The Minnesota Grocers Association has selected Patrick Garofalo as its new president. He will join MGA on July 15, transitioning to full responsibilities of the position on Aug. 30. He succeeds Jamie Pfuhl, who is retiring after 27 years with the organization. Garofalo served Minnesota as a state representative for the past 20 years. He […]
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, Hy-Vee, Midwest
Hy-Vee Implements VusionGroup’s Digital Solutions
Hy-Vee has implemented a series of digital solutions from VusionGroup to help streamline the shopping experience for its customers. Hy-Vee is using the VusionGroup platform to digitalize more than 230 of its stores, which will be able to update product prices and data automatically, rather than the labor-intensive process of printing and hanging paper price tags. […]
Posted inBig Y Foods, Independent Store News, Northeast
Big Y Opens New Market In Middletown, CT
Big Y has opened a new market at 850 S. Main St. in Middletown, Connecticut, the second of three new locations coming to the state this year. The Middletown Big Y market offers an on-site bakery with hand-decorated cakes and specialty baked goods, such as signature snowflake rolls, along with full-service butcher and seafood departments with six deliveries of […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Northeast
North Coast Seafoods, Atlantic Sea Farms Win Climate Award
Boston-based North Coast Seafoods, alongside its Maine-based partner and farmed kelp producer Atlantic Sea Farms, recently received the Climate Award at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s first Gulf of Maine Tastemakers Awards. The Climate Award is given to companies that champion and bring restorative food into the mainstream. This year, the award was presented to […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, West
Heritage Grocers Group Expands Loyalty Program To El Rancho Supermercado
Heritage Grocers Group has expanded its rewards program to El Rancho Supermercado, one of its banner companies with 29 stores across Texas and Kansas. This expansion further unifies Heritage’s banner companies under one loyalty program to enhance the overall shopping experience for its customers. “Building on the successful launch of Heritage’s rewards program for Cardenas Markets in […]
Posted inRaley's, Independent Store News, West
The Raley’s Companies’ Chief HR Officer Croff Retires
The Raley’s Companies has announced the retirement of Chief Human Resource Officer Laura Croff, effective June 29. Croff started with the organization as a human resources business partner and served as chief human resources officer since 2018. Croff was instrumental in Raley’s growth and expansion, including the creation of the company’s shared services model, supporting […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
US Foods Begins Partnership With Military Family Advisory Network
US Foods Holding Corp., a foodservice distributor based in Rosemont, Illinois, has begun a national partnership with the Military Family Advisory Network with a $250,000 monetary contribution. The collaboration is part of the company’s “Helping Communities Make It” program, which seeks to empower communities in need through hunger-relief, culinary education and disaster relief. This is […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, National
Upshop, Invafresh Merge To Transform Food Retail Technology
Upshop and Invafresh have merged, aiming to address major food sector challenges regarding availability, affordability and waste. The united entity, Upshop, aims to empower communities worldwide by enabling better access to fresh, safe and affordable food, regardless of whether it’s prepared, perishable or shelf stable. The platform will be used by more than 400 retailers […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
IFPA’s Burns Previews Foodservice Conference
As the signature event for produce in the culinary arts, the IFPA’s Foodservice Conference promises top-notch education sessions, networking opportunities and a premier expo with products and services targeted to the foodservice industry. Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), said the event brings the foodservice industry together around one of its […]
Posted inHy-Vee, Independent Store News, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology
Hy-Vee Adds PayPal Express Checkout, Venmo To Aisles Online
Beginning July 8, PayPal and Venmo payment options will be available to Hy-Vee customers using its Aisles Online platform for grocery pickup and delivery orders. “Our Aisles Online platform has continued to evolve alongside our customers’ needs since we launched this service,” said Jody Gosch, chief technology officer and EVP at Hy-Vee. “With this new […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Southwest, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Expands Standards For Animal Welfare, Third-Party Certification
