Texans voted and a whopping 79 percent selected as Bourbon Pecan Pie as their first ever, Lone Star State-exclusive Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor. Ben & Jerry’s brought Texans two of their biggest and boldest flavors as part of the ice cream company’s first “Texas Churned” summer tour and asked fans to vote for […]
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.
Dean Foods Names Scozzafava COO
Dean Foods Co. has named Ralph Scozzafava to EVP and COO, effective Oct. 1. He will continue to report directly to CEO Gregg Tanner. In his new role, Scozzafava will continue to oversee the commercial functions of sales, marketing and R&D along with the addition of operations and procurement and logistics. “I’ve really enjoyed the […]
NGA, OGA Member Hosts Congressman As A Store Employee For The Day
Congressman Bill Johnson (Ohio-6) this week visited Columbiana Foods Giant Eagle, which operates three supermarkets in Youngstown, Calcutta and East Liverpool, Ohio, and is a member store of the National Grocers Association (NGA) and the Ohio Grocers Association (OGA). Ron Graff Jr., VP of operations for Columbiana Foods, his wife Jennifer Graff, Bob and Pam […]
Most Trusted Brands In America Revealed
Reader’s Digest has released the results of the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand Survey, which makes its debut in the U.S. in the October issue, on newsstands Sept. 15. More than 4,500 Americans across the nation took part in the online survey, which awarded the “Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brand” title to winners in 40 product […]
Grocery Outlet Opening 14 L.A. Stores Starting In December
“Extreme-value” grocery retailer Grocery Outlet Bargain Market plans to open 14 stores throughout the Los Angeles area beginning in December, and continuing at a rapid pace throughout 2016. Grocery Outlet offers name brands such as Kraft, Kellogg’s, Tide, Tyson, Amy’s Kitchen, Naked Juice and many more with prices up to 60 percent off traditional supermarkets. […]
Vegetable-Centric: More Than ‘Meats’ The Eye
by Karen Caplan/Special to The Shelby Report Once upon a time, vegetables were served as a side dish or in a side salad. They were something you cooked to go with your meat. I even remember a time when fresh kale was used solely as a garnish! This is no longer the case. For the […]
FDA Halts Sale Of Four R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Products
On Sept. 16, the FDA issued orders that will stop the further sale and distribution of four currently marketed R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. cigarette products because the company’s submissions for these products did not meet requirements set forth in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA’s evaluation found that Camel Crush Bold, Pall Mall […]
OTA Targets New Opportunities With State Agriculture Directors
Laura Batcha, executive director and CEO of the Organic Trade Association, told the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Sept. 14 that state agriculture directors are critical in the creation of much-needed policies that provide more choice and opportunity—including the organic option—in today’s U.S. agricultural system. “This is a great time for farms […]
Subway Co-Founder DeLuca Passes Away, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… Fred DeLuca, who co-founded a small sandwich shop that grew to become Subway, died Sept. 14 at age 67. DeLuca had become a leader in the franchise business and was an active member of the International Franchise Association… The Massachusetts Restaurant Association is sponsoring a free safety and sanitation webinar […]
McKesson Expands Distribution Agreement With Albertsons, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… McKesson Corp. and Albertsons have signed a five-year distribution agreement to include the sourcing and distribution of both branded and generic pharmaceuticals, commencing on April 1, 2016. As part of the agreement, Albertsons’ network of nearly 1,700 pharmacies in its 2,200 stores across the country will receive McKesson’s proprietary OneStop […]
Food Retail Industry Readies For Implementation Of New Food Safety Rules
The food retail industry is readying for the implementation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new food safety rules. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI), in fact, is recognizing the FDA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s food safety system with the Sept. 10 release of two rules pursuant to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA): Preventive Controls for Human and Animal […]
Renovated Westwood Supermarket Is Ralphs’ Largest in SoCal
Ralphs will host a grand reopening of its remodeled Westwood Village supermarket on Friday. Following its expansion by more than 50,000 s.f. to 93,400 s.f., the store is the largest Ralphs in Southern California. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. at the store at 10861 Le Conte Avenue. “Westwood Village shoppers can expect […]
Kroger Marks 47th Quarter Of Positive ID Supermarket Sales
The Kroger Co. on Friday reported record results for its fiscal 2015 second quarter, marking the company’s 47th quarter of positive identical supermarket sales growth, excluding fuel. ID sales were up 5.3 percent, without fuel. The Cincinnati-based grocer’s net earnings were $433 million, or $0.44 per diluted share. Net earnings in the same period last […]
Food Lion Promo Saves Customers On Grocer’s Private Brand Products, Including New Fresh Produce Offerings
Through Oct. 6, Food Lion shoppers will receive 25 cents back for every private brand item they purchase, up to $10, through the grocer’s “Quarter Back” promotion. Food Lion recently redesigned its private label packaging under the Food Lion brand, making shopping for these items easy to find, easy to save and easy to trust, […]
Kings Food Markets Unveils Its Own Private Line
Kings Food Markets of Parsippany, New Jersey, has unveiled its own line of gourmet foods, procuring a selection of domestic, local and international items with what the grocer calls uncompromised quality that shoppers have come to expect from the 25-store chain. The line will carry everything from household essentials like orange juice, syrup and eggs to […]
New York Gov. Cuomo Pushes For $15 Minimum Wage
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, joined by U.S. VP Joe Biden, rallied Sept. 10 for fair pay for New York’s workers and announced a push to make New York the first state in the nation to adopt a $15 per hour minimum wage. This announcement came on the same day that New York Acting State Labor […]
Food Service And Lodging Numbers Continue To Rise
Two noted food service and lodging analysts recently had good numbers to report to guests and members of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association (RIHA), with the most promising numbers for the Rhode Island lodging market. Hudson Riehle, SVP of research and knowledge for the National Restaurant Association, and Rachel Roginsky were guest speakers at the […]
Multi-State Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Imported Cucumbers
The CDC, multiple states and the FDA are investigating a multi-state outbreak of salmonella that has sickened 341 people, sent 70 people to the hospital across 30 states and caused the deaths of two people at this writing. CDC officials say trace-back investigations have identified imported cucumbers from Mexico, distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce, […]
NECSA Adds New Beverage Summit To October Annual Meeting, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… The New England Convenience Store Association (NECSA) has added a beverage summit to its Oct. 22 annual meeting and dinner agenda. The program, to be held prior to the evening agenda, is open for 12 available vendor brands. The vendors will be in front of 12 retail buyers. There is […]
NYC Health Board OKs Warning On Menu Items With High Salt, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… The New York City Board of Health has voted to require chain restaurants to put salt-shaker symbols on menus to denote dishes with more than the recommended daily limit of 2,300 milligrams of sodium. New York City is the first U.S. city to implement such a requirement. The warning will […]
