Southeastern Grocers Inc. is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for its 2024 Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant. The grant supports organizations that work to address racial disparities in health care, food insecurity and education while building a more inclusive and equitable future for all. Nonprofit organizations that promote underserved communities throughout Alabama, […]
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 inHy-Vee, Independent Store News, Midwest
Hy-Vee Awards $50K To Local Businesses During Showcase
Hy-Vee, Inc. awarded $50,000 to minority- and women-owned businesses during the Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit Jan. 31 at the Scott Conference Center, located on the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Scott Campus. During the pitch competition component of the event, 15 companies from across the Midwest presented to a panel of judges and more than 200 […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest
Meijer Supports Black-Owned Businesses Through Grow Academy
Meijer is growing its selection of Black-owned brands to meet customer interest and demonstrate its support of small businesses in its communities through its Meijer Grow Academy. Since formalizing this program in 2021, Meijer has grown its selection of Black-owned brands by about 35 percent. When a certified diverse supplier joins Meijer, the supplier inclusion […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, West
Heritage Grocers Group Names Brunts To Board Of Directors
Heritage Grocers Group has named DeAnn Brunts as a member of its board of directors, effective immediately. With more than 30 years of executive experience in operational, strategic and financial management, Brunts is an expert in risk management and governance. Previously, she served as CFO of Benson Hill Inc. in addition to several CFO and business […]
Posted inWalmart, Corporate Store News, Southwest
Walmart To Add New Stores, Jobs By 2029
Shared in a statement on the company’s website, Walmart has announced plans to build or convert more than 150 stores, while continuing to remodel existing stores. These efforts represent millions of dollars in capital investment of labor, supplies and tax revenue, which benefit their respective communities. During the next 12 months, Walmart plans to remodel […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Ask The Experts, National
Candy And Snacks: What’s In Store For Independent Retailers?
Sponsored content In preparation for the upcoming Sweets & Snacks show, Anne-Marie Roerink discusses what issues and challenges are important to independent retailers and what topics they can expect to see featured at the show. Roerink is the president of 210 Analytics, LLC, a marketing/research company specializing in food retailing. Roerink authors NCA’s flagship State of […]
Posted inAssociation News, C-Store News, Northeast
Wawa Exec Elected Vice Chair Of New Jersey Food Council
Jason Read, director of store operations for Region 1-Central and North Jersey of Wawa, has been elected vice chair of the New Jersey Food Council’s (NJFC) board of directors. “Jason has been an engaged and visionary board member and we are pleased that he is taking on this new leadership role with the New Jersey […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, West
Second Macey’s Market Opens In Salt Lake City
A second Macey’s Market, a companion brand of the Macey’s grocery store, opened Jan. 31 at 1638 S 900 E. in Salt Lake City, Utah. Designed for smaller and more centralized areas, Macey’s Markets are created to best serve their specific communities. They feature an in-store bakery, delicatessen, full-service grocery and meat, produce and non-food […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National
IGA Names Nine Retailers Of Year
Nominated by their wholesalers, nine members of the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) have been named 2024 U.S. Retailers of the Year. Presented annually to grocers who have best provided leadership and excellence in their communities, the honor is the highest IGA gives to its retailer members. The 2024 Retailers of the Year are: John and […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Northeast
Big Y Adds Three Supermarkets, Convenience Store
Big Y Foods Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire the leasehold interests for three supermarkets in New England. The locations are 1076 Post Road East in Westport, Connecticut; 14 Candlewood Lake Road in Brookfield, Connecticut; and 290 Turnpike Road in Westborough, Massachusetts. Big Y teams have assessed each location to determine how soon they […]
Posted inDollar General, Corporate Store News, Produce News, Southeast
Dollar General Reaches Produce Milestone, Adds AI Ordering
Noting that it now offers fresh produce at more than 5,000 stores across the country, Dollar General said it has more individual points of produce distribution than any other U.S. mass retailer or grocer. First announced in the company’s fourth-quarter 2022 earnings in March, more than 5,000 stores now carry the top 20 items typically […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
Instacart Expands Online SNAP Acceptance For Grocery Delivery
Instacart has announced a series of retail expansions that will allow customers to use SNAP benefits to shop online for groceries for same-day delivery from Food City, Gordon Food Service, Hy-Vee, Schnucks and additional Kroger banners. Instacart now offers online SNAP acceptance from more than 170 retail banners spanning more than 14,000 stores, reaching 96 […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, National
IGA Honors Former W. Lee Flowers Exec With Highest Award
Henry Johnson Jr., the former president of W. Lee Flowers & Co., recently received the J. Frank Grimes Award, the highest honor granted by the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA). IGA Chairman Mark Batenic and IGA CEO John Ross presented the honor, which often is referred to as the Chairman’s Award, to Johnson at the FMI […]
Posted inHy-Vee, Health & Wellness, Independent Store News, Midwest
Hy-Vee Acquires Stake In Iowa Primary, Urgent Care Clinics
Hy-Vee Inc. has become a joint owner of Exemplar Care medical clinics, which will be renamed Hy-Vee Health Exemplar Care and offer direct primary care and 24/7 urgent care where available in West Des Moines, Ankeny and soon Bondurant, Iowa. The clinics will be managed by Hy-Vee Chief Medical Officer Daniel Fick and Exemplar Care’s […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Grocery Store Layout, Midwest
Two Schnucks Stores In Missouri Undergoing Renovations
Schnucks Markets has begun total store remodels at two locations in Missouri – 13987 New Halls Ferry Road in Florissant and 60 Hampton Village Plaza in St. Louis – that are expected to be complete by late fall. “Not only is Schnucks committed to continued growth in new communities, we are also committed to remodeling […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Northeast
UNFI Implements AI-Powered Warehouse Automation System
United Natural Foods (UNFI) has announced plans to implement an A.I.-powered robotic automation system in its warehouse in Manchester, Pennsylvania. This system, manufactured by Symbotic, is the second installation for UNFI and part of its commitment to improve its distribution center network. Once installed, UNFI expects the system to enhance the customer experience, improve quality […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
Newsweek Recognizes SpartanNash For Employee Diversity
SpartanNash has been named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group for its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. The company received the award based on quantitative data from an employee survey as well as other qualitative scoring methods. “Creating an environment where every associate belongs and feels empowered to […]
Posted inPackaging News, Northeast
C-P Flexible Packaging Introduces Intelligraphix Systems
C-P Flexible Packaging, a York, Pennsylvania-based company in the flexible packaging industry, has introduced Intelligraphix Systems, a new division specializing in prepress, platemaking and color management services designed for flexographic printers. To ensure precision and efficiency from design to print, Intelligraphix Systems offers a suite of prepress services, including art file optimization, extended gamut preparation, flexographic platemaking […]
Posted inCenter Store, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Northeast
North Coast Seafoods Launches Boat To Bowl Pet Foods
North Coast Seafoods has launched its newest product line, Boat to Bowl Pet Foods. This cat food, made with high-quality, upcycled fish as the first ingredient, is available in Target stores nationwide and online through its website. “We are thrilled to bring Boat to Bowl Pet Foods to Target guests across the country,” said Jon Wooner, […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Independent Store News, Northeast
Stew Leonard’s Introduce New Recipes Through Invafresh Platform
Stew Leonard’s has expanded its relationship with Invafresh to include recipe management capabilities. “When it came to optimizing our store operations, strengthening our relationship with Invafresh was the right decision given the measurable success we’ve seen with their technology,” said Rich Dibble, VP of culinary operations for Stew Leonard’s. “For our team members, Invafresh will […]