Greensboro, North Carolina-based The Fresh Market is partnering with Feeding America to launch a fundraiser to support relief efforts in areas recently impacted by tornadoes. Through May 2, customers at The Fresh Market stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee will have the opportunity to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar or make a donation […]
Author Archives: Sommer Stockton
Digital Content Editor
Sommer joined The Shelby Report in January 2022 after graduating from Brenau University in Gainesville, GA, with a B.A. and M.A. in Communications and Media Studies. As Digital Content Editor, she leverages her expertise in digital strategy and content creation to enhance The Shelby Report’s online presence and engage readers.
Committed to the grocery industry, Sommer also serves on an advisory committee with the National Grocers Association (NGA), advocating for independent grocers. She enjoys exploring emerging trends and delivering actionable insights to the Shelby community.
Posted inH-E-B, C-Store News, Southwest
H-E-B Introduces ‘Fresh Bites’ Convenience Store
San Antonio-based H-E-B has introduced its rebranded H-E-B Fresh Bites convenience store, which will provide customers more fresh options, such as produce, prepared food and meal options. On April 13, the first H-E-B Fresh Bites opened adjacent to the H-E-B on Ronald Reagan Blvd. in Leander, Texas, which also features the company’s second True Texas […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Southwest
Reasor’s To Host ‘Spring For Meals’ Fourth Annual Food Drive
Through May 9, Reasor’s is hosting the fourth annual Spring for Meals fund and food drive benefiting the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and its network, Grand Lake Community Ministry and the Tahlequah C.A.R.E. Food Pantry. All Reasor’s 17 stores will participate in the drive. Customers can purchase $15 bags of food in-store or online. […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, West
Sprouts Farmers Market Partners With Ancient Nutrition
Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market has partnered with Ancient Nutrition’s R.A.N.C.H. Project. The R.A.N.C.H. (Regenerative, Agriculture, Nutrition, Climate and Health) Project operates regenerative organic certified farms in Tennessee and Missouri that use a holistic approach to grazing and livestock management. The goal is to rebuild top soil, increase carbon capture and grow food sustainably. As a specialty […]
Posted inAssociation News, Midwest
NGA Hosts Congressional Tour At SpartanNash Store In Michigan
The National Grocers Association hosted U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) April 13 for a NGA congressional store tour at SpartanNash’s D&W Fresh Market in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This opportunity was part of the NGA’s congressional store tour program connecting members of Congress to independent community grocers in their districts. The visit provided an overview of […]
Posted inSupply Chain News, Corporate Store News, Southwest
Walmart Debuts Renewable Natural Gas Engine Truck
Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart has debuted the first of five 15-liter compressed natural gas engine trucks that will be incorporated into its private fleet. The X15N engine is supplied by Cummins and fueled by Chevron with compressed natural gas linked to renewable natural gas. The truck is making its inaugural trip from Indiana to California, with pit […]
Posted inPublix Super Markets, Independent Store News, Southeast
Publix Employees Receive Award For Community Involvement
During Publix’s annual stockholders’ meeting, six employees received the Mr. George Community Service Award for outstanding commitment to their communities. Publix founder George Jenkins, known as Mr. George, believed that Publix and its employees should make a difference in their communities. Since the Mr. George Community Service Award was established in 1995, 147 employees have […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI Report Reveals Fewer Shoppers Cutting Back On Purchases
A survey of grocery shoppers’ spending habits and attitudes by FMI – The Food Industry Association, conducted by The Hartman Group, reveals that while shoppers remain concerned about rising food prices, consumers are less likely to cut back on their number of purchases. Among shoppers who are concerned about rising food prices, only 32 percent of shoppers […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, Sustainability News
Fareway Celebrates 85 Years Of Green Initiatives
Boone, Iowa-based Fareway Stores Inc. has a long-standing tradition of conserving natural resources that dates back to 1938. From the beginning, its green initiatives have included recycling, reusing and reclaiming, and these protocols continue to be exercised as the company celebrates 85 years of sustainable practices. Most recently, Fareway has employed technology to help further its […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest
Meijer Expands Partnership To Clean Beaches, Waterways
