New Channels News In Brief… McCormick & Co. of Sparks, Maryland, has completed the purchase of Drogheria & Alimentari (D&A), a privately held company based in Italy. D&A is a leader in spices and seasonings in Italy. Annual sales are nearly $55 million (80 percent in Italy and 20 percent coming from exports to 60 […]
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.
Schnucks Building New DC In Kinloch, Missouri
Schnuck Markets this summer will begin construction on a new estimated $100 million, state-of-the-art distribution center at NorthPark in Kinloch, Missouri—in north St. Louis County. With more room and a more efficient layout than the company’s current distribution center in Bridgeton, Schnucks says the new complex supports the company’s ongoing customer commitment to deliver quality […]
DiGiorno Rolls Out Pizzeria! Thin Lineup
DiGiorno is introducing DiGiorno Pizzeria! Thin, a new crafted pizza that the company says will change perceptions about what frozen pizza should be. All four varieties of DiGiorno Pizzeria! Thin start with a crispy, preservative-free crust drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes. Varieties are: • Supreme Speciale: Topped with […]
Tennessee Grocers To Recognize Buchanan, Mayfield With Annual Awards
Each year, the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association (TGCSA) recognizes a Retailer and Supplier of the Year. The 2015 Retailer of the Year is United Grocery Outlet’s Gary Buchanan. The 2015 Supplier of the Year is Mayfield Dairy Farms’ Scottie Mayfield. Winners of the annual awards are TGCSA members, and the selections are based on store […]
Spear Takes Helm Of GMDC On June 1
The Global Market Development Center (GMDC) will complete its management transition on June 1 during the organization’s annual General Merchandise Conference, May 28-June 1 in Orlando. Industry leader and GMDC CEO Dave McConnell will transfer his role to GMDC President Patrick Spear. McConnell served as GMDC president and CEO for 15 of his 35-year career with […]
Idaho Reclaims Status As Nation’s Third-Largest Dairy Producer
Idaho has surpassed New York State as the nation’s third largest milk producer after California and Wisconsin, generating 13.9 billion pounds of milk in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest report. Idaho’s total dairy revenue in 2014 was up 12.5 percent over 2013 due to investments from companies including Chobani, Glanbia Foods […]
Domex Superfresh Growers Relaunches #EatCherries Summer Social Media Promotion
Domex Superfresh Growers, a global leader in the growing and shipping of fresh apples, pears, cherries and apricots, is expanding on the success of its “Sweeten Up Your Summer” #EatCherries social promotion with the addition of more consumer-focused cherry content that will be made available to retail partners. During the 2014 cherry season Domex Superfresh […]
Supermarkets Rank ‘Strong’ In Latest Customer Service Ratings
Supermarkets, retailers and banks, as an industry, earned average ratings of “strong” in the 2015 Temkin Customer Service Ratings, while TV service providers and internet service providers earned an average rating of “very weak.” Based on a study of 10,000 U.S. consumers, the ratings examine 278 companies across 20 industries. For the third straight year, […]
Weis Markets Increases Starting Hourly Rate To $9 Per Hour, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief Weis Markets will increase its starting hourly rate for newly hired associates to $9 an hour on Aug. 2. On this date, the company also will increase the minimum hourly rate for current hourly Weis associates to $9 an hour… The New Jersey Food Council Trade Relations Conference will be held […]
Pizzeria Regina Restaurants Remain Despite Parent Company’s Chapter 11 Filing, And More…
Food Service News In Brief The parent company of Pizzeria Regina has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but the pizza chain will continue even though it will close a few locations in food courts and malls. Boston Restaurant Associates entered bankruptcy proceedings in order to get out of several leases at some mall locations with slow foot […]
Hormel Foods To Buy Organic Meat Group Applegate Of New Jersey, And More…
New Channels News In Brief Hormel Foods Corp. plans to acquire Applegate of Bridgewater, New Jersey, a leading brand in the natural and organic value-added prepared meats category. Applegate will operate autonomously as a stand-alone subsidiary in the company’s refrigerated foods segment. Applegate has strategic relationships with a diverse set of manufacturers and processors who […]
Smart & Final’s Company Rebrand Focuses On ‘&’
Smart & Final, the company founded by J.S. Smart and H.D. Final, has a new branding campaign that it said places the ampersand (“&”)—already in the 144-year-old company’s name—front and center to showcase its relationship with both its customers and the communities it serves. The rollout includes print, radio, television and outdoor advertising in select markets […]
SEPC’s Southern Innovations Symposium To Debut Bright Ideas Platform
Southern Innovations Symposium, the newly named Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) Fall Conference, will be held Sept. 17-19 at the Wild Dunes Resort in Charleston, South Carolina. New to the conference this year is the Southern Innovations Bright Ideas Platform, a mini trade show featuring new and innovative ideas in produce. The Bright Ideas Platform will be […]
Clorox Executive Chairman Knauss To Retire July 1
The Clorox Co. Executive Chairman Donald R. Knauss has decided to retire from the company and the board, effective July 1. Knauss served as chairman and CEO of the company from October 2006-November 2014, when he stepped into a newly created executive chairman role and Benno Dorer was appointed CEO. “Don was an outstanding CEO […]
Team ShelbyUSA Readying For First-Ever CF Running Event
In the past few years, Team ShelbyUSA has walked, climbed, hiked and biked to fight cystic fibrosis. Now, it is building the first Team ShelbyUSA Running Team. This will be the first-ever CF running event for Team ShelbyUSA and the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation, Orange County Chapter. It will take place in Long Beach, California, […]
Raley’s And Partner Break Ground On Newest Urban Farm
Raley’s Family of Fine Stores and the Center for Land-Based Learning have partnered on the groundbreaking of the Food for Families Urban Farm. This unique partnership offers new pathways to developing urban farms in West Sacramento, California, thereby increasing access to fresh local produce, promoting community sustainability, encouraging volunteerism and stimulating educational opportunities. Twenty-five percent of the […]
New England Convenience Association Trade Show
The 2015 New England Convenience Store Association (NECSA) “Pot of Gold” trade show was held at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, in mid-March. In addition to the trade show, the two-day event included an operator awards night as well as a seminar on food service. See The Griffin Report’s photos from the trade show.
Self-Serve Fueling Legislation Proposed In New Jersey
Two New Jersey state senators have introduced legislation that would allow drivers to choose to pump their own gas in the Garden State for the first time since 1949. It also would decriminalize pumping one’s own gas. Senate Bill 2944 would allow for self-service, but also would require that fuel retailers offer at least one […]
Massachusetts AG Grants Temporary Reprieve For Sick Leave Policy
Massachusetts employers that already offer paid sick time to their workers now have until the end of 2015 to fully adjust their policies to comply with a new earned sick time law that goes into effect July 1. The provision offers “much-needed breathing room for employers” that need more time to adjust their payroll systems, […]
USDA Announces Funding To Assist With Organic Certification Costs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said approximately $11.9 million in organic certification assistance is available through state departments of agriculture to make organic certification more affordable for organic producers and handlers across the country. Through the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, $11 million is available to organic farms and businesses nationwide. Through the Agricultural […]
