Rome, Georgia-based Southeastern Mills Inc. has acquired The Original Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce and related assets from New Iberia, Louisiana-based Bruce Foods Corp. This acquisition includes all of the brands and intellectual property related to the hot sauce business, as well as the manufacturing and warehouse facilities in New Iberia. The Original Louisiana Brand Hot […]
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.
German Discount Grocer To Set Up U.S. HQ In Virginia
According to an article in the Washington Business Journal earlier this month, international discount grocer Lidl is planning to establish its corporate offices in Arlington, Virginia. Citing sources familiar with the deal, the Journal said the Germany-based grocer will use its Arlington base to first grow in the Washington, D.C., area and then expand into […]
For A Healthy Return, Invest Executive Time In New Hires
If your company does not arrange for a member of senior management to spend time with new hires during basic training you are missing an opportunity. The opportunity to help newly hired employees get a clear understanding of your company’s brand character as well as the financial drivers that make a retail grocery business successful. […]
Brookshire’s Hosts Grand Reopenings At Two Renovated Louisiana Stores
Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) on Wednesday celebrated the reopening of two of its Louisiana stores following remodeling work. The stores are located at 7920 DeSiard in Monroe and 802 Broadway in Delhi. The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Monroe store featured remarks from Mayor Jamie Mayo, Chamber of Commerce President Sue Nicholson and Brookshire Grocery Co. […]
Produce For Better Health Foundation Recognizes Sysco, FreshPoint With Role Model Award
Sysco Corp. and its specialty produce company, FreshPoint, recently were recognized with the Produce for Better Health Foundation’s (PBH) Role Model Award. The annual award recognizes public and private organizations for outstanding efforts in increasing the visibility, recognition and impact of the “Fruits & Veggies—More Matters” national health campaign. PBH launched the campaign and annual […]
NACS: Fuel Contributes To A Successful, Historic Year For C-Stores
Buoyed in part by low fuel prices, the U.S. convenience store industry had record in-store sales of $214.9 billion in 2014, higher than overall industry sales in 1998, according to figures released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Overall industry sales for 2014 reached $697.5 billion. The industry’s 2014 numbers were announced April […]
Sorkin Recognized With NGA Association Leadership Award
Stan Sorkin, president of the Connecticut Food Association (CFA), has been presented the National Grocers Association (NGA) Association Leadership Award for his dedication and longstanding service to the independent supermarket industry. Sorkin’s career has spanned nearly 50 years, working in numerous senior level merchandising and management positions with Pathmark Stores before joining Alpha I Marketing, […]
OTA Reports Organic Sales Jump 11 Percent From Previous Year, And More…
New Channels News In Brief According to the Organic Trade Association, sales of organic food and non-food products in the U.S. broke through another record in 2014, totaling $39.1 billion, up 11.3 percent from the previous year… Ocean State Job Lot of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, will make a $1.44 million food donation this year […]
Quick-Service Workers Protest For $15 Per Hour Hourly Wage, And More…
Food Service News In Brief Quick-service workers protested outside many McDonald locations and other restaurants around the country April 15 as part of an effort by labor groups pushing for a $15 hourly wage. The protests were organized by Fight for $15, a group backed by the Service Employees International Union pushing for the $15 […]
NATO, Massachusetts Groups Unite To Stop Minors’ Access To Tobacco, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) and three retail groups in Massachusetts have launched the Coalition For Responsible Retailing to tackle the issue of youth access to tobacco. Joining NATO are the New England Convenience Store Association, New England Service Station & Auto Repair Association and the Retailers Association […]
Meijer Piloting Curbside Service Program In Grand Rapids
Meijer has launched what it calls a new convenient way to shop. Meijer Curbside is a new shopping service that allows customers to shop for their items online and enjoy the convenience of picking up their groceries curbside without leaving the car. Currently being piloted at the Knapp’s Corner store at 1997 East Beltline Road […]
Borden Dairy Brings Mexico’s LALA Products To U.S. For First Time
Borden Dairy Co., a leading U.S. dairy processor and distributor headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is making two of Mexico’s favorite LALA product lines available in the U.S. for the first time. The initial offerings arrive on retail shelves this month in Southern California and include LALA Frutas dairy and fruit beverage and LALA Oaxaca Cheese. […]
Hy-Vee Crowns 2015 Cake Designer Challenge Winner
Eighteen of Hy-Vee’s most creative cake designers from across the Midwest competed Saturday for a shot at being named Hy-Vee’s best cake designer in the finals of the grocer’s 2015 Cake Designer Challenge. Janine Schwendinger, cake designer at the Hy-Vee Barlow Plaza store in Rochester, Minnesota, rose to the top of the competition, taking home […]
NACS: Consumer Optimism Strengthens As Gas Prices Remain Low
A majority of Americans say they are optimistic about the economy and low gas prices are driving the optimism. Overall, 52 percent of Americans are optimistic about the economy, an eight-point jump from March. Those most optimistic are younger consumers age 18-34 (58 percent) and those in the West (58 percent), according to survey results […]
Kroger Donated More Than 100K Pounds Of Fresh Food To N.C. Food Bank In 2014
The Kroger Co.‘s 14 stores in North Carolina donated 137,798 pounds of fresh meat, produce, dairy and bakery items to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina in 2014 through the chain’s Perishable Donations Partnership (PDP). Collectively, the 120 stores in Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic division, which spans six states including North Carolina, contributed a […]
The United Family To Offer Guests Tax Day Relief With Free Comfort Food
Guests of The United Family of stores will get a special break on Tax Day when they are treated to free beans and cornbread Wednesday, April 15, at 65 participating United Supermarkets, Market Street, Albertsons Market and Amigos locations in West Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth and New Mexico. The comfort food will be available from 4-8 […]
Roche Bros. Sets Opening For Downtown Crossing’s First Market
Roche Bros. has set Wednesday, April 29, as opening day for its Boston flagship Downtown Crossing supermarket in the newly restored Burnham Building. Roche Bros. is the first large-scale grocery store to be built in Downtown Crossing. The store will offer fresh food, favorite national grocery brands, local artisan finds, New England flavors and a wide […]
Matt O’Hare Promoted To JOH SVP Of Corporate Development
Matt O’Hare has been promoted to SVP of corporate development at JOH in Billerica, Massachusetts. His new primary responsibilities include JOH corporate business development with an emphasis on building new business, mergers and acquisitions, and information systems and technology. “This well-deserved promotion reflects Matt’s increasing role at JOH,” said Chip O’Hare, JOH CEO and chairman. “In […]
StarChefs.com Announces Greater Boston Chefs Rising Stars
StarChefs.com, a restaurant industry trends magazine, announced its 2015 Boston Rising Stars Awards, honoring up-and-coming chefs and other culinary professionals in the Boston area. Over the course of six months, the StarChefs.com team visited more than 100 chefs, pastry chefs, bartenders, sommeliers and artisans in Greater Boston. “The Boston dining and drinking scene is expanding beyond […]
Preferred Freezer Services To Open Eighth Facility In New Jersey
Preferred Freezer Services (PFS) is set to open its newest facility in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. PFS is an expanding company in the cold storage, warehousing and logistics industry; the Woodbridge Township facility is the company’s eighth cold storage facility in New Jersey and its 35th worldwide. The freezer at the new facility will occupy […]
