FMI – The Food Industry Association has announced additions to its board of directors elected during the group’s January meeting. “The food industry is on the cusp of momentous change, with new technologies poised to alter the way food businesses operate,” said FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin. “FMI is proud to welcome these […]
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 inPackaging News, Beverage News, West
Element[AL] Introduces Aluminum Bottles To Wine Industry
From the California-based Bogle Family Wine Collection, Element[AL] Wines has introduced new 750 ml aluminum wine bottles that are lightweight, infinitely recyclable and are made in the shape of a traditional wine bottle. The Element[AL] portfolio is available in 100 percent recyclable aluminum bottles with four varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Rosé and Pinot Noir. Each […]
Posted inExecutive News, Midwest
Hormel Foods’ VP Of Retail Sales Schwab To Retire
Hormel Foods Corp. has announced the upcoming retirement of Pat Schwab, VP of retail sales – East. In addition, the company has shared that Darren Carter, VP of sales strategy at Hormel Foods, will replace Schwab and become VP of retail sales – East. Carter will oversee the sales functions for all retail customers throughout the eastern […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
NCR Voyix Launches Next Generation Self-Checkout Solution
NCR Voyix Corp. has launched its next generation self-checkout solution powered by NCR Voyix Commerce Platform. The NCR Voyix Next Generation Self-Checkout Solution caters to changing shopper journeys, drives inclusion of demographics and payments and provides a modern software-as-a-service technology stack with a fabric-like hardware approach. The SaaS application stack is managed by NCR Voyix Edge, which […]
Posted inRaley's, Corporate Store News, Grocery Store Layout, West
Raley’s Converts Two In-Store Cafes To Enhance Experience
Raley’s has converted two in-store cafes to Starbuck’s kiosks, including its store on Natomas Boulevard in Sacramento, California, and the Raley’s location in Incline Village, Nevada. Over the last five years, Raley’s has invested in its spaces where the community gathers, including community rooms, cafes and beer/wine bars. “Raley’s is excited about our collaboration with […]
Posted inNorthgate Market, Independent Store News, West
Northgate Market, UNFI Hand Out Hormel Hams At Holidays
Northgate González Market partnered with Hormel Foods and UNFI to distribute 1,500 six-pound hams to families during its recent Hams for Hunger event in Fontana, California. The grocer also distributed $25 holiday vouchers to the first 40 people who lined up outside its store. “Our goal at Northgate González Market is to make sure our […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Lowes Foods, Southeast
Lowes Foods Opening Two More Stores In NC
Lowes Foods, a Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based grocer, has signed leases for two new stores in Lexington and Waxhaw. Construction and opening schedules have not been determined. The stores are in addition to the previously announced locations coming to Aiken, South Carolina; Concord, North Carolina; Indian Land, South Carolina; Kannapolis, North Carolina; Marble Hill, Georgia; Summerville, […]
Posted inCoborn's, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology
Coborn’s Rolls Outs Logile Thermal Intelligence Solution
Coborn’s has installed Logile’s Thermal Intelligence solution in all banners across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan. A Logile customer since 2012, using its enterprise labor planning and forecasting solutions, Coborn’s sought to improve its food safety capabilities and address temperature-monitoring system limitations and challenges. Coborn’s worked with Logile to finetune the new […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., National, Online Grocery Technology
Kroger’s CIO Discusses Digital Innovation At NRF’s Big Show
The Kroger Co.’s CIO and SVP Yael Cosset joined Sucharita Kodali, VP at Forrester Research, Jan. 14-16 at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show for a conversation on the grocer’s digital journey and how it impacts customers and employees. “We continue to invest in our digital transformation journey by enhancing our customer and associate experiences, […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, National
FMI Names 2024 Executive Leadership Award Recipients
FMI- The Food Industry Association celebrated the 2024 Executive Leadership Award recipients on Friday during its Midwinter Executive Conference on Marco Island, Florida. They include Brookshire Grocery Co.’s Brad Brookshire, KeHe Distributors’ Brandon Barnholt, Associated Wholesale Grocers’ David Smith, Hy-Vee’s Donna Tweeten, Seaside Market’s John Najjar, Nestlé’s Steve Presley and PepsiCo’s Steven Williams. According to FMI, these […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, National
