Ted Balistreri, co-owner of Sendik’s Food Markets, was a participant in the Boston Marathon on Monday, but had finished the race before the bombings occurred. Balistreri had crossed the finish line about an hour before the blasts, his sister Margaret Harris, Sendik’s co-owner, told The Business Journal. She said the company’s reception desk had been […]
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.
Technology Is Changing How Your Customers Shop
by Rick Rusch/Special to The Shelby Report Technology is impacting consumers’ behavior in virtually every aspect of life. Including grocery shopping. Grocers who address consumers’ taste for technology in shopping will win easily over competitors who chose to ignore the trend. Smartphones and technology Driven in large part by the smartphone, consumers today are armed […]
Kroger Has $78 Million In Plans For Houston Market
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Houston rivals Dallas-Fort Worth as the Lone Star State’s top economic powerhouse. Three times out of the past four years, Houston has been named the No. 1 “Top Metro” in the U.S. for corporate relocations and expansions by Site Selection magazine. In 2012, the greater metro area recorded 325 new or […]
Back To The Roots Launches Fish Tank That Grows Food
Back to the Roots, creator of the Grow-Your-Own Mushroom Garden, pre-launched its second product, a home Aquaponics Garden, on Kickstarter in November. Now, with summer fast approaching, gardens will be ready at the end of April and will ship right away in May. Shipping to retailers will begin in June. The Home Aquaponics Garden was […]
South Dakota Grocer Bob Buche Sr. Passes Away At 92
Robert “Bob” Francis Buche died March 22 at his home. He was 92 years old. He was born in Lake Andes, S.D. He attended Creighton University and the University of South Dakota. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he was a pilot during World War II. He was the son of Gus Francis […]
Fox Bros. Brats Take Home WAMP Awards For Fifth Time
Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly was recognized for the fifth time in as many trips to the annual Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors (WAMP) Convention. The 2013 competition was held in Madison April 4-6. In conjunction with the convention, Fox Bros. entered several of its Almost World Famous Brats to compete with more than 1,000 other […]
WGA’s Grocers In The Capitol Day Includes Obamacare Discussion
The Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) and some of its members were in Madison on Wednesday for the 2013 Grocers in the Capitol Day event. Dan Schwartzer, deputy commissioner of insurance for the state, discussed Obamacare and what employers, including grocers, need to do to prepare for 2014. WGA members asked dozens of questions and lined […]
Houston’s FuelQuest Helps Retailers Buy Fuel At The Right Price
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor FuelQuest helps retailers of all sizes that sell fuel “buy it at the right time, at the right place and make sure it shows up on time,” says David Zahn, VP of marketing for the Houston-based supply chain management company. That’s the short version, but FuelQuest helps retailers with a tall […]
KCBS, Under New Ownership, Becomes BeaconUnited Cincinnati
Former KCBS CEO and owner Sarsgard has left the company Co-Sales Co. of Arizona and Carlin O’Brien of Illinois, along with John Rutherford and John Schipper of Cincinnati, have completed the acquisition of KCBS, a Cincinnati-based sales and marketing agency. “We are pleased to announce new ownership for KCBS, which will now be called BeaconUnited […]
Eight In 10 U.S. Parents Report They Purchase Organic Products
U.S. families are increasingly embracing organic products in a wide range of categories, with 81 percent now reporting they purchase organic at least sometimes. This finding is one of many contained in the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) newly released 2013 U.S. Families’ Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study, conducted Jan. 18-24. “More and more parents choose organic […]
Stop & Shop Announces Carbon Reduction Advancements In Mass.
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. LLC has made progress in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Massachusetts, where it currently operates 131 stores. In 2008, Stop & Shop committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2015. The company made the announcement on April 4 at Stop & Shop’s LEED-certified store in […]
Walmart Got Above Its Raising
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Walmart is always making headlines. Always. Recent ones have focused on its struggle to keep fresh items in stock. I would argue that the problem stretches into center store, too. General merchandise aisles seem to be fine, since there’s no shortage of boxers, Barbie dolls or bullets—well, maybe bullets. What is […]
Blue Bell Brings Contest Winner Caramel Turtle Cheesecake To Freezer
Blue Bell fans overwhelmingly voted to bring back Caramel Turtle Cheesecake Ice Cream in last year’s Crankin’ Back the Clock Flavor Contest, and it will arrive in stores this month. Caramel Turtle Cheesecake is a cheesecake ice cream filled with chocolate-coated caramel turtles, roasted pecans and cheesecake pieces with a chocolate cookie crust all surrounded […]
Survey: Coupon Use Still Prevalent Among American Consumers
A recent survey conducted by Linkable Networks, a leader in card-linked technology reaching more than 200 million U.S. consumers each month, reveals that 95 percent of Americans use coupons when shopping and 73 percent admit to using coupons at least a couple times a month. The research was conducted to reveal trends in consumer shopping […]
California Avocado Season Dawns With Breakfast Promotion
California avocado season has kicked off with the California Avocado Commission’s (CAC) “Wake up to Breakfast with California Avocados” promotion. Morning represents tremendous growth opportunities for avocado consumption, and the commission aims to encourage consumption of California avocados with its breakfast-themed activities, according to a news release. It works very well for spring merchandising events […]
Yoolotto Debuts Application In Texas In Partnership With 7-Eleven
Version one of YooLotto’s free lottery-management application is now available for download for both iOS and Android devices. YooLotto is the first and only application that stores and tracks individual lottery ticket information, notifying players of their personal lottery results within minutes of the drawings. Created by co-founders Eric Yoo and Elmer Cha, YooLotto makes […]
Deadline Is April 30 For Wisconsin Grocers Honors Nominations
Nominations are open for Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) Honors and will be accepted until April 30. Awards are presented for Grocer of the Year, Excellence in Operations, Community Service and Vendor of the Year during the association’s annual Innovation Expo, which will take place this year Oct. 15-16 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, […]
Innovative Formats, Expansion Projects Lead The Way In The Beaver State
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer “Changing” might be the most appropriate word to describe the Oregon marketplace. From unique store formats to expansions and more, The Beaver State already is seeing signs of transformation early in the new year. Local and health-driven segments take stronger hold in Portland Local Choice Produce Market Local Choice Produce Market […]
Magnum Partners With Designer Zac Posen For U.S. Launch Of ‘Gold?!’
Magnum Ice Cream has introduced its “Magnum Gold?!” golden ice cream bar in the U.S. Magnum Gold?! features vanilla bean ice cream swirled with sea salt caramel and dipped in a golden coating made with Belgian milk chocolate. In celebration of the launch, American fashion designer Zac Posen created a one-of-a-kind, 24-karat gold dress inspired […]
Earnest Eats Adds New Granola Bars And Hot & Fit Cereals
Earnest Eats, makers of natural foods rooted in the nourishment of whole, unprocessed ingredients, has added three new choices to its family of products: Earnest Eats Chewy Granola Bars, Hot & Fit Cereal multi-serve canisters and Hot & Fit Cereal single-serve cups. Each blends a unique trio of superfood grains, including whole oats, amaranth and […]
