Gelson’s Markets is expanding its reach beyond Southern California with the launch of nationwide shipping for its artisanal cheese boxes, allowing customers across the continental U.S. to order the grocer’s curated specialty food offerings. The supermarket chain said the program brings its in-store cheese expertise to a broader audience through a selection of gourmet collections. […]
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 inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest, News
Kansas Independents Served Well By Innovation, Creativity With Fresh Foods, Great Service
The Shelby Report of the Midwest recently caught up with Jon McCormick, president and CEO of the Retail Grocers Association of Greater Kansas City, for the latest updates on the grocery industry in Kansas. How is the economy in the state? Unemployment is lower than the national average. That helps our independent retailers in […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Natural Grocers, News, Southwest
Natural Grocers Shares Top Consumer Trends For 2026
Natural Grocers has released its annual Top Trends for Living Well in 2026, offering a forecast of emerging consumer behaviors and product interests that are expected to influence health, wellness, food and sustainability in the year ahead. The outlook reflects insights from the company’s Nutrition Education team along with its marketing and analytics professionals. Now […]
Posted inGrocery Research, National, News
Swiftly Survey Finds Most Shoppers Trust Local Grocers Over National Giants
A new consumer study released by retail technology provider Swiftly shows a strong trust advantage for neighborhood grocery stores over national competitors, suggesting a potential competitive edge for independent and regional grocers amid ongoing affordability pressures. The True Cost of a Grocery Shop 2025 survey, conducted online among more than 1,400 U.S. grocery shoppers, found […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News
Equitable Food Initiative Commemorates 10th Anniversary, Celebrates 2025 Achievements
Equitable Food Initiative – a workforce development and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers and retailers – marked a year of progress in 2025 during which it advanced responsible labor practices, strengthened industry collaboration and drove worker engagement throughout the fresh produce supply chain. EFI also celebrated its 10th year as an independent nonprofit with program […]
Posted inNews, CERTCO Inc., Executive News, Finance News, National
Certco President, CEO Becomes First Woman To Lead ROFDA Board
Amy Niemetscheck, president and CEO of Wisconsin-based Certco Inc., was recently named the first chairwomen of the Retailer Owned Food Distributors and Associates Board of Directors (ROFDA). “Taking on the role as the first female as chair of ROFDA at the Fall 2025 Conference was a tremendous honor,” Niemetscheck said. “It is a privilege to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, Finance News, National, News
Acosta Group Releases 4 Consumer Predictions For 2026
Acosta Group has released its consumer predictions for 2026, highlighting the growing importance of personalization, transparency and innovation for brands, retailers and foodservice operators. The predictions are based on research conducted with the Jacksonville, Florida-based sales and marketing agency’s 40,000-member proprietary shopper community. “Technology and evolving consumer lifestyles continue to reshape the shopping experience, as […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Brookshire Grocery Co., News, Southeast
Brookshire Grocery Co. Donates $80K To Food Bank Of Northwest Louisiana
Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) donated more than $80,000 in food to the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana on Dec. 11, a gift that included nearly 2,000 hams and a truckload of fresh produce. The hams are part of a partnership with Hormel Foods Corp. to donate 9,000 Hormel Cure 81 hams ($100,000 worth) to the FBNL […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Fareway, Midwest, News
Fareway, Iowa Farm Bureau Partner On Protein Donation To Food Banks
Fareway and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation have donated a truckload of protein to Iowa’s six Feeding America food banks as part of their annual Meat the Need partnership. The donation, delivered to the Food Bank of Iowa, includes 23 pallets totaling 25,000 pounds of protein – the equivalent of 100,000 servings. Dos Rios taco […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, Finance News, Midwest, News, West
Uber Eats Expands Regional Grocery, Alcohol Selection With New Retailers
Uber Eats has expanded regional grocery and alcohol offerings with the addition of three retailer partners – Stater Bros. Markets, Kowalski’s Markets and Big Red Liquors – broadening access to grocery and beverage delivery in key U.S. markets. The new partnerships mark continued growth for Uber’s retail and grocery business in 2025, a year in […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Food City, News, Southeast
