Sweet potato pancake mix from Giant Eagle, cauliflower-crust pizza from Albertsons and potstickers from Amazon are among PLMA’s 2023 Salute to Excellence award winners for store brand innovation. These products join nearly 100 Salute to Excellence winners announced Nov. 12 at PLMA’s 2023 Private Label Trade Show in Chicago. Created in 1986, the annual awards […]
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, National
October Online Grocery Sales Up To $8.2B Versus Year Ago
The U.S. online grocery market increased by 5 percent versus last year, ending October with $8.2 billion in sales, according to the latest monthly Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey fielded Oct. 30-31. Higher average order values, especially in delivery, offset a slowdown in total order volume for the month. In addition, mass continued to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, West
Liviri Selects Madison Foods For Independent E-Grocer Grant
Liviri has selected the recipient of its first e-grocer grant program: Madison Foods, a locally-owned, independent grocery store located in Ennis, Montana. Liviri developed the grant program to award resources to an independent grocer to drive operational excellence and optimize supply chain management for the e-grocery sector. Madison Foods is the only grocery store in […]
Posted inCenter Store, Northeast
B&G Foods Sells Green Giant Shelf-Stable Product Line
B&G Foods Inc. has sold its Green Giant U.S. shelf-stable vegetable product line to Seneca Foods Corp. In connection with the sale, B&G Foods, which will retain ownership of the Green Giant trademarks, will license the Green Giant brand name to Seneca Foods. The sale does not include Green Giant frozen, Green Giant Canada or the Le Sueur brand. “Our decision to sell the U.S. […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, National
ECRM Celebrates Anniversary With In-Person Sessions
As it celebrates its 30th anniversary next year, ECRM will be returning to its roots hosting a full roster of in-person sessions across categories within food and beverage, health and beauty care, general merchandise and pharmacy/medical markets. ECRM was founded in 1994 by Charlie Bowlus as a way for buyers to connect with brands in-person […]
Posted inCenter Store, Midwest
General Mills Acquires Fera Pets, Introduces Growth Fund
General Mills Inc. has acquired Fera Pets Inc., a vet-founded pet supplement company, bringing new health-focused offerings to General Mills’ pet portfolio. This represents General Mills’ first step into the pet supplement category and first acquisition by its new growth equity fund. As the pet food trend toward humanization continues, consumers are looking for healthful products […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, C-Store News, National
Mercedes-Benz To Add EV Charging At All Buc-ee’s Locations
Mercedes-Benz HPC North America LLC has entered into a new strategic agreement with Buc-ee’s, marking a milestone in the journey to create a national charging network for drivers across the country. Mercedes-Benz will build charging hubs at most Buc-ee’s travel centers, starting with about 30 by the end of 2024, and has begun work on charging […]
Posted inCenter Store, Northeast
Campbell’s Appoints Brawley As EVP, General Counsel
Campbell Soup Co. has appointed Charles A. Brawley III as EVP, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective Nov. 30. He succeeds Adam Ciongoli, who accepted a role at another company. Brawley joined the company in 2016 and most recently served as SVP, corporate secretary and deputy general counsel, overseeing Campbell’s legal functions of corporate governance, […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Corporate Store News, Southwest
Kroger Breaks Ground On Marketplace Store In Fort Worth, TX
The Kroger Co. has broken ground on a new Kroger Marketplace format store at 113 East Bonds Ranch Road in Fort Worth, Texas. The 123,000-square-foot store, built on nearly 17 acres, is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2024. The new store is anticipated to create 250-300 new jobs for the Fort Worth […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Smart & Final, West
Smart & Final Extra! To Open Nov. 15 In Madera, CA
Smart & Final will open its first Smart & Final Extra! store Nov. 15 at 2237 W. Cleveland Ave., Suite 101 in Madera, California. The new 32,000-square-foot store will offer customers in the San Joaquin Valley an option for quality, budget-friendly household and club-sized products. “As a local Madera resident, I know families from across […]
Posted inBJ's Wholesale Club, Corporate Store News, Southeast
BJ’s Wholesale Club Donates $15K To Alabama Elementary School
BJ’s Wholesale Club, an operator of membership warehouse clubs, celebrated