Teamsters at MillerCoors breweries in Eden, North Carolina, and Fort Worth, Texas, have ratified new three-year contracts. The agreements cover more than 900 employees at the two breweries and provide lifetime retiree healthcare benefits. Members of Local 391 and 997 at each location voted earlier this month to ratify the contracts by 88 percent. “Our […]
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.
Posted in, Executive News, Produce News, West
Tim Spann Returns To California Avocado Commission
California avocado season is getting under way, and the California Avocado Commission (CAC) has updated its production forecast to 327 million pounds for its fiscal year 2014-15. CAC also says that Dr. Timothy Spann has returned to the commission staff and now serves as research program director. Spann, who has a Ph.D. in plant biology […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southwest
Natural Grocers Opening Wichita Store Feb. 24
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage will open its second Wichita, Kansas, store Feb. 24 at 10520 West 13th Street N. The Colorado-based grocer says it will provide the Wichita-Maize community with fresh produce that is only USDA Certified Organic as well as other healthy, affordable natural and organic groceries. The store will feature a mix […]
Posted in, Center Store, Executive News, Midwest, National, Suppliers
Nonni’s Foods Appoints Brian Hansberry CEO
Nonni’s Foods, a leading provider of premium, specialty cookies and baked goods, has named Brian Hansberry CEO. Hansberry succeeds Dave Beré, who is retiring from the role of CEO and will now serve as chairman of the company’s board of directors. Hansberry brings more than 25 years of experience to his new role, most recently […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Executive News, Independent Store News, West
Haggen Pacific Southwest Hires Director Of Produce
Supermarket and produce industry veteran Chris Jacoby is among the latest hires at Haggen’s new Pacific Southwest Division, headquartered in Irvine, California. Jacoby joins Haggen as the division’s director of produce. He most recently was sales manager at Coast Produce and, prior to that, worked for Progressive Produce. Additionally, from 1998-2012, he worked with Albertsons/Supervalu […]
Posted in, Executive News, National, Suppliers, Women In The News
FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg Stepping Down
FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., plans to step down at the end of March following six years as commissioner of the organization. The FDA’s chief scientist, Dr. Stephen Ostroff, will serve as acting commissioner following her departure. Hamburg did not cite a reason for leaving. In a letter to colleagues, Hamburg said, “As you […]
Posted in, National, Southeast, Suppliers
P&G Building State-Of-The-Art Manufacturing Plant In West Virginia
The Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) will build a multi-category manufacturing facility in Berkeley County, West Virginia, in the eastern panhandle of the state near the town of Tabler Station. When the plant opens in 2017, it will be one of the most advanced and sustainable plants among P&G’s global manufacturing and supply chain operations, the […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Midwest
Fall At Kentucky Gorge Claims Life Of 36-Year-Old Kroger Exec
A 36-year-old Kroger executive died over the weekend after a reported fall in eastern Kentucky. WCPO Cincinnati reports that Mr. Jason M. Lazor fell 200 feet at Red River Gorge late Friday night, according to Wolfe County Coroner Frank Porter. In an earlier report the coroner’s office stated alcohol was a factor in Mr. Lazor’s […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southeast, Store News
Rouses To Take Over Two Winn-Dixie Stores In Louisiana
Rouses Markets plans to open new stores in Kenner and Ponchatoula, Louisiana, taking over buildings that currently are occupied by Winn-Dixie. The New Orleans Advocate reports that Rouses will open in Keener this summer at 4041 Williams Boulevard, moving out of its current spot at 1000 West Esplanade. “The whole shopping center there is kind […]
Posted in, Executive News, National, Suppliers
The J.M. Smucker Co. Makes Executive Appointments
The J.M. Smucker Co. has made a series of key executive promotions designed to position the Ohio-based company for continued growth and success following the recently announced planned acquisition of Big Heart Pet Brands, which is expected to be completed by the end of the company’s fiscal year in April 2015. The company’s board of […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National, Online Grocery Technology
Aptaris, Accelitec Partner To Bring Enterprise Marketing And Promotions Management To POS
