In response to U.K. disclosure obligations, today Imperial Tobacco PLC issued an announcement describing certain discussions among Imperial, Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) and Lorillard Inc. Reynolds and Lorillard confirmed the talks. Reynolds American said it is in discussions regarding a possible acquisition of Lorillard. British American Tobacco (BAT), RAI’s largest shareholder, is participating in 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.
Posted in, Northeast
Market Basket Employees Vow To Take Company Back
Market Basket employees continue to protest the actions of the company’s board of directors. The board ousted Arthur T. Demoulas as company president and CEO as well as VP Joseph Rockwell and longtime Operations Director Bill Marsden on June 23. On June 24, hundreds of Market Basket employees rallied at a Chelsea, Mass., store to protest […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Store News
Doris Italian Market Will Open 6th Store In N. Palm Beach
Specialty grocer Doris Italian Market & Bakery will open in a portion of a former Winn-Dixie store in North Palm Beach, Fla., announced the deal’s broker, Continental Real Estate Cos. (CREC), on July 10. The store is located in the Shoppes at City Centre, a renovated 110,000-s.f. shopping complex centrally located at the southwest quadrant […]
Posted in, Industry News, Perishables
Inventure Foods Introduces Vitamin-Enhanced Rader Brand Frozen Fruit
Inventure Foods has introduced Rader Farms Fruit PLUS Vitamins, the first-ever fortified whole frozen fruit product. Using proprietary technology and topical nutrients sourced from whole fruits and vegetables, Fruit PLUS Vitamins builds on naturally-occurring vitamins found within whole strawberries, blueberries and blackberries and boosts the nutrition level with five additional vitamins, including B1, B6, D, E […]
Posted in, Grocery News, New Products, Organic Natural, West
La Tourangelle Launches First Artisan Cooking Spray Oil
Adding to its repertoire of gourmet oils, La Tourangelle, the company that utilizes a 150-year-old traditional production method with its artisan mill in Woodland, Calif., introduced its spray oils set July 15. Finding a gap in the market for a healthy, propellant-free, all-natural spray oil product, La Tourangelle CEO Matthieu Kohlmeyer said he decided it […]
Posted in, West
California Cantaloupe Board Debuts Summer Consumer Sweepstakes
The California Cantaloupe Advisory Board’s Summertime Yum & Cantaloupe Fun online sweepstakes promotion is now under way and is designed to draw more people to the organization’s website and social media properties. Last year the California cantaloupe industry established a new mandatory food safety program and launched an on-line education effort designed to increase confidence […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Midwest, National
Metro Detroit Youth Day Celebrates 32nd Anniversary July 9
One of the highlights of summer for more than 35,000 youngsters from the Metro Detroit area is the annual Metro Detroit Youth Day (MDYD). This year, the event for children will celebrate its 32nd anniversary on July 9 at Belle Isle Park from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. It is the largest youth event in Michigan, according […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Midwest
Jewel-Osco Opening Five Chicagoland Stores Today
‘Grand reopening’ celebrations planned at 14 remodeled locations tomorrow Five new Jewel-Osco stores are opening today at 5 p.m. with “celebratory galas” across Chicago. Town officials and community members from each respective neighborhood as well as Jewel-Osco executives and associates are expected to attend the events that will feature live music, sampling and other […]
Posted in, Southwest, Store News
H-E-B Opens The Market At Stone Oak With Oaks Crossing Restaurant
On June 20, H-E-B opened The Market at Stone Oak at 23635 Wilderness Oak in San Antonio. The new location also includes Oaks Crossing Bistro & Bar, a restaurant serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The Market at Stone Oak features large fresh departments that include an expanded organics section, a produce station/juice bar, sushi […]
Posted in, Midwest, Organic Natural
Gov. Walker Attends UNFI Groundbreaking For Second Wisconsin DC
Gov. Scott Walker attended the June 20 groundbreaking of United Natural Foods Inc.’s (UNFI) new distribution center in Pierce County, Wis., a $37 million project expected to create about 300 jobs. The 300,000-s.f. facility located in Prescott, about 30 miles southeast of the Twin Cities, will be the company’s second facility in Wisconsin. Construction is […]