Upshop Lands Growth Investment From Level Equity
Upshop, a store operations and omnichannel technology platform for food retail, has received a strategic growth investment from New York-based Level Equity. Prairie Capital and other shareholders will maintain a minority investment in the company. Upshop’s Software as a Service (SaaS) platform is designed to streamline forecasting, ordering, production and inventory optimization processes for food […]
Posted inNatural Grocers, Corporate Store News, Southwest
Natural Grocers’ 46th Colorado Store To Open In Gunnison
Natural Grocers will open its 46th store in Colorado on Jan. 31 at 1000 N. Main St. in Gunnison. The community is invited to celebrate the occasion with giveaways, savings, a prize wheel and samples. Natural Grocers’ good4u crew will begin the celebration at 8:15 a.m. with a $2,500 donation presentation to the Gunnison Country […]
Posted inExecutive News, Northeast
Wakefern Welcomes Caudill As Chief Sales Officer
Darren Caudill, who joins Wakefern Food Corp. as chief sales officer this week, brings to the cooperative more than four decades of experience working in grocery wholesale and retail. In his new role, Caudill will lead center store, Own Brands and fresh and prepared foods departments, along with digital and innovation, marketing, merchandising and sales […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI Named MyPlate National Strategic Partnership Champion
FMI – The Food Industry Association has been recognized as a MyPlate National Strategic Partnership Champion, the highest recognition possible, for its efforts to make MyPlate a household name. As a MyPlate National Strategic Partner for more than 12 years, FMI collaborates with members across the food industry to raise awareness of MyPlate resources. The association […]
Posted inPackaging News, Dairy News, Midwest
AWG Brands Serves Up New Yogurt Program
AWG Brands, the private brands of Kansas City, Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), has introduced a new yogurt program to help member retailers compete in the category. The evolving AWG Brands yogurt program features products comparable with national brand equivalent flavor profiles, along with items that align with national trends. Discussions with strategic supplier partners […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
2023 Online Grocery Sales Total $95.8 Billion
The U.S. online grocery market finished 2023 with $95.8 billion in total sales, down 1.2 percent compared to 2022, according to the annualized results from the monthly Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey. A decline in order frequency by online grocery shoppers was the primary factor driving the lower sales in 2023. The multi-year analysis […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest
AWG, Hormel Foods Donate 6K Hams To Kansas City Food Bank
Hormel Foods Corp. and Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) donated 6,000 pounds of Hormel Cure 81 hams on Jan. 4 to the Harvesters food bank to help fight hunger. The donation was made possible by the 34th annual Hormel Cure 81 Hams for Hunger program and took place during the holiday season. The donation supports […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest
Meijer Opens Fairfax Market In Cleveland, OH
Meijer’s first Fairfax Market outside of its home state of Michigan has opened at 2190 E. 105th St. in Cleveland. The retailer’s fifth neighborhood market, it is part of a broader revitalization project designed to bolster economic activity, add jobs and bring food access to the Cleveland Innovation District. “Fairfax Market represents another opportunity to […]
Posted inExecutive News, National
Flashfood President, COO Bertram Adds CEO Role
Flashfood has appointed President and Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Bertram as CEO, while founder Josh Domingues shifts into the executive chairman role. In addition, Chief Brand Officer Jordan Schenck takes on the new role of chief customer officer. Bertram joined Flashfood last year, bringing more than two decades of leadership experience in retail. Since his […]
Posted inKeHE Distributors, Southeast, Wholesaler/Distributor News
KeHE’s New Distribution Center Welcomed In Miami
KeHE Distributors’s new 360,000-square-foot distribution center in Miami began operations in December, allowing for more product innovation and assortment benefiting its retail partners in the Southeast. Operating across five temperature zones, it features an air-conditioned dry warehouse space, freezer and cooler, as well as rooms for ice cream and flex/fresh. “We appreciate the local officials […]