Catania Oils reported a move to a larger facility as well as packaging and product innovation at IDDBA 2024. Anne Whitney, marketing generalist for the Ayer, Massachusetts-based producer of oils, told The Shelby Report’s Maggie Kaeppel that the company is seeing increased demand, which led to the move to the new 215,000-square-foot warehouse last September. […]
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 inDairy News, Association News, Frozen Food, National
Report: NFRA Reveals Consumers’ Preferences, Nostalgia Linked To Ice Cream
To commemorate National Ice Cream Month in July as well as National Ice Cream Day on July 21, the National Frozen & Refrigerated Food Association (NFRA) has shared new survey data highlighting America’s affection for ice cream. The findings reveal that consumers favor traditional ice cream made from simple, natural ingredients and classic flavors, while […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology
Meijer Introducing School Supply List Technology Through App
Meijer is introducing a new feature to help families get school supplies requested by their teachers through a digital “School Supply List” technology on its app and website. The feature allows parents to enter their zip codes, search for schools and add the necessary items to carts. This technology can be accessed through a QR code […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
June Online Grocery Sales Total $7.7B, Up 8% From 2023
The U.S. online grocery market finished June with $7.7 billion in monthly sales, an 8 percent increase over last year. Delivery sales surged after aggressive promotions last month, ship-to-home posted strong results due to increased spending per order and pickup held steady year-over-year, according to the Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey, fielded June 30-31. During June, […]
Posted inAssociation News, Beverage News, National
FMI Study Assesses Impact Of Selling Wine At Grocery
FMI – The Food Industry Association has released a new report that explores whether allowing grocery stores in Tennessee to sell wine eight years ago led to liquor store closures and changes in state sales tax revenues. Through the creation of a “synthetic” Tennessee, the report by Vincenzina Caputo of Michigan State University examines what would […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, National
Report: May Seafood Sales Highlight Less Inflation
Seafood has experienced far less inflation than total food and beverages, according to Circana and 210 Analytics. The price per pound for total refrigerated/fresh seafood decreased, driven by finfish and shellfish. Frozen and shelf-stable seafood prices also declined year over year. However, at an average price per pound of $9.49, the cost for fresh and […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Southeast
Consumer Brands Association Begins Search For New President, CEO
The Consumer Brands Association has formed a search committee that will be conducting a search for a new president and CEO for the organization ahead of David Chavern’s departure on Aug. 1. The committee will be led by Freshpet CEO Billy Cyr and includes: Linda Rendle, chair and CEO of The Clorox Co.; Mark Smucker, […]
Posted inAssociation News, Northeast
PFMA Awards Ridge Scholarships To 28 Students
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association has awarded $70,000 in scholarships to students toward their goals in higher education. Established in 1996, Thomas R. and Laura Ridge Scholarship Fund honors the parents of former Gov. Tom Ridge. Thomas R. Ridge was a member of the food industry for 25 years, and his wife, Laura, was an […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
eGrowcery Adds AI To Recipes Through New Technology
eGrowcery is helping supermarkets and other retailers improve engagement with their shoppers by offering a suite of more than 70,000 recipes. This latest feature allows retailers to personalize their recipe offerings based on regional preference and product catalog using eGrowcery’s AI technologies to auto-select the products to be assigned to the recipe or for the […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Packaging News, Southeast
Butterball Introduces Redesigned Packaging
Butterball is introducing new packaging for its portfolio of retail products for the first time since 2018. The redesign will enhance the consumer shopping experience by incorporating a consistent look and feel across all product lines with easy-to-read labeling, a bright blue design and an interactive QR code to boost shopper engagement with the brand. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest
Albrecht’s Delafield Market Selects ReposiTrak For Food Traceability
Albrecht’s Delafield Market, a family-owned and operated supermarket in Delafield, Wisconsin, has selected the ReposiTrak Traceability Network to automate the exchange of traceability data with its suppliers. The FDA’s FSMA 204 food traceability law requires the exchange of information between supply chain operators to documents a product’s path through the supply chain from its point of […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Northeast
Smithfield Foods, Grocery Outlet Donate Protein Truckload
Smithfield Foods, in partnership with Grocery Outlet, donated 41,000 pounds of protein to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank as a part of the grocery retailer’s “Independence from Hunger” food drive to fight food insecurity and provide important center-of-the-plate protein for family tables. “This protein donation in partnership with Grocery Outlet will support the Central Pennsylvania […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Northeast, Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop To Close 32 Underperforming Stores
Stop & Shop will close 32 underperforming stores by the end of the year. The company said the move is part of its growth strategy. The original closure announcement was made during the May 23 Ahold Delhaize Strategy Day, where Ahold Delhaize USA CEO J.J. Fleeman said they are taking “deliberate and appropriate actions to […]
Posted inRaley's, Independent Store News, West
The Raley’s Companies Elevates Two Leaders
The Raley’s Companies has promoted two longtime executives within the enterprise and its operating division. Mike Gabbert has been elavated to SVP, chief of human resources for The Raley’s Companies, leading all aspects of human resources, including talent acquisition, benefits, compensation, leadership and development and team member relations. Succeeding him in distribution logistics for Raley’s […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Superior Grocers, West
Superior Grocers Opens Second Store In Victorville, CA
In the most recent step of its ongoing expansion, Superior Grocers held a grand opening July 3 for its second store in Victorville, California. Residents lined up around the building to get inside the store, which offers a wide range of departments and features, including: Fresh produce section: An assortment of locally-sourced fresh produce. SR […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Meijer, Midwest
Meijer Grocery Concept Store Welcomed In Noblesville, IN
Meijer opened a new 90,000-square-foot Meijer Grocery concept store July 11 at 5956 Promenade Shops Blvd. in Noblesville, Indiana. The store’s condensed footprint offers a food-focused shopping experience, as well as all the categories for a quick trip or weekly restock, including produce, dry grocery, fresh meat cut daily, bakery equipped with in-store cake decorators, full-service deli, […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Applauds Safeguarding SNAP In Agriculture Appropriations Bill
The National Grocers Association (NGA) is applauding members of Congress for safeguarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the FY 2025 agriculture appropriations bill by removing a provision that would have led to widespread disruptions and undermined SNAP’s effectiveness. A proposal dropped from the final bill would have created a five-state pilot to limit […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Southwest
Whole Foods Market Celebrates 50th Van Donation To Local Nonprofits
Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market has donated its 50th refrigerated van to support local nonprofits as part of the Nourishing Our Neighborhood program. Launched in 2020, this initiative aims to expand the capacity and capability of community-based food rescue organizations across the U.S. and Canada to move food to where it’s needed most. Each van […]
Posted inMarketing News, Southeast
Acosta Group Expands Partnership With J.M. Smucker Co.
Acosta Group, a sales and marketing agency collective based in Jacksonville, Florida, has expanded its engagement with The J.M. Smucker Company to include a complete North American solution for headquarter sales, retail merchandising and digital commerce. This appointment by The J.M. Smucker Co. is based on Acosta Group’s comprehensive set of services and solutions and demonstrated ability to support […]
Posted inDollar General, Corporate Store News, Southeast
Dollar General Donates $1M To Feeding America, Extends Partnership
Dollar General has extended its partnership with Feeding America for a fourth year with an additional $1 million donation to support the organization’s efforts to address national food insecurity. Since 2021, Dollar General has donated more than $4 million and more than 33 million meals through in-kind food donations. “As America’s largest retailer by store count, we […]