Aptaris, an enterprise marketing and promotions management provider, and Accelitec, a provider of cloud-based digital and mobile marketing solutions, are partnering to deliver services that provide marketers with greater ability to identify consumer behavior and act on opportunities to drive profitability. The arrangement will allow marketers and merchandisers to use Aptaris’ enterprise marketing and promotions […]
Posted in, West
Unified Grocers Reports 1Q Sales Increase
Unified Grocers has reported improved net sales of $17.9 million, up 1.9 percent, for its first quarter of fiscal 2015 ended Dec. 27, 2014. This sales increase reflected ongoing improvement in the company’s core business. “We are extremely pleased by the continued growth in sales,” said Bob Ling, president and CEO of Commerce, California-based Unified […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Store News
Debunking Myth Of ‘Typical’ Hispanic Food Shopper Key To Market Growth For Grocers
While Hispanic food shoppers offer a rich opportunity for food marketers and retailers, they also present a potentially bewildering set of challenges. As highlighted in the “Hispanic Food Shoppers in the U.S.” report from market research publisher Packaged Facts, the in-store behavior of Hispanic food shoppers is the product of a complex interplay among a […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest, Store News
Earth Fare To Open First Michigan Store This Month In Portage
Earth Fare will open its first Michigan store in Portage, at 5070 S. Westnedge Avenue, on Feb. 25. As mlive.com reports, the local operation is part of a growing Asheville, North Carolina-based chain of supermarkets in the Southeast and Midwest that has been anticipated by area people who like natural and organic foods. The Earth Fare […]
Posted in, Produce News, Suppliers, West
Giumarra Introduces Exclusive ‘DulceVida’ Line Of Flavorful Stone Fruit Varieties
Giumarra has announced its first year of limited commercial production for its exclusive, extra sweet Nature’s Partner DulceVida line of red apricots and white, black and yellow nectarines. “We chose the name DulceVida because it translates to ‘Sweet Life’ and emphasizes the fruit’s combination of superb flavor and European origin, expressing a one-of-a-kind eating experience […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Southeast
Publix Settles Overtime Pay Case
Publix Super Markets has agreed to pay $30 million to settle a lengthy legal battle about overtime pay. The Ledger reports that the settlement was approved the first week of February in Tennessee federal court, bringing an end to a collective lawsuit filed in May 2012. Lakeland, Florida-based Publix had been accused of failing to […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, Organic Natural, Suppliers
Snyder’s-Lance Names New Better-For-You Division Clearview Foods, Appoints GM
Snyder’s-Lance Inc.’s new division that will focus on developing innovative and better-for-you snacking options now has a name: Clearview Foods. The division will concentrate its efforts on growing the Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps, Eat Smart and Late July Organic Snacks products, according to Charlotte, North Carolina-based Snyder’s-Lance, which first announced the new division last year. […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Supervalu To Host 2015 National Sales Show In August
Following the success of its inaugural national sales show last year, Supervalu Inc. says it will host the 2015 National Expo in August in St. Paul, Minnesota. This year’s event will be held Aug. 11-13 at the RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul and is open to the more than 2,000 independent retail customers served by […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National, Southwest, Store News
Whole Foods, Instacart Offer New One-Hour Valentine’s Floral Delivery
For the first time ever, and exclusively from Whole Foods Market, Instacart is offering Valentine’s flowers delivered in as little as one hour across 15 major U.S. cities. With prices starting at approximately $25 and the ability to include other romantic essentials from Whole Foods Market, this new model offers a more convenient and affordable […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest, Store News
Ohio Grocers Honor Rideout, Wagner Families With Pinnacle Awards
The Ohio Grocers Association (OGA) presented its Pinnacle Award to Rideout’s IGA Foodliner and the Rideout family as well as to Wagner’s IGA and the Wagner family last week. The Pinnacle Award, based on operational excellence and significant contribution to Ohio’s food industry, is given annually to both a single-store operator and a multi-store operation. […]