Meat and poultry products remain among the top choices for shoppers at retail, but the 10th annual “Power of Meat” study published by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and North American Meat Institute (NAMI) highlights several trends in the way consumers are changing their purchasing behavior. These include: • Price per pound remains a top […]
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.
Lykins Brings Gulf Brand Back After 20 Years
Lykins Energy Solutions is partnering with Gulf Oil for an exclusive deal to represent the brand in the greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky markets. It will bring the Gulf brand back for the first time in more than two decades. A “The Legend is Back.” advertising campaign will begin in early March. The relationship between […]
Bashas’ Celebrates New Look With Grand Opening Event Beginning Today
Bashas’ is celebrating its newly remodeled grocery store, located at 7586 W. Thunderbird Road (at 75th Avenue) in Peoria, Arizona, beginning today. The store has a new floral department with a variety of flowers and gifts; an expanded selection of products, including more organic and healthy options; a revamped deli and bakery with ice cream by […]
Survey: Fresh Produce And Prices Matter Most To Supermarket Shoppers
Despite glowing headlines about America’s economic recovery, millions of people struggle with stagnant wages and an increased cost of living. As a result, nearly 60 percent of consumers say finding a deal is important when they’re food shopping, according to the 2015 Annual National Grocers Association (NGA)-SupermarketGuru Consumer Survey. Nearly 1,000 shoppers completed surveys that […]
Volunteers ‘Share The Love’ To Help Hungry Oklahomans
Employees from Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores earlier this month joined the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Regional Food Bank’s Moore Food Resource Center in the fight against hunger through its annual “Share the Love” event. Nearly 90 employees volunteered their time to ensure Oklahomans would have enough to eat this spring […]
AWMA Launches New State Government Affairs Initiative
The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) has launched a new initiative to provide members with information and the ability to take action on state governmental developments that affect their businesses and the convenience distribution industry. Anne Holloway, VP of government affairs, says the initiative has two key components: • The appointment of Dirk Smith as […]
Nature’s Variety Instinct Pet Food Debuts Campaign To Support Shelter Animals
Three to four million healthy and adoptable pets are killed in America’s animal shelters each year simply because they don’t have a place to call home. To help increase awareness of and save the pets available for adoption, St. Louis-based Nature’s Variety, makers of the Instinct brand and newly named Official Pet Food Partner of […]
2015 Woman Executive Of The Year: Tanya Domier
While she always aimed high, Tanya Domier never really set her sights on being a CEO. “I never grew up or even went through the business feeling like I needed to be number 1 in the organization,” she says. Today, however, Domier leads Advantage Sales & Marketing as its CEO. And there’s plenty of reasons […]
Nestlé Removing Artificial Flavors, FDA-Certified Colors From Chocolate Candy
Nestlé USA says it will remove artificial flavors and FDA-certified colors, like Red 40 and Yellow 5, from all of its chocolate candy products. By the end of 2015, more than 250 products and 10 brands, including Nestlé Butterfinger, Crunch and Baby Ruth, will be free of artificial flavors and certified colors. Products will begin […]
North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission’s Leader To Retire
The longtime leader of the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission (NCSPC), Sue Johnson-Langdon, is retiring. For more than 25 years, Johnson-Langdon has been closely involved with the agricultural production and marketing of sweet potatoes. Beginning in 1989, she served on the commission’s board of directors in the office of secretary. She was hired as the […]
Ben & Jerry’s Newest Flavor Stars Jimmy Fallon
It’s been a full year since Jimmy Fallon took over the longest running talk show in television history and, to recognize the accomplishment, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield earlier this week served up the aptly named “The Tonight Dough” to the Fallon faithful who were in the audience to […]
Brookshire Grocery Co. Shows Appreciation For Local Growers
Tyler, Texas-based regional grocery retailer Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) hosted its second annual Local Growers Appreciation Luncheon this week, honoring local farmers who supply fresh produce sold in BGC stores throughout Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. A highlight of the luncheon was a speech by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tyler) who discussed the impact of government regulations […]
Heineken’s ‘Beers Of Mexico’ Variety Pack Returns
Heineken USA is again making available its Beers of Mexico variety pack with limited-edition offering, Dos Equis Azul—a blend of signature golden wheat lager and blue agave. Dos Equis Azul will once again join Heineken USA’s Mexican beers—Dos Equis Lager, Tecate and Sol—in one Fiesta Pack. The pack will be supported with seasonally relevant cross-merchandising […]
Yuengling’s Ice Cream Reveals New Flavors For 2015
Customers this month will begin to see four new flavors of Yuengling’s Ice Cream in stores. The flavors—Original Sea Salt Caramel Swirl, Caramel Popcorn, Orange Cream and Peanut Butter Cup—will join the company’s roster of 10 year-round flavors and two seasonal ice creams. Original Sea Salt Caramel Swirl, the most requested new flavor, combines the company’s […]
Whole Foods Opens Ninth NYC Store On Upper East Side
Whole Foods Market on Wednesday opened its ninth New York City store on the Upper East Side at East 87th Street (1551 3rd Avenue). The 39,000-s.f. three-story grocery store serves as a community destination, offering Upper East Side residents a full range of high-quality natural and organic foods, with a heavy emphasis on products catering […]
New Study Reveals Growing Influence Of The Male Shopper
How and where Americans shop for food is changing dramatically, according to a new study, “Food Shopping in America 2014.” The study unveils the evolving shopping landscape of not only where people shop, but who is doing the shopping. Increasingly, men (who now compose 43 percent of primary shoppers) are shopping frequently and they now […]
V8 Launches Four New Vegetable Blend Beverages
Campbell Soup Co. is rolling out new V8 Vegetable and Fruit Juice Beverages, blends of vegetables with a touch of fruit. The new varieties include Healthy Greens, Purple Power, Golden Goodness and Carrot Mango. • Healthy Greens: the juices of Spinach, Yellow Carrots, Apples and Pineapple; • Purple Power: the juices of Purple Carrots, Beets […]
Giumarra’s Spring Watermelons To Feature ‘Eat Brighter!’ Label
Giumarra Nogales will begin spring Nature’s Partner melon shipments at the end of March and will offer seedless watermelon grown in Mexico featuring Sesame Street “eat brighter!” artwork. The watermelon program is designed to get children and their families excited about eating watermelon, a fruit high in vitamins C and A. Each individual watermelon will […]
Mondelez International Acquires Enjoy Life Foods
Mondelez International has acquired Enjoy Life Foods, a private U.S. snacks company and a market-leading brand in the fast-growing “free-from” segment. Enjoy Life offers more than 40 products, including cookies, chocolate, snack bars and savory snacks that are allergy friendly and gluten free. Enjoy Life’s products are free from the eight most common allergens—wheat, dairy, peanuts, […]
Raley’s Celebrates 80th Anniversary
Eighty years ago today, Thomas P. Raley opened his first store on Main Street in Placerville and advertised it as “the nation’s first drive-in market.” So began what has become known as Raley’s Family of Fine Stores, a now integral part of many California and northern Nevada communities. Today, with 128 stores and approximately 13,000 […]
