 For Hope Chest
Minnoco fuel retailers in Minnesota raised $13,000 for Hope Chest for Breast Cancer through a six-week “Fueling the Fight Against Breast Cancer” campaign. For every gallon of unleaded plus gasoline (a blend containing 15 percent ethanol) sold, Minnoco stores, with support from an organization called Prime the Pump, donated $0.02 to Hope Chest for Breast […]
‘The Soup Nazi’ Coming To Kroger Atlanta
The “Seinfeld” Soupman, also known as “The Soup Nazi” who made the phrase “No soup for you!” famous, is coming to Atlanta for several days in January to visit Kroger and ladle up soup, while sharing the secret recipes behind the soups made famous on the iconic “Seinfeld” TV show. The Soupman also will donate […]
NMSU Researchers Work To Increase Produce Sales In Grocery Stores
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor New Mexico State University College of Business marketing professors Collin Payne and Mihai Niculescu have been looking for ways to encourage shoppers to spend more of their food dollars on fresh produce. They are co-directors of NMSU’s Consumer Behavior Laboratory, which is equipped with eye-tracking software, a virtual grocery store and […]
Safeway Acquires Former Fresh & Easy Store In San Jose
Safeway has acquired a former Fresh & Easy store in Willow Glen Village Shopping Center at 1489 Bird Avenue in San Jose, California. The 23,200-s.f. vacant building will transform into a new Safeway, with construction beginning in the spring and a grand opening slated for summer 2016. “We are excited to open a second location […]
Big Y Completes Two Market Renovations
Big Y Foods of Springfield, Massachusetts, recently completed two supermarket renovations in East Longmeadow and Worcester, Massachusetts. In East Longmeadow, the $2.3 million project began in August and included major renovations in all areas of the 59,473-s.f. store. This store originally opened in 1968 and was last updated in 2001. The $2 million Worcester project […]
Chefs See Locally Sourced Meats And Seafood As Driving Trend In 2016
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) annually explores the top menu trends for the coming year. For this year’s What’s Hot culinary forecast, the NRA surveyed nearly 1,600 professional chefs—members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF)—to find which foods, beverages and culinary themes will be hot on restaurant menus in 2016. The top 20 food trends from the NRA-ACF […]
OTA Study Shows Near 60 Percent Upswing In Domestic Organic Exports
Since 2009, the U.S. has entered into international accords with Canada, the European Union and major Asian trade partners to promote the trade of organic products. A new report released by the Organic Trade Association shows these trade understandings have significantly boosted overseas business for U.S. organic. According to the OTA, these accords were found to […]