Whole Foods Market is expanding its commitment to animal welfare by requiring additional products and species meet its quality standards for meat. To support the effort, the company is increasing the number of approved third-party animal welfare programs that certify products sold in its stores. According to Whole Foods Market, taking these steps will lead […]
Posted inAssociation News, Northeast
NJFC Awards $108K In Food Industry Scholarships
The New Jersey Food Council’s (NJFC) Educational Development Scholarship Foundation hosted a virtual reception with the winners of $108,000 in scholarships this graduation season. “At this reception, we proudly honor the remarkable achievements and dedication of those who are going to shape the future of business and food marketing in New Jersey,” said NJFC President […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Food Service News, Southwest
GrubMarket Acquires Foodservice Company Brothers Produce
GrubMarket has acquired Brothers Produce, one of the largest foodservice distributors in Texas and the broader Southwestern U.S. Founded as a small family business in the 1980s by fresh produce veteran and current CEO Martin Erenwert, Brothers Produce is a full-service food distribution and wholesale business with warehouse facilities in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio, totaling more than 250,000 square feet in […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Northeast, Packaging News, Sustainability News
North Coast Seafoods Introduces 100% Recyclable Packaging
North Coast Seafoods, an importer, processor and supplier of sustainably sourced seafood, has partnered with Australia-based Disruptive Packaging to introduce a new innovation: 100 percent recyclable and reusable packaging. For the past decade, North Coast Seafoods has been searching for sustainable, recyclable packaging alternatives to non-recyclable packaging that are scalable across its operations. However, being recyclable alone […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest
Smithfield Foods To Close Facility In Altoona, IA
Smithfield Foods will close its Altoona, Iowa, ham boning facility and consolidate production volume at other locations to improve the efficiency of its manufacturing platform. Smithfield will provide transition assistance to 314 employees at the facility who will be affected by the closure. The company will meet with employees to provide additional details about the […]
Posted inDairy News, West
Tillamook Wins 13 Medals At International Cheese, Dairy Awards
Tillamook County Creamery Association is bringing 13 awards back to its headquarters in Oregon following the 128th International Cheese and Dairy Awards (ICDA) hosted June 28-29 in Stafford, United Kingdom. The International Cheese and Dairy Awards competition gathers dairy experts and judges from all over the world to evaluate product entries, such as Tillamook, based on aroma, […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Independent Store News, National
Consumers Are Spreading Around Their Grocery Trips. So What?
Sponsored content Research from Upside has shown that American consumers are pushing back against increased food costs, trading down from full-service restaurants to quick-service restaurants or hot buffets and salad bars. Even as inflation levels off, the rise in prices over the past three years has made consumers second-guess their spending, impacting retailers across all […]
Posted inBeverage News, West
Green Day Partners With Keurig On Punk Bunny Coffee
Rock band Green Day – made up of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool – has partnered with Keurig Dr Pepper to introduce Punk Bunny Coffee. The new brand builds on the core values of their decade-old Oakland Coffee company, which was established to provide curated organic, Fair Trade Certified coffee with an […]
Posted inHugo's Family Marketplace, Independent Store News, Midwest
Hugo’s, Lindner-Hagen Inc. Partner To Serve Northern Minnesota Communities
Kristi Magnuson-Nelson, president and CEO of Hugo’s Family Marketplace, and Chuck Lindner, CEO of Lindner-Hagen Inc. (DBA Doug’s Supermarket, Lake of the Woods Foods, Pine River Family Market and Pine Ridge Liquor), have established a new partnership to serve communities in Northern Minnesota. This partnership agreement allows the combination of the two companies to expand […]
Posted inHarps Food Stores, Executive News, Independent Store News, Southwest
Former Harps Food Stores Chairman, CEO Collins Dies At 75
Springdale, Arkansas-based Harps Food Stores has announced the July 1 death of its former Chairman and CEO Roger Collins. He began his career at Harps in December 1986, serving as VP of finance. From his initial role, Collins quickly became an integral part of shaping the future of Harps Food Stores. Under his guidance, the […]