When talking about Crop’s Fresh Marketplace, the first words that come to mind are clean, fresh and friendly. In 1953, Robert Cropper started the Cropper family grocery business operating as Cropper’s IGA. In the early 60’s, the store expanded to 2400 square feet. As the company grew, Robert’s son John Cropper grew up working closely […]
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 inOnline Grocery Technology, Southeast
Duren’s Utilizes LOC Software’s Suite To Serve Customers
In 1976, George W. Duren saw the value in reopening a closed grocery store in the factory town of Port St. Joe, Florida. Until 1999, the most prominent employers were a paper mill and chemical factories when the city received the devastating news that the mill would be closing. Mr. Duren, not wanting to see […]
Posted inPublix Super Markets, Independent Store News, Southeast
Publix Celebrates Opening Of Location In Mobile, AL
Publix Super Markets opened a new store Sept. 21 at Bickley Station, located at 9124 Cottage Hill Road in Mobile, Alabama. The 48,387-square-foot store will offer departments for grocery, dairy, frozen food, seafood, meat and fresh produce, as well as a full-service bakery, deli and pharmacy. The location also features an upstairs seating area for […]
Posted inH-E-B, Grocery Store Layout, Independent Store News, Southwest
H-E-B Opens New Location In Frisco, TX
H-E-B opened the doors to its new store Sept. 21 at 4800 Main St. in Frisco, Texas. The 118,000-square-foot store, which is the retailer’s flagship banner, joins the network of six Central Market locations that have been serving Dallas-Fort Worth shoppers for more than two decades. The store has features such as a True Texas Barbecue restaurant; […]
Posted inBakery News, Ask The Experts
Are You Meeting Shopper Demands In The Current Climate?
Sponsored Content At an interesting time for American retailers, with consumer confidence low and inflation on the rise, we spoke with David Wagstaff, VP North America, St Pierre Bakery, about why the challenges of the current climate present an opportunity for retailers to engage shoppers through quality, consistency, and instore experiences. Whilst the U.S. is, […]
Posted inPackaging News, Northeast
With Safety Chef, Inline Plastics Pursuing Foodservice Audience
Inline Plastics showcased its latest innovation recently in a discussion with The Shelby Report. Safety Chef is new for the company, according to Carrie Cline, senior brand manager. “We’ve got Safety Fresh, which has the patented technology of being tamper evident and tamper resistant, that was launched around 2006. We took that same technology and put […]
Posted inBJ's Wholesale Club, Amazon Fresh, Merchandising News, National, Supply Chain News, Whole Foods
Dunnhumby Releases Results Of Retailer Preference Index
Dunnhumby released a special edition of its Retailer Preference Index, a nationwide study of the $1 trillion U.S. grocery market, examining which grocers are winning customers as the economy falters. The edition was released Sept. 19-22 as dunnhumby attends the Groceryshop expo at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. Market Basket bested Aldi and third-placed […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Bashas', West
Bashas’ To Donate $50K To Nonprofit For Anniversary Celebration
As part of its 90th anniversary celebration, Bashas’ will present $50,000 to a charity as part of its Community Choice Charity Challenge. The winning charity will be announced during an event Sept. 23 at the Bashas’ store at McClintock and Warner in Tempe, Arizona. Since mid-July, shoppers were able to cast votes for their favorite […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Foundation Announces 2022 Scholarship Recipients
The NGA Foundation, the nonprofit of the National Grocers Association, has announced the recipients of its 2022 scholarship program. This year, 18 students planning careers with independent grocers received scholarships, provided by the generosity of the foundation’s donors and affiliate groups. “We are proud to ensure that our industry’s future will be in good hands […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Produce News, Southwest
FarmBox Foods Launches Indoor Farm Growing Livestock Feed
FarmBox Foods has announced the launch of its Hydroponic Fodder Farm with a public open house Sept. 27 at 5389 Plum Ave. in Sedalia, Colorado. Guided tours of the new indoor farm — the third product line offered by FarmBox Foods — will be provided. Attendees will also receive a tour of the company’s other tech-assisted, containerized farms: […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, National
FMI Endorses Legislation To Strengthen Credit Card Competition
