Food Service News In Brief The Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA) is reviewing recommendations made by the state Attorney General’s office for implementing the Mandated Sick Leave Law. The next phase is a public comment period, and the AG’s office has scheduled a series of nine listening sessions and public hearings on the draft regulations to […]
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.
Report: Lower Gas Prices Mean More Spending At The Grocery Store
Acosta Sales & Marketing has released the 11th edition of “The Why? Behind the Buy” report, which analyzes how Americans grocery shop and what drives consumers’ purchase decisions. Acosta’s latest research outlines shifts in the consumer decision-making process to help CPG companies and retailers hone their sales and marketing strategies. “Grocery shopping has become a […]
Kellogg Co. Promotes Norman To President, North America
Kellogg Co. has made two leadership changes to, according to the company, help drive future growth in its North American business. Paul Norman has been named president of Kellogg North America, reporting directly to Chairman and CEO John Bryant. Craig Bahner will join Kellogg as president, U.S. Morning Foods, reporting to Norman. “The combination of […]
Private Investment Firm Acquires Fiesta Mart
Fiesta Mart, the family-owned Hispanic grocery chain with 60 stores throughout Texas, has been acquired by private investment group Acon Investments. Former Bi-Lo executive Michael Byars has been appointed president and CEO of Fiesta. “We are excited to be partnering with Mike and the entire Fiesta team,” said Ken Brotman, a founding partner of Acon. “Fiesta […]
McCormick Selects Hunt Valley Site As Preferred Location For New Headquarters
McCormick & Co. is working toward finalizing an agreement that will make 99 Shawan Road in Hunt Valley, Maryland, its new company headquarters. The process is expected to take several months, and McCormick says the move is an effort to consolidate more than 900 employees currently located across several buildings in Hunt Valley and Sparks […]
NGA, FMI Advocate For Legislation To Scale Back FDA’s Menu Labeling Rule
The National Grocers Association (NGA) and Food Marketing Institute (FMI) offered their support to cosponsors of the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015, HR 2017, a bipartisan bill reintroduced into Congress on Tuesday with the goal of addressing what the groups say is the FDA’s misinterpretation of a chain restaurant menu labeling law that […]
2015 BGC Golf Tournament Raises $500K For Charity
Approximately $500,000 was raised Monday through the 27th annual Brookshire’s Benefit Golf Tournament. The funds will be distributed among more than 100 children’s charities throughout Brookshire Grocery Co.’s (BGC) three-state market area. More than 660 golfers—comprised of BGC leaders, representatives from more than 230 vendor companies and other business associates—competed at six golf courses throughout […]
WAFC’s Retail Management Certificate Lauded By White House
At an April 24 gathering at the White House centered on “Upskilling America,” the Western Association of Food Chains’ (WAFC) Retail Management Certificate received recognition. According to a statement from the White House’s Office of the Press Secretary, “Labor leaders such as local affiliates of SEIU and AFL-CIO, nonprofits like Goodwill and industry groups such as […]
McLane Debuts McLane Kitchen
McLane Grocery Distribution, a business unit of McLane Co., has launched the McLane Kitchen for its customers in the convenience, grocery, drug and mass market channels. The McLane Kitchen says it approaches food service from the consumer’s point of view in terms of types of foods preferred and by daypart. It provides useful category insights […]
Baltimore Restaurants Respond To Riots With Free Food And Beverage For Peacekeepers
Baltimore, Maryland, restaurants are riding out the riots by offering support in the form of free food and coffee to firefighters, police, Maryland National Guard, paramedics and EMTs as well as calling for solidarity, peace and support through social media hashtags. Bagby Restaurant Group CEO Chris Becker said, “This is too great a city to […]
Vermont Federal District Court Upholds GMO Labeling Law
U.S. Federal District Court Judge Christina Reiss on Monday ruled against the Grocery Manufacturers Association and other food industry groups in their request for a preliminary injunction to block a GMO labeling law from going into effect on July 1, 2016. The GMA released this statement after the court ruling. “While we are pleased that the […]
Ahold USA Furthers Plans For Fresh Formats Division, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief Fresh Formats LLC, a division of Ahold USA, is developing a new grocery shopping experience that will be introduced later this year. Fresh Formats opened a small store in Philadelphia in December called “Everything Fresh.” Suzi Robinson of Fresh Formats said, “We consider it a learning lab and are focused on gaining […]
Ahold USA Furthers Plans For Fresh Formats Division, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief Fresh Formats LLC, a division of Ahold USA, is developing a new grocery shopping experience that will be introduced later this year. Fresh Formats opened a small store in Philadelphia in December called “Everything Fresh.” Suzi Robinson of Fresh Formats said, “We consider it a learning lab and are focused on gaining […]
QuickChek Named One Of Best Places To Work In New York State, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief QuickChek Corp. has been named one of the Best Places to Work in New York State for the third consecutive year. The family-owned company operates 140 retail locations throughout New Jersey and New York. The convenience store chain enjoys the distinction of being honored in both states, having been named one […]
Outback Steakhouse Expands Lunch Program Nationwide, And More…
Food Service News In Brief Outback Steakhouse has launched its lunch program into 70 percent of its 988 locations with a selection of combination meals starting at $6.99… The New Hampshire House of Representatives is expected to vote this week to authorize two casinos to be built in New Hampshire. The House Ways and Means […]
Rich’s Debuts New Innovation Center At Buffalo Headquarters
While global food giant Rich Products Corp. continues executing its aggressive worldwide growth strategy, the company says it also has ramped up its mission to provide new, innovative, on-trend products and solutions to customers thanks to the recent opening of the $18.5 million, 84,000-s.f. “Innovation Center and Atrium @ Rich’s.” As part of Rich’s goal […]
Kroger Buys Certain Dunnhumby Assets To Create New ‘84.51°’ Business
DunnhumbyUSA joint venture partners dunnhumby Ltd. and The Kroger Co. today announced what they call a “new chapter in their successful alliance that will provide greater flexibility for both parties to use data to create substantial opportunities for innovation and growth.” Under the new arrangements dunnhumby Ltd. and Kroger will replace their existing exclusive joint […]
Hawaii Becomes First State To Pass Bill To Up Tobacco Purchase Age
On Friday, Hawaii became the first state in the nation to pass legislation to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. The bill now goes to Gov. David Ige for his signature. Hawaii joins at least 64 cities and counties in seven states that have raised the tobacco age […]
Consumers Increasingly Turning To Fresh Items In C-Stores
More than one in three Americans (34 percent) say that they have purchased more snacks that are considered “healthy choices” over the past year, and they are increasingly turning to convenience stores for these healthy purchases, according to survey results released today by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). More than six in 10 […]
UNFI G&E Channel To Create Food Adventure At Upcoming ‘Customer Experience’
United Natural Foods (UNFI) Gourmet & Ethnic (G&E) Channel’s new “Customer Experience” at this year’s Foxwoods Tabletop Show, to be held May 13-14 at Fox Tower at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, will host an entire ballroom featuring gourmet and ethnic food brands. The Customer Experience will feature vocal artist and 2015 “Dancing With The […]