Food City Courtesy Clerk Bowling Named Kentucky’s Best Bagger
Gabe Bowling, courtesy clerk at the Food City in Louisa, Kentucky, recently won the Kentucky Best Bagger competition, receiving a $250 cash prize along with an all-expenses paid trip in February to Las Vegas, where he will compete for the national title during The NGA Show. An 18-year-old senior at Lawerence County High School, Bowling […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Executive News, Finance News, National, News
Simbe Forms Client Advisory Board With BJ’s, Schnucks, SPAR Executives
Simbe has formed a Client Advisory Board, bringing together leaders from retailers – including BJ’s Wholesale Club, Schnuck Markets, SPAR, Harmons Grocery and Country Supplier – to inform product strategy, foster peer collaboration and guide the future of shelf digitization technology. “The CAB reflects our belief that the best innovation comes from partnership, not only with […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, News, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
Vallarta Supermarkets, Evermore Partner On Benefit Card Integration
Vallarta Supermarkets has partnered with health benefits technology provider evermore to expand access to culturally relevant products for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial program members at the grocer’s locations across California. The integration marks the first time Vallarta, one of California’s largest Latino-owned grocery chains, has joined a health benefit card platform. Its inclusion in […]
Posted inCenter Store, Albertsons, News, West
Albertsons Media Collective Introduces Inaugural Alby Awards
Albertsons Media Collective, the retail media arm of Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos., has introduced the Alby Awards to recognize advertising partners that delivered the strongest return on ad spend (ROAS) via the network’s platform in 2025. Winners were evaluated using a standardized framework that measured aggregated ROAS performance across each advertiser’s brands throughout the year. […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
The Kroger Co. Named To List Of Best Places To Work In IT
The Kroger Co. has been named to Foundry’s Computerworld 2026 Best Places to Work in IT. This year’s recognition marks the eighth consecutive year Kroger’s employees have been recognized by Computerworld for its workplace culture. Kroger ranks No. 45 among large organizations on the Best Places to Work in IT list. “Each and every day, […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Finance News, News, Northeast
UNFI Details Value Creation Strategy, Sets Long-Term Financial Targets
United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) outlined its multi-year value creation strategy and long-term financial targets during its 2025 Investor Day event in New York City, emphasizing sustained profitable growth, investment in capabilities for customers and suppliers and enhanced cash-flow generation. The company said it expects to drive low-single digit average annual net sales growth through […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Vallarta Supermarkets, West
Vallarta Supermarkets Commemorates 40th Anniversary
Vallarta Supermarkets is celebrating its 40th anniversary and evolution from 1985 as a single carnicería in Van Nuys, California, into a large independent grocer with 63 locations across the state. For four decades, Vallarta has been more than a grocery store – it has been a cultural hub for generations of families seeking authentic ingredients […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Beverage News, National, News
Thrive Market Launches Non-Alcoholic Category
Ahead of the popular “Dry January” period and in response to growing member demand, online grocer Thrive Market is exiting alcohol and launching a new non-alcoholic beverage category with more than 100 SKUs. Thrive Market cited shifting consumer drinking habits and research that challenges traditional views on alcohol consumption as part of the rationale behind […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Wegmans
Wegmans Customers Raise Nearly $3.1M For Hunger Relief
Wegmans Food Markets customers donated nearly $3.1 million during the company’s fall 2025 Check Out Hunger scanning campaign, the third highest amount in the program’s history. The campaign ran from Oct. 22-Nov. 29 at the company’s 114 stores, with all proceeds going to each location’s local Feeding America food bank partner. Companywide, customers donated $570,000 […]
Posted inExecutive News, Beverage News, News, Southeast, Supply Chain News
Coca-Cola Names Braun CEO, Quincey To Become Executive Chairman
The Coca-Cola Co. has elected EVP and Chief Operating Officer Henrique Braun as CEO, effective March 31. Braun will succeed James Quincey, who will transition to executive chairman after serving as CEO for nine years. The board also plans to nominate Braun for election as a director at the company’s 2026 annual meeting of shareowners. Quincey, […]