We are on a path that our government says will leave us $1,500,000,000,000 (one trillion, five hundred billion dollars) in debt for the fiscal year 2011. And in the same breath, our government tells us they need 193,000 new employees (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Government Needs to Add 193,000 New Hires,” Jan. 16, 2011). Just 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, New Products, Northeast
Frank’s RedHot Launches Line of Fully Cooked Items
It was revealed Monday that Frank’s® RedHot® is launching a line of fully cooked chicken wings, shrimp and appetizers to be sold nationally in frozen food sections of grocery, mass and club stores, available through a collaboration with Completely Fresh Foods. Now consumers can have Buffalo wings, shrimp and appetizers prepared using authentic Frank’s RedHot […]
Posted in, Suppliers, West
Del Monte Shareholders Approve Buyout
Del Monte Foods Co. said Monday that shareholders approved the company’s buyout by private equity investors KKR, Vestar Capital Partners and Centerview Capital, reports the San Francisco Business Times. The deal, reached on last Thanksgiving Day, is expected to close this week. The buyout was approved by 99 percent of shareholders voting, with 149.8 million […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, West
Survey Asks: Is Target Cheaper than Walmart?
Target Corp. holds up fairly well in a pocketbook-price battle with rival Wal-Mart Stores Inc., operator of Walmart and Sam’s Club, according to a new retail survey reported on by the New Mexico Business Weekly. Kantar Retail IQ, which does semi-annual price checks at the two retailers, found that Target customers generally paid slightly less […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Perishables
Pork Moves Beyond ‘The Other White Meat’
After nearly 25 years of plugging pork as “The Other White Meat,” the National Pork Board’s new “Pork, Be Inspired” tagline seeks a deeper connection with existing pork fans, while positioning the meat as an ingredient for a wide range of meals. In short, the board wants the 82 million Americans who regularly eat pork […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Jimmy Fallon and Ben & Jerry’s Announce New Ice Cream Flavor: Late Night Snack
NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” are teaming with iconic ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s to introduce the new flavor entitled “Late Night Snack.” The unique new flavor features a rich vanilla bean ice cream with a salty caramel swirl and crunchy fudge covered potato chip clusters. The concoction […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Skippy Orders Peanut Butter Recall
The company that makes Skippy peanut butter has announced that a limited amount of Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter and Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter spread with expiration dates in May 2012 has been recalled because they may potentially have been contaminated with Salmonella. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the 16.3-oz. […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Heinz to Acquire Brazilian Firm
H.J. Heinz Co. announced a major gain March 3 in its push into emerging markets—the purchase of an 80 percent stake in a Brazilian food company, reports The Associated Press. Heinz, the world’s largest ketchup maker, has relied recently on emerging markets like China, India and Russia to fuel its growth. Its plan to acquire […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Southeast, Suppliers
Coca-Cola Pulls Sodas in St. Louis
The Coca-Cola Co. has pulled sodas from shelves at St. Louis stores after customers complained of a metallic taste. There was a slight surge in minerals in the water used to make the soda at the drink giant’s Maryland Heights plants, said Kevin Morris, spokesman for Atlanta-based Coca-Cola to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The recalled […]
Posted in, Southeast
Fresh Del Monte Reports Q4 Loss
Bad weather continued to pound at Fresh Del Monte Produce bottom line, reports the South Florida Business Journal. The Coral Gables-based fruit and vegetable producer said it lost $9.6 million, or 16 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, down from a profit of $28.2 million, or 44 cents a share, in the same year-ago […]
Posted in, National, West
Utah Passes Food Tax Bill
The Utah Senate passed a bill that that would raise the tax on food, but lower taxes on other items, reports Forbes. The Senate approved Senate Bill 270 on a 19-9 vote on Monday. It now moves to the House. Adams of Layton says the measure would add stability, since most food sales don’t drop […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Southeast, Suppliers
Coca-Cola Buys Remainder of Honest Tea
The Coca-Cola Co. has exercised its option to acquire the remaining 60 percent of Maryland-based organic bottled tea maker Honest Tea, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The companies described it Tuesday as a chance to make organic drinks more mainstream. What they didn’t say is that it also may be a chance to invigorate Coca-Cola’s tea […]
Posted in, Ellerbee Buzz, Shelby Content, Southeast
Grocers Overcome Challenges Severe Weather Brings
Even the mighty fell—sorta. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. managed to open its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., on Feb. 9, but employees did not have to report if they couldn’t safely travel to work. A foot of snow had fallen on Northwest Arkansas. Some parts of Oklahoma saw two feet of snow. In the northeast corner of […]
Posted in, Beverage News, C-Store News, National
Pediatrics Report Details Risk from Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are under-studied, overused and can be dangerous for children and teens, warns a report by doctors who say kids shouldn’t use the popular products, reports The Associated Press. The potential harms, caused mostly by too much caffeine or similar ingredients, include heart palpitations, seizures, strokes and even sudden death, the authors write in […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Southwest, Suppliers
Molson Coors 4Q Net Declines as it Sells Less Beer
Denver-based Molson Coors Brewing Co. says its net income fell 51 percent in the fourth quarter as it sold less beer and dealt with rising costs for taxes, ingredients and fuel. The Denver-based brewer reported Thursday that it earned $109.8 million, or 58 cents per share, for the quarter that ended Dec. 25. That’s down […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Suppliers
PepsiCo 4Q Net Income Falls
New York-based PepsiCo Inc.’s fourth-quarter net income fell 5 percent because of higher costs and cut its earnings forecast on a dim view of the economy. Shares of the maker of soft drinks, Frito-Lay snacks and Quaker cereal fell nearly 3 percent in pre-market trading. Net income fell to $1.37 billion, or 85 cents per […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Southwest
Peco Pallet Crossing Borders — Shipping to Mexico
Peco Pallet is now shipping its signature red wood block pallets to manufacturers and retailers in Mexico. In December, the company registered “Peco Pallet México” as a legal entity and an authorized importer of record. This enables its customers to easily transport goods on Peco pallets across the U.S. border to and from Mexico. David […]
Posted in, Center Store, Southeast
Delta to Serve Seattle’s Best
Delta Air Lines said it will begin serving Seattle’s Best Coffee on its flights starting March 1, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Seattle’s Best Coffee will replace the unbranded coffee Delta has been serving on flights. Atlanta-based Delta will serve a “Level 4″ brew, based on the coffee chain’s new system ranking coffee from 1 to […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Higher Prices Help Tyson Foods
Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Foods’s net income jumped 86 percent jump its fiscal first quarter, helped by improving chicken sales and rising prices for beef and pork, the meat producer said today, reports The Associated Press. Tyson shares climbed 8 percent to $18.95 in pre-market trading. The improvement is a strong signal the meat producer has […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Grocery News, National
Pulpy Joins Growing Roster of Billion Dollar Brands for The Coca-Cola Co.
Minute Maid® Pulpy™ has been added to the roster of The Coca-Cola Co. brands that have achieved global retail sales of more than $1 billion, bringing the number of billion dollar brands in the company’s portfolio to fourteen. Minute Maid Pulpy, a significant global innovation, reached the $1 billion sales mark in only five years. […]