FMI – The Food Industry Association applauded Reps. Peter Welch and Lance Gooden for introducing companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act, sponsored by Sens. Dick Durban and Roger Marshall earlier this year. This bill would require more than one network option on credit cards, giving merchants like food retailers […]
Posted inExecutive News, Southeast
The Fresh Market Announces Company Promotions
Greensboro, North Carolina-based The Fresh Market has announced two key promotions for team members at its corporate office. Effective immediately, the following people are serving in their new roles: Peter Mayes has been promoted to group VP of merchandising. Mayes previously served as meat and seafood director. In his new role, he will continue to oversee the […]
Posted inBakery News, West
ACSIS Showcases Reusable Bakery Management Solution At IBIE
ACSIS has partnered with Harvest Food Solutions to showcase its ACSIS Reusable Supply Chain Asset Management solution in the Harvest Food Solutions Booth No. 957. Held in Las Vegas every three years, the International Baking Industry Exposition gathers the baking community together to promote economic growth and to learn and advance the future of baking. Harvest Food […]
Posted inPublix Super Markets, Executive News, Independent Store News, Southeast
Two Publix VPs To Retire, New VP Announced
Lakeland, Florida-based Publix Super Markets and Todd Jones, CEO, have announced the retirement of two officers and promotion of another. Gino DiGrazia, VP of finance, has announced his decision to retire at the end of this year after 30 years of service. DiGrazia began his Publix career in 1992 as manager of business analysis and reporting. […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Albertsons, National, Supply Chain News
DoorDash Expands Into New Retail Markets
DoorDash has announced several new retail partners on its platform spanning multiple categories including grocery, convenience and home goods. The company said in a press release, “Over the last few years, we have accelerated our growth beyond restaurants, introducing on-demand grocery, convenience store and alcohol delivery on the DoorDash app with partners including Albertsons Companies, […]
Posted inPackaging News, Midwest
Varcode, NPG To Develop SMART Packaging Solutions
Chicago-based Varcode has finalized a partnership agreement with National Packaging Group to develop, manufacture, market and distribute SMART packaging solutions for distributing temperature-sensitive products. Under the agreement, New York-based NPG will integrate Varcode’s patented Smart Tag technology with its manufacturing businesses. This will create a single source for digitally enabled packaging solutions capable of improving cold chain for food and […]
Posted inBeverage News, Northeast
Royal Farms To Give Free Drink For National Coffee Day
Baltimore-based Royal Farms rewards members will receive a free any size coffee when using their registered Rofo Rewards app or card Sept. 29 in honor of National Coffee Day. The coffee giveaway is part of an ongoing effort to gift Rofo Rewards members a free item every week. Royal Farms’ new Swiss-made coffee brewing system provides […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, West
BrightDrop Enters Supermarket Industry With Trace Grocery
Palo Alto, California-based BrightDrop is expanding its business and product portfolio with the launch of Trace Grocery, a new temperature-controlled eCart that helps streamline order fulfillment and pickup for online grocery purchases. The announcement Monday about the new product coincided with the opening of Groceryshop in Las Vegas, a massive CPG and grocery event during […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Announces 2023 Keynote Speaker For Convention
The National Grocers Association has announced that blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer will be the keynote speaker for the 2023 NGA Show to be held Feb. 26-28 at the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas. The opening session is sponsored by The Kraft Heinz Company, a supporter of NGA and the independent supermarket industry. Weihenmayer […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Center Store, West
Hormel Unveils Refrigerated Salsa, Guacamole By Herdez
Orange, California-based Hormel has new additions to its Herdez brand’s refrigerated salsas. Hormel debuted the three flavors – traditional mild, traditional medium and chipotle medium – in May. In a discussion with The Shelby Report, Chris Monahan, brand manager for refrigerated dips, attributed the expansion to consumer research. “We found that consumers really shop in […]