As more convenience stores consider expanding their fresh produce offering in stores, a new resource has been published to help operators examine what they need to be successful with a fresh produce program. “Are You Fit For Fresh?” is 10-point checklist developed by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and the United Fresh Produce Association. […]
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.
College Study Suggests $15 Minimum Wage Could Hike Restaurant Prices
Boosting employee wages to $15 an hour at limited-service restaurants could lead to an estimated 4.3 percent increase in prices at those restaurants, according to a recent Purdue School of Hospitality and Tourism Management study. The study also says that increasing wages to $22 per hour would result in a 25 percent increase in menu prices. […]
Rite Aid Sales Rise, New CEO Appointed
Rite Aid’s same-store sales increased 2.4 percent for the four-week period ended July 25 compared to the prior-year period. July front-end same-store sales increased 0.1 percent. Pharmacy same-store sales increased 3.4 percent. Total drugstore sales for the four-week period increased 2.1 percent to $2.016 billion compared to $1.975 billion for the same period last year. […]
Wegmans To Open Fifth Bay State Store At The Natick Mall, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… Wegmans plans to open a 125,000-s.f. Massachusetts store at the Natick Mall in Natick by spring 2017. It will be the Rochester, New York-based grocer’s fifth store in Massachusetts; the company’s fourth location, a 122,000-s.f. unit, is set to open on University Avenue in Westwood on Oct. 11. Wegmans also is […]
NightFood Expands Distribution Network, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… NightFood Holdings Inc. of Tarrytown, New Jersey, a company dedicated to delivering better nighttime snack solutions to shoppers, has expanded its broker and distribution network with broker coverage of the entire East Coast. The company has entered into exclusive broker arrangements with Main Street Marketing in the Southeast and Tozzi […]
Study Finds 3 Percent Drop In Independent Restaurant Count, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… A 3 percent drop in independent restaurant unit counts compared to year ago brought the total U.S. restaurant count down by 1 percent to 630,511 units, according to a census of U.S. commercial restaurant locations compiled in the spring and fall each year by The NPD Group, a national research […]
Study Shows Costco, Wawa Are Favorite Places To Fuel Up, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Wawa and Costco are favorite places for motorists to fill up their gas tanks, according to a study by Market Force Information. Nearly 7,000 consumers were polled for the study, which was designed to uncover where consumers prefer to fuel up and why they prefer one chain to another. The […]
Fresh & Easy Downsize Continues
Fresh & Easy reportedly plans to close more grocery stores as it continues to downsize. The Orange County Register reported July 29 that the locations were expected to close by the end of the week. Three Orange County stores—in Fountain Valley, Lake Forest and Seal Beach—were among 14 slated for closure by the El Segundo-based […]
Michigan Grocers To Honor McDonough’s Market, Koegel Meats
McDonough’s Market on Beaver Island and Koegel Meats of Flint are the 2015 Al Kessel Outstanding Achievement Award winners, the Michigan Grocers Association announced today. “The awards honor former MGA board member Al Kessel, who passed away in 2012,” says MGA President and CEO Linda M. Gobler. “Al was the founder of Kessel Food Markets, […]
Asian Grocer Claims It’s First To Deliver Online Produce Nationwide
88MartGo.com, a leading online Asian foods grocer, is now selling fresh produce online nationwide, marking the first time that an online grocer has started delivering fresh produce across the U.S., according to the company. “We want to make sure that everyone has the same opportunity to get the best specialty ethnic foods no matter where […]
Haggen Pacific Southwest Chief Further Explains Layoffs
Following its announcement in mid-July that it would “cut back on staffing” as it struggles to gain its footing in its new territory of Southern California, Arizona and Nevada, Haggen is further explaining its action. “Some of you have heard by now that we have had to make some difficult decisions over the past few […]
Meijer Opens New Supercenter In Terre Haute, Indiana
Meijer on Thursday opened a new supercenter in Terre Haute, Indiana. The 195,000-s.f. store at State Road 46 and New Margaret Drive offers fresh produce and Certified Angus Beef delivered daily, affordable, high-quality merchandise and a full-service pharmacy that makes family healthcare a priority, according to the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer. “We are pleased to […]
Boston Public Market Opens As A Source Of Locally Produced Fresh Food
The Boston Public Market has opened at Haymarket Station in downtown Boston. It is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. The market is described as a year-round, self-sustaining market featuring fresh, locally sourced food brought directly from farmers, fishermen and food producers from Massachusetts and throughout New England. The market houses more than 35 vendors selling […]
7-Eleven To Sell 25 C-Stores In 10 States
7-Eleven plans to sell 25 gasoline stations and/or convenience stores in 10 states. The sale includes six locations in Virginia, three each in Colorado, Illinois, Texas and West Virginia, two each in Florida and Missouri, and one each in Nevada, New York and South Carolina. Robbie Radant, 7-Eleven’s VP of mergers and acquisitions, said, “This […]
Target Opening More Express Locations
Target continues to roll out its new TargetExpress brand with the opening of a store in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul, Minnesota. The 16,000-s.f. store caters to a community of families, empty-nesters and college students and includes a pharmacy and a robust organics section—the first of its kind at a TargetExpress. The store […]
Weis Markets Reports Strong 2Q Results, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… Weis Markets of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, has reported a 28.4 percent increase in its second quarter net income, while its sales for the same period increased 3.8 percent. “Our second quarter results reflect our continuing investments in sales-building strategies and disciplined promotions that helped us generate strong sales and net income increases,” […]
ABA Files Suit Over San Francisco Labeling Rule, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… The American Beverage Association has joined two other groups in trying to block San Francisco city rules requiring mandatory labels on soda advertisements. The label, which must be affixed to sugary beverages, would read, “Warning: Drinking beverages with added sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.” The lawsuit, which […]
SFA Honored For Work To Reduce Hunger, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has been awarded a Power of A Gold Award from the American Society of Association Executives for its work to help reduce hunger and increase food recovery via the grant-making, education and industry events of its Specialty Food Foundation. The foundation, established in 2014, in […]
Kroger’s First Female Corporate Officer To Retire Next Year
The Kroger Co.’s group VP for corporate affairs, Lynn Marmer, plans to retire in early 2016 after 18 years with the company. She joined Kroger in 1997 as a senior attorney in the legal department. When appointed to her current position in 1998, she became Kroger’s first female corporate officer. “Lynn has always appreciated the […]
Whole Foods’ Latest Leases Include Plans For Grocer’s First 365 Concept Stores
Whole Foods Market has signed leases for eight new stores and has renegotiated the lease for one of its stores in development. The announcement includes the Austin, Texas-based grocer’s first stores that will feature its 365 by Whole Foods Market concept. Those small-format stores are planned for Bellevue, Washington; Houston, Texas; Portland, Oregon; and Santa […]
