Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based JackBe has opened the application for those interested in owning a part of the business. Launching its first store in January, the new-to-market, curbside, drive-thru grocer has opened its funding application with a Wefunder campaign. Founded by Alex Ruhter and his three co-founders, the team has been working together over the past three […]
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 inInnovator of the Year, Food Industry Hall of Fame, West
WorkJam Helps Cardenas Markets Share Info, Streamline Tasks
WorkJam is helping to bring Cardenas Markets into the future. The app is available to all employees from the CEO to grocery clerks. “It’s a transformation going from old school – posters, flyers, sending communications via interoffice envelopes – to a digital workplace,” said Prabash Coswatte, the company’s chief operating officer. He described the app […]
Posted inPublix Super Markets, Independent Store News, Southeast
Publix Opens New Locations In Florida, Georgia
Lakeland, Florida-based Publix Super Markets has opened two new locations in the Southeast. The grocer opened a store in the Town Center at 11055 Daryl Carter Parkway in Orlando, Florida, and one in the Eagles Corner Shopping Center at 101 Tormenta Way in Statesboro, Georgia. The 48,387-square-foot stores will offer departments for grocery, dairy, frozen food, […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Northeast
Northeast Grocery Inc. Selects DemandTec For Pricing Platform
DemandTec by Acoustic has announced a multi-year agreement with Northeast Grocery Inc., parent company to about 300 Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets across six Northeastern states. Expanding upon an established relationship with Tops, DemandTec’s Unified Lifecycle Pricing, which includes pricing, promotion and collaboration, will be deployed by the companies to elevate their collective merchandising […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Midwest, Online Grocery Technology
Kroger Named On Top 100 Best Places To Work In IT List
Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. has been named to Foundry’s Computerworld 2023 Best Places to Work in IT. The recognition marks the fifth consecutive time that Kroger’s technology and digital team has been recognized by Computerworld for having an innovative workplace culture. Kroger ranks No. 43 among large companies on the 2023 list. “Our technology and digital teams empower Kroger to serve […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, West
Haven Foods Chooses ReposiTrak For Supply Chain Transparency
Salt Lake City, Utah-based ReposiTrak has welcomed South Carolina-based Haven Foods to its traceability network. Joining the network will enable Haven Foods to exchange traceability information from feed to store between its fresh and frozen seafood suppliers and producers and its retail and restaurant clients across the world. This will help it meet and exceed the […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Inflation Tracker Shows Price Increases Slowing But Still High
IRI has released a new report, November 2022 Price Check: Tracking Retail Food and Beverage Inflation, offering new insights into food inflation and its impact on consumer shopping behavior. The report leverages point-of-sale data for November and includes data across U.S. food channels, including grocery, drug, mass market, military commissaries and select club and dollar stores, as well […]
Posted inBakery News, Southeast
Flowers Foods To Acquire Papa Pita Bakery
Thomasville, Georgia-based Flowers Foods has announced an agreement to acquire Papa Pita Bakery, a manufacturer and distributor of bagels, tortillas, breads, buns, English muffins and flat breads. The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed in early 2023. Founded in 1983, Papa Pita operates a 270,000-square-foot facility […]
Posted inInnovator of the Year, Food Industry Hall of Fame, West
Ongoing Innovation Has Helped Cardenas Adapt To Change
Cardenas Markets, The Shelby Report of the West’s Innovator of the Year, began as a family-owned company in 1981. Jesús Cárdenas Sr. and his wife, Luz, co-founded the chain, which offered fresh, authentic Hispanic foods to communities across southern California’s Inland Empire. The company has since grown to become one of the country’s largest Hispanic […]
Posted inExecutive News, Midwest
Whole Earth Brands Releases CEO Transition Plan
Chicago-based Whole Earth Brands has announced that Albert Manzone will step down as CEO and member of its board of directors to pursue other business opportunities, effective Jan. 1. The board has appointed Michael Franklin to serve as the company’s interim CEO. After Jan. 1, Manzone will assist the company and Franklin in the transition […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Southwest
