Ryan Draude has spent nearly 15 years building nationally-recognized loyalty programs at brands like Choice Hotels, RITE AID, and now Giant Food — where he currently serves as the head of loyalty. But as cross-shopping, value-seeking behavior becomes the norm, earning loyalty from grocery shoppers is getting harder every day. We spoke with Ryan about […]
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.
Expert Article
How Independent Retailers Can Maximize Refrigeration Performance, Profitability
Independent retailers face tight budgets and rising operational costs. These pressures are felt even stronger these days as consumers remain hyper-focused on grocery prices and affordability. Refrigeration equipment – critical for merchandising fresh and frozen products – represents a significant investment for retailers. Getting the most out of that investment starts with investing in the […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, National, News
NFRA Penguin Pitch Spotlights Emerging Frozen, Refrigerated Brands
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association’s (NFRA) Penguin Pitch: Emerging Brand Contest is returning for its third year, recognizing innovative frozen and refrigerated food brands redefining their categories through product development, creative packaging and strategic market execution. Launched Jan. 1, Penguin Pitch provides emerging brands with an opportunity to gain visibility among retailers, distributors […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Festival Foods, Midwest, News
Festival Foods’ Munns Retiring, Whitney Promoted To Chief Merchant
Festival Foods shared two personnel moves Jan. 30, including the upcoming retirement of Randy Munns, EVP and COO, and the promotion of Adam Whitney to chief merchant. Munns will retire Feb. 13 after a 40-year career in the grocery industry, including 35 years with the Wisconsin-based chain. Munns joined Festival in 1991 as a third-shift […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
IGA Debuts Community Development Program To Address Food Desert Crisis
The Independent Grocers Alliance has launched IGA Community Development, a new initiative designed to expand access to fresh, affordable food in underserved urban and rural communities across the U.S. The new area of focus for IGA involves matching funding from communities, nonprofits and other developmental entities with independent retailers. This allows those retailers to open […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, National, News
Lidl U.S. Opening New Store Feb. 4 In Totowa, NJ
Lidl U.S. will open a new store Feb. 4 at 545 US-46 in Totowa, New Jersey, expanding the discount grocer’s presence in the state. The store will welcome customers at sunrise with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:40 a.m. The grand opening will feature freshly baked croissants and coffee. The Totowa location will feature Lidl’s curated […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Costco Wholesale, National, News
Costco Launches Same-Day Instacart Delivery Websites In France, Spain
Costco (Nasdaq: COST) members in France and Spain can shop online and receive same-day delivery through Costco’s first European websites powered by Instacart’s Storefront Pro commerce platform and fulfillment solutions services, the companies announced Jan. 30. The initial rollout includes delivery from all Costco locations in the two countries, including stores in the Paris metropolitan […]
Expert Article
Relationship Advice For Independent Grocers
How many times have you had an interaction and left feeling misunderstood? Experts say, communication and finances are the top downfalls in relationships. Now you may be thinking, this only applies in our personal lives. Your relationship with shoppers could be suffering here as well. For example, Craig never buys chocolate and is not likely […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger Expands Simple Truth Protein Line With 24 New Products
Kroger added 24 new Simple Truth Protein products to store shelves in January, expanding the line to more than 110 items as customers focus on wellness goals in the new year. The expanded line features protein-packed options designed to support nutrition goals, from establishing everyday habits to building strength. All products are free from unwanted […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Anniversary Issues, Finance News, News, Retailer of the Year, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
SoCal-Based Vallarta Supermarkets Charts Path Of Growth, Change
In 1985, the Gonzalez family opened a small market in Van Nuys, California, called Carnicería Vallarta. The family focused on selling traditional cuts of meats popular in their native Mexico. They worked hard to build a name for themselves by offering high-quality authentic products, providing a high level of customer service and treating employees as […]
Expert Article
Commercial Ripening 2026: An Interview With David Byrne
Commercial ripening has come a long way over the past 30 years. From air-stacking boxes in temperature-controlled holding rooms to today’s ultra-advanced, digitally controlled ripening room systems that can uniformly ripen multiple truckloads of palletized fruit to the exact same color at the exact same time. As the global leader in commercial ripening room design […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southeast
The Fresh Market Adds South Miami Store To Florida Footprint
The Fresh Market opened its first store of 2026 in South Miami on Jan. 28, marking the grocer’s eighth location in the Miami-Dade area and 172nd store overall. The ribbon-cutting welcomed customers to a store featuring premium meats and seafood, fresh seasonal produce, local offerings and international products. To mark the occasion, the store contributed […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Produce News, Tops Friendly Markets
Tops Markets Launches 2026 Produce Winter Olympic Games
Tops Markets has launched its 2026 Produce Winter Olympic Games, a four-week, company-wide competition Feb. 1-28 that challenges store teams to showcase produce displays, innovative merchandising and strong sales performance. Throughout the competition, stores participate in weekly themed events designed to highlight freshness, presentation and promotional creativity within the produce department. Teams compete for thousands […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Albertsons, News, Northeast
Albertsons Media Collective Opens NYC Office, Unveils Brand Refresh
Albertsons Media Collective has opened its first New York City office in Midtown Manhattan and launched a brand refresh as part of the retail media network’s expansion strategy. The new office positions the retail media division at the center of the advertising industry to enable closer collaboration with agency partners, advertisers and industry leaders. It […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Reaches Milestone In Florida Everglades Projects
Publix recently completed two wetland restoration projects in the Florida Everglades, restoring more than 1,300 acres and an estimated 173 million gallons of water annually to the region. In 2021, the Lakeland, Fla.-based company committed $2 million to the National Audubon Society and the National Park Foundation to support restoration efforts at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Expands Pickup, Delivery To 36 Additional Stores
Food Lion has expanded Food Lion To Go online ordering to 36 additional stores in Georgia, Maryland and North and South Carolina. The expansion provides more customers access to online grocery pickup and home delivery services through foodlion.com and the Food Lion app. The rollout builds on continued e-commerce growth for the Salisbury, North Carolina-based […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southwest
United Supermarkets, Cheez-It Donate $10K To Extra Yard For Teachers Initiative
United Supermarkets and Cheez-It recently presented $10,000 in grant funding to nearly two dozen educators across the South Plains of Texas as part of the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative. Grants ranging from about $200-900 will support classroom projects through DonorsChoose. The CFP Foundation is the largest sports entity dedicated to […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Equipment & Technology, National, News
LOC Software, Local Express Partner On Unified Commerce Solution For Grocers
LOC Software and Local Express launched a unified commerce solution allowing grocers to manage in-store, online and marketplace sales through one platform, the companies announced Jan. 29. The partnership addresses a key operational challenge for grocers struggling with labor shortages and inventory management. According to research for LOC’s 2026 Exploring Grocery Technology Trends Survey, 57 […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, News, Northeast, UNFI
UNFI Celebrates 50th Anniversary With $2M Foundation Grant Initiative
As part of its “50 for 50” initiative marking the company’s 50th anniversary, United Natural Foods Inc. and the UNFI Foundation will award $2 million in grants to 50 nonprofits across all U.S. states in 2026. The announcement came during UNFI’s first Spring and Summer Selling Show of 2026 in Long Beach, California, honoring the […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest, News, UNFI
Minnesota Grocery Industry Faces Expansion, Closures, Federal Funding Uncertainty
Minnesota’s grocery industry navigated significant challenges and changes in 2025, with new leadership at major chains, a cyberattack disrupting operations, federal SNAP funding uncertainty threatening rural stores and continued pressure from state labor mandates. United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) appointed David Best as president and CEO of retail effective Aug. 17, leading the company’s two […]