Rose Mitchell was the first woman in the history of West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee Inc. to be named an officer of the company. That happened in 1992. Three years later, the company that was founded in 1930 named her to the board of directors, another first for a woman executive. Had she not gone […]
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.
Kaivac: Checklist Needed for Cleaning Restrooms
While new cleaning methods have been developed to make general cleaning more efficient and thorough, much of this progress has not applied to restroom cleaning methodologies, according to Kaivac Cleaning Systems. This is a significant oversight because cleaning restrooms is typically very involved and time-consuming. Further, it is invariably performed by one person, so any […]
MyChelle Dermaceuticals Launches Anti-Aging Skin Care Products
MyChelle, a natural skin care product maker, launched three new anti-aging skin care “superheroes” at Natural Products Expo West in March: Remarkable Retinal Serum, Wrinkle Spot Treatment and Advanced Argan Oil. Each new product is made with proprietary ingredients exclusive to the MyChelle line. The products’ packaging also has been updated to increase product longevity […]
OGA Gala A Celebration 115 Years In The Making
The Ohio Grocers Association (OGA) is celebrating its 115th anniversary this year. Its 2014 Trade Relations Gala, held April 5 at the North Pointe Hotel and Conference Center in the Polaris area north of Columbus, drew nearly 400 people, and the OGA event experienced a record year for sponsorship. Pinnacle Award winners Fligner’s Market and […]
Energetic ‘Happy Days’ Lipari Food Show Kicks Off The Year
“Happy Days” was the theme this year for the Lipari Food Show, held April 9 in Novi, Mich. To set the Happy Days mood, shiny, new-looking 1950s-era cars were rolled into the Suburban Collection Showplace. The theme appeared to energize people, said Don Symonds, director of events and trade relations at Lipari Foods. “Every year […]
Reynolds W. Cramer Named CEO At Fareway Stores
Reynolds W. Cramer has been named CEO of Boone, Iowa-based Fareway Stores Inc. He is just the fourth person to serve as CEO in the company’s 76-year history. Cramer was elected to the position by the Fareway board of directors Feb. 17. He succeeds Richard P. Beckwith, who has been CEO of the grocery store […]
IGA Pauses To Celebrate, Then Turns Focus To Future
The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) Global Rally was held Feb. 7-11 in conjunction with the National Grocers Association (NGA) Show in Las Vegas for the second time this year. NGA had a record turnout for its show, and IGA was close to one as well. “It makes sense,” said Mark Batenic, CEO of IGA Inc. […]
Today Is Buche Foods Day In South Dakota
South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard declared Jan. 20 Buche Foods Day in the state. The proclamation honors the grocery company that began operations in 1905 in Lake Andes. It recognizes the opening of a new Buche Foods stores in Scotland, S.D., and that the GF Buche Co. now serves eight communities with 11 stores, “all […]
Schnucks 75th Anniversary Special Feature
Schnucks is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2014.
Marketplace Food & Drug Holds Grand Reopening
Marketplace Food & Drug at Westridge Center in Bemidji, Minn., recently celebrated its grand reopening, symbolizing a new direction for the family-owned company. “We’re absolutely committed to providing the best grocery shopping experience not just in Bemidji, but anywhere,” Mike McNiel, store manager, said. Keith Johanneson, president and CEO of Johanneson’s Inc., the store’s parent […]
Fareway Now Delivering Meat Anywhere In The Contiguous States
After months of testing, Fareway Stores officially launched a new storefront—the Fareway Meat Market (farewaymeats.com)—on Nov. 4. Customers can order their favorite cuts of meat by 1 p.m., Monday-Friday, and have them delivered anywhere in the contiguous United States in time for dinner the next day. “Our customers have been asking for years to be able […]
Brookshire Grocery Co. Promotes Four To VP
Brookshire Grocery Co., based in Tyler, Texas, has promoted four employees to VP. Rae Champagne is now VP-education and communications; Ginger McCullough is VP-training and change management; Dave Moss is VP-merchandising; and Ozzie Osborne is VP-facility services. Champagne, most recently director of education and communications, is a 12-year employee who assumed leadership of internal communications, […]
Spartan Stores Converting One Banner, Slowing Growth Of Another
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor The company that will result from the merger of Spartan Stores and Nash Finch Co. will without doubt have one thing in abundance: brands. Plans are to begin integrating the two companies before the end of the calendar year, as shareholder approval is pending but expected. Edina, Minn.-based Nash Finch operates […]
NGA Appoints New Board Members
At its fall meeting in Chicago, the National Grocers Association’s (NGA) board of directors approved appointments to fill four unexpired terms recently left vacant. New board members include: Christine Curtis, SVP and account management, C&S Wholesale Grocers At Keene, N.H.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers, Curtis is responsible for new business development, account management, independent retail services […]
Frieda’s Specialty Lemon Bags Named PMA Impact Award Finalist
Frieda’s Specialty Lemon Bags for 1 lb. Seedless Lemons and Meyer Lemons were selected as a finalist in the 2013 PMA Impact Award, which recognizes excellence in packaging, in September. The bags are among 30 finalists selected from a total of 86 entries this year. The PMA Impact Award recognizes trendsetters that create and deliver […]
Springer Mountain Farms’ Arrendale To Receive Humanitarian Medal
Ceremony to be held Saturday in L.A. and broadcast on Hallmark Channel Oct. 30 The American Humane Association will present its prestigious National Humanitarian Medal to Gus Arrendale of Springer Mountain Farms at this week’s American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards event. The association said it awards the National Humanitarian Medal to visionary leaders […]
COO Thueringer To Retire After 47 Years With Coborn’s
Coborn’s Inc. today announced that its COO Bob Thueringer will retire after reaching 47 years of service on June 30, 2014. He will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors. Thueringer joined Coborn’s in 1967, bagging groceries at Coborn’s in Sauk Rapids with the original intent of working his way through college at […]
Safeway Adopts ‘Poison Pill’ To Thwart Unwanted Takeover
After becoming aware of an accumulation of a significant amount of the common stock of the company, Safeway’s board of directors adopted a one-year stockholder’s rights plan. Referred to as a “poison pill,” the measure is designed to thwart takeover attempts by diluting the holdings of an investor if its stake exceeds a set threshold. […]