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer has expanded its partnership with the Council of the Great Lakes Region to clean up Midwest beaches and waterways. Since 2022, the retailer has donated more than $1.5 million to the CGLR Foundation to expand deployment of two types of litter capture and clean-up technologies, the BeBot and Pixie Drone, to 18 new locations along Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin lakeshores as […]
Posted inAssociation News, Southeast
Alabama Grocers Education Foundation Hosts Annual Golf Outing
The Alabama Grocers Education Foundation hosted its annual golf outing April 13 at Inverness Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. The event raised more than $41,000 for the foundation to provide scholarships to employees and children of employees of Alabama Grocers Association member companies. To date, AGEF has awarded more than $1.4 million dollars in scholarships […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Northeast
Wakefern Food Corp. Shares New Executive Addition, Promotion
Keasbey, New Jersey-based Wakefern Food Corp. has named Elena Kabasinskas as group VP of strategy, planning and transformation while promoting Michael Day to SVP of strategy, business development and architecture. Kabasinskas will oversee the business processes and change management efforts that accelerate strategies to help the cooperative meet customers’ evolving needs. “We’re thrilled to welcome Elena […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Midwest
Giant Eagle Introduces New Weekly Circular Format
Giant Eagle Inc. is relaunching the in-home delivery of its printed weekly circular to customers in Cleveland, Ohio, beginning April 18, with a new two-page version of the circular scheduled to debut in early May. The new two-page circular will showcase weekly savings for dozens of products from across the store, including national brand items […]
Posted inPackaging News, West
Bold Reuse Launches Retail Reusable Packaging Pilot
Portland, Oregon-based Bold Reuse has launched Retail Reuse, a retail reusable pilot packaging program for glass retail packaging. Retail Reuse has the backing of Oregon Metro, New Seasons Market, Waste-Free Advocates and PNW Packaged Food & Beverage Group’s Hannah Kullberg. Thanks to an $87,000 investment and innovation grant from Metro in 2022, Bold Reuse has developed […]
Posted inMarketing News, Corporate Store News, Northeast
Giant Food, Baltimore City Partner For SNAP, EBT Promo Code
Giant Food has begun a partnership with Baltimore City, Maryland, that will help residents with SNAP and EBT benefits save on produce throughout the area. The program supports access to healthy produce at a critical time as recent federal rollbacks of SNAP Emergency Allotments result in many individuals being challenged to stretch their food dollars even […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Northeast
Handy Seafood’s Maryland Facility Receives ‘AA+’ Certification
Handy Seafood has announced that its domestic facility in Crisfield, Maryland, has received an “AA+” rating for food safety from the British Retail Consortium Global Standard, a safety and quality certification program. The prestigious “AA+” grade is the highest rating that a facility can receive. The BRCGS certification is a mark of excellence that is […]
Posted inFrozen Food, National
Study Finds Consumers Choosing Frozen Pizza Over Restaurants
According to research conducted by San Antonio-based Vericast, about 40 percent of consumers have no preference when choosing a pizza place, and due to inflation, 13 percent of recent pizza restaurant guests are opting for frozen or non-restaurant pizza. “Based on sales and traffic numbers, some believe the big four pizza brands (Dominos, Pizza Hut, […]
Posted inCoborn's, Independent Store News, Midwest
Coborn’s To Acquire Sullivan’s Foods In Illinois
Coborn’s Inc. has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the Sullivan’s Foods grocery stores and other business units in northern and central Illinois, the company’s first expansion into the state. The stores are operated by the Sullivan family under the Sullivan’s Foods banner. About 800 people work in the organization, which is comprised of 11 […]
Posted inMerchandising News, Executive News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
SpartanNash Hires New VP, Merchandising Strategy And Analytics
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash has hired Arpen Shah as VP of merchandising strategy and analytics. Shah will be responsible for merchandising strategy and analytics for the overall merchandising business. He will also lead promotional planning, shelf technology, category management and merchandising data analytics. “Arpen is an astute and people first merchandising executive who has a […]
Posted inPackaging News, Southwest, Supply Chain News
Imperial Dade Opens New Warehouse In DFW Metroplex
Imperial Dade, a distributor of foodservice packaging and janitorial supplies, has opened a 105,000-square-foot warehouse in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. The opening of this facility is part of Imperial Dade’s broader North American expansion plan. The new warehouse, located at 5200 South Freeway in Fort Worth, Texas, provides access to major highways and transportation hubs, […]