Natural Grocers Begins Holly Deals Event
Lakewood, Colorado-based Natural Grocers is holding its annual Holly Deals event through Dec. 22 with festive free items and discounts on products Customers can expect free products and discounts on more than 100 holiday essentials through Dec. 22. Free items include buy one, get one free on Beeler’s Bacon with an in-store coupon. Customers can buy a […]
Posted inPublix Super Markets, Independent Store News, Southeast
Publix Announces Fourth Kentucky Location
Lakeland, Florida-based Publix has acquired property for a fourth store in Kentucky. Located at Flat Rock and Shelbyville roads, the store will be its third in Louisville. Plans for the 48,387-square-foot store include a pharmacy and an adjacent Publix Liquors, offering beer, wine and spirits. The store is anticipated to open in the second quarter […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Southwest
Niman Ranch Names 2022 Sustainable Farm Of The Year
Westminster, Colorado-based Niman Ranch has announced the Jovaag family of Austin, Minnesota, as the 2022 Niman Ranch Sustainable Farm of the Year. This accolade honors the Jovaags for their land stewardship and ongoing commitment to the principles of regenerative agriculture. Jon and Ruth Jovaag have been members of the Niman Ranch network of family farms since 2011, […]
Posted inPackaging News, Southeast
Study Reports Shoppers Frustrated By Excessive Packaging
Online shoppers are fed up with a glut of packages arriving too big for the products being shipped, too flimsy, covered with too much tape or not being waterproof or recyclable. Those are among the main findings of a new national survey by packaging provider DS Smith, which tracked the frustrations amid a jump in […]
Posted inGrocery Store Layout, Northeast
ShopRite Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony For New Location
ShopRite held a ribbon cutting ceremony Dec. 11 for a new store in the Huntington Commons shopping center at 839 New York Ave. in Huntington, New York. The 65,000-square-foot supermarket is owned and operated by the Greenfield family, who have five other ShopRites on Long Island. The store offers a kosher bakery, prepared foods department with […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI Files Comments Opposing Independent Contractor Rule
In response to proposed changes, FMI – The Food Industry Association has filed a letter opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s revamp of the rule that determines if a worker is an independent contractor. FMI’s letter calls on DOL to retain the current independent contractor framework and not replace it with the proposal to expand the factors for determination. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, West
Local Grocers Facilitate Donation To Utah Food Bank
Throughout November, customers at Macey’s, Dan’s, Dick’s Market, Lin’s and Fresh Market were asked to donate to the Utah Food Bank at checkout through the stores’ Harvest of Hope effort, donating more than $240,000 in food. People participated by purchasing prefilled bags of groceries, making cash donations or buying specially marked products from Acosta, Advantage, […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, National
Ahold Delhaize Announces Closing Of Revolving Credit Facility
Zaandam, Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize has announced the closing of its €1.5 billion sustainability-linked revolving credit facility. The new facility increases the total revolving commitments from €1-1.5 billion, reduces Ahold Delhaize’s borrowing costs, and extends the maturity date to December 2027, which may be further extended pursuant to two twelve-month extension options. The facility links the cost of borrowing to Ahold Delhaize’s annual […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Midwest, Online Grocery Technology
Kroger Launches Floral, Sushi Delivery Through DoorDash
Cincinnati-based The Kroger Co. has launched floral and sushi delivery on the DoorDash marketplace from banner stores across the country. The new delivery option marks the latest expansion for the grocer. “By offering customer-favorite sushi options and premium floral bouquets through third-party marketplaces, we are continuing to evolve and meet customers where and how they are shopping,” said Stuart Aitken, SVP and […]
Posted inInnovator of the Year, Food Industry Hall of Fame, West
Cardenas Markets Is 2022 West Innovator Of The Year
Cardenas Markets has been named The Shelby Report of the West’s Innovator of the Year. In addition, CEO Doug Sanders has been named into Shelby Publishing’s Food Industry Hall of Fame. The company has grown to become one of the country’s largest Hispanic grocery chains, with a differentiated store concept serving the nation’s fastest growing […]