Posted in, Executive News, Southwest
Restaurant Industry Veteran Joins My Fit Foods As CEO
David Goronkin, former CEO of Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., has been named CEO of My Fit Foods. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to join My Fit Foods, and carry on its mission of providing healthy, nutritious, convenient, and balanced meals to customers all over the country,” Goronkin said. “The My Fit Foods brand is as […]
Posted in, National
United Fresh And NACS Partner To Focus On Driving Produce Sales
United Fresh Produce Association and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) have formed a new partnership to identify best practices that can be shared across the industry to assist convenience store operators in developing their own fresh produce supply chains and in-store management. A new task force of members of both groups met during […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Midwest
Kroger Achieves 42nd Consecutive Quarter Of ID Sales Growth
The Kroger Co. on Thursday reported net earnings of $501 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, and identical supermarket sales growth, without fuel, of 4.6 percent in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. It is the company’s 42nd consecutive quarter of positive identical supermarket sales growth. This also is the first period that includes […]
Posted in, Perishables, Southwest
Phase II Expansion At Ruiz Foods Texas Manufacturing Plant Under Way
Ruiz Food Products today announced the Phase II Expansion of its Denison, Texas, manufacturing facility. One year ago—on June 19, 2013—Ruiz Foods announced a building expansion that included the installation of equipment for Phase I. “With Phase II we will continue to meet the growing demand in key market segments,” said Ruiz Foods President and CEO […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Midwest
Jewel-Osco And Healthy Ones To ‘Pedal The Plaza’ In Chicago June 26
Healthy Ones, makers of lean, lower sodium and heart healthy deli meats, and retail partner Jewel-Osco will host an open-to-all pedaling event called “Pedal The Plaza” on June 26. It will take place at Pioneer Court Plaza in downtown Chicago and benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). Healthy Ones, part of the John Morrell […]
Posted in, Executive News, Southwest
Brookshire Grocery Co. Names Two New Officers, Announces Other Leadership Changes
Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) has announced the promotions of two officers, along with several other changes to its leadership team. Brian Johnson has been promoted to SVP-division manager, and Ray Harrison has been promoted to VP of center store for category management. Johnson most recently served as VP-district manager for 13 Tyler-area Brookshire’s stores. […]
Posted in, Executive News, Southwest
Growth Brings Staff Changes To Nolan Ryan All-Natural Beef
Nolan Ryan All-Natural Beef, owned by baseball Hall of Famer and Texas rancher Nolan Ryan and his ranching partners, has made several staff changes that the company said were brought about by annual sales that have doubled in back-to-back years. “The growth of our brand has been nothing short of amazing,” said Ronnie Wallace, chairman […]
Posted in, Center Store, Midwest
Village Hearth Breads ‘Show Us Your Buns’ Summer Sweepstakes Under Way
St. Cloud, Minn.-based Village Hearth Breads is offering a unique opportunity to grocery shoppers across the upper Midwest with its ‘Show Us Your Buns’ sweepstakes. Participants will have the chance to win one of 11 cash prizes including one $2,000 grand prize. The sweepstakes, sponsored by Pan-O-Gold Baking Co., is open to residents who live […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Rudolph Foods’ Singleton Named Chairman Of Snack Food Association
Mark Singleton, VP of sales and marketing for Lima, Ohio-based Rudolph Foods, has accepted the role of chairman of the board of the Snack Food Association from outgoing Chairman Chip Mann, who served in that position since March 2013. Singleton will serve as chairman for the 2014-15 year. Singleton laid out his objectives for the […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Supervalu’s 4Q Earnings Show Positive Trends
Supervalu Inc. reported Wednesday that its fourth quarter fiscal 2014 net sales were $3.95 billion, an increase of 1.4 percent vs. the same period a year ago. Net earnings totaled $26 million, or $0.10 per diluted share. Identical store sales in the Save-A-Lot network were up 2.1 percent, while ID store sales for corporate stores […]