The Lipari Food Show, held April 22, had a superheroes theme and some impressive numbers. Approximately 6,000 people passed through the doors at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan. About 158 brokers sold to customers hailing mainly from 12 states in the Midwest. The show grew by 80 booths vs. last year, bringing the […]
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.
Blue Bell To Begin Intensive Cleaning And Training, Vows ‘Fresh Start’ After Recall
Blue Bell Creameries says that, on Monday, it will embark on an intensive cleaning program while it simultaneously conducts a new training program for its employees at all four of its production facilities in Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas. The announcement follows the company’s recall of all of its products after reports of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. […]
Budweiser Partners With National Park Foundation For Patriotic Packaging
This week, in celebration of Earth Week, Budweiser echoed its continued support and commitment to the environment through a partnership with the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official charity of America’s national parks, for the Find Your Park movement. The multi-million-dollar partnership raises awareness about national parks and the centennial milestone of the National Park […]
Lenny & Larry’s Launch New Snickerdoodle Complete Cookie At Venice Beach Event Today
Lenny & Larry’s is rolling out its Snickerdoodle Complete Cookie. Made with ground cinnamon and sugar, plus a little twist, the Snickerdoodle is an all-natural, high-protein morsel. To introduce the Snickerdoodle into the Lenny & Larry’s “fit family,” a launch event will be held for all ages today at California’s Muscle Beach on the Venice […]
Setton Farms Becomes Official Sponsor Of Upcoming Produce For Kids Campaign
Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc.—the nation’s second largest pistachio processor and maker of Setton Farms Pistachio Chewy Bites based in California’s Central Valley—is now the official sponsor of the upcoming Acme Markets and Produce for Kids campaign. The promotion will help raise funds for Philabundance, the largest hunger relief organization in the Delaware Valley, […]
Weis Announces $92M Capital Expansion Plan
Weis Markets Chairman Jonathan Weis says his company plans to invest $92 million in the growth and upgrade of its store base, information technology systems and supply chain. At the company’s annual shareholders meeting April 23, Weis said, “We continue to invest in the upgrade of our store base and information technology infrastructure. In 2015, we […]
Sysco Opposes FTC’s Motion To Block Sysco-US Foods Merger
Sysco Corp. has filed a memorandum opposing the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s effort to block its proposed merger with US Foods. Sysco filed the memorandum in the U.S. Federal District Court for the District of Columbia in opposition to the FTC’s motion for preliminary injunction. A hearing on the FTC’s motion is scheduled to begin […]
Vermont Attorney General Adopts GMO Labeling Bill
The Vermont Attorney General’s Office has formally adopted the regulations implementing the law requiring the labeling of foods produced with genetically modified organisms. The rule takes effect July 1, 2016. “This is a process that began with the legislature’s careful crafting of Act 120,” said Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell. “We are pleased at the […]
E-Cigarette Use By Teenagers Rises As Smoking Drops, And More…
C-Store News In Brief A new report released by the CDC shows that 13 percent of middle and high school students used electronic cigarettes in 2014—triple the number from the year before. At the same time, the share of high school students who smoked traditional cigarettes declined substantially, to 9 percent in 2014 from 16 […]
The Melting Pot Fuels Expansion In Hartford, Connecticut, With Incentive, And More…
Food Service News In Brief The Melting Pot Restaurants of Tampa, Florida, a fondue restaurant and a casual dining franchise, is accelerating its expansion effort in Hartford, Connecticut, by offering a significant discount on its initial franchise fee. In honor of its 40th anniversary, The Melting Pot will offer new franchisees who sign a franchise […]
UNFI G&E Channel Reveals Some Highlights Of Upcoming ‘Customer Experience’
United Natural Foods Inc. (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 feature a number of suppliers and products. Among them: Sylvia’s Restaurant will highlight its line of Southern fry mixes, sauces […]
Hershey’s Caramels Making Debut In Stores
The Hershey Co. is rolling out new Hershey’s Caramels, a blend of Hershey’s chocolate with smooth, creamy caramel. Made with sea salt, molasses and fresh dairy butter, the caramel pieces are enrobed with milk or dark chocolate. Cocoa is added to the milk chocolate variety to provide a rich, deep chocolate flavor that complements the […]
New M&M’s, Pillsbury Products Take Top Spots In Latest Shelf Score Report
Instantly, the world’s largest audience and insights company, has released its latest Shelf Score report, a monthly top 10 list of the newest CPG products ranked by consumer purchase intent. Many of the March report’s top products feature spring flavors, such as M&M’s new Easter candy (76 percent purchase intent) and Pillsbury Funfetti Spring Cake Mix […]
GMA To Honor Three Industry Leaders With Hall Of Achievement Awards
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) will honor former ConAgra Foods CEO Gary Rodkin, former Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson and Flowers Foods’ Board Chairman George Deese with the GMA Hall of Achievement Award in August. The Hall of Achievement Award, GMA’s highest honor, recognizes the service and extraordinary contributions of distinguished food, beverage and […]
Northgate Gonzalez Markets Hosts Partner Appreciation Event At Family Ranch
The Gonzalez family, owner of Northgate Gonzalez Markets, hosted its 3rd Annual Partner Appreciation Day on Friday at the family ranch in Riverside County, California. Guests were asked to wear boots, jeans and white shirts and were given a choice of three styles of cowboy hats to wear when they arrived. The Southern California grocer’s […]
Alabama Grocers Association Holds Spring Golf Tourney
The Alabama Grocers Association held its 23rd Annual Spring Golf Outing earlier this month at Inverness Country Club in Birmingham. The tournament included two flights and raised a spring record for the Alabama Grocers Education Foundation (AGEF), which funds scholarships to employees and children of employees of Alabama Grocers Association companies. To date, AGEF has […]
Mrs. Freshley’s Rolling Out Limited-Edition Items For Summer
Mrs. Freshley’s is introducing a couple of new items for the summer season. The brand’s Limited Edition Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes are hitting shelves now. Featuring strawberry flavored cupcakes filled with creme, the product is available in 4-oz. single-serve 2-packs through Sept. 30. SRP ranges from $0.99-$1.39, and the product is packed in a 36-count case. […]
Target Settles With MasterCard On Data Breach Impact To Card Users, And More…
New Channels News In Brief Target has entered into a settlement agreement with MasterCard relative to the data breach that Target experienced during the fourth quarter of 2013. Under the agreement, alternative recovery offers will be made by MasterCard to eligible MasterCard issuers worldwide that issued MasterCard-branded payment cards claimed to have been affected by the […]
NHLRA Warns About Possible Tourism Promotion Cuts, And More…
Food Service News In Brief The New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association (NHLRA) has notified its members that the New Hampshire House of Representatives has chosen to suspend the law that establishes the Division of Travel and Tourism Development (DTTD) budget and cut $3.77 million from DTTD’s tourism development fund. That is roughly a 75 […]
NACS Toolkit Shares Strategies For Success In Site Approval And Zoning
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has published a new Site Approval Toolkit to share strategies for retailers seeking zoning approvals. The 32-page NACS Site Approval Toolkit is designed to help convenience retailers—whether a one-store operator or chain looking to grow store count or modernize a site’s operations—better understand the planning process and address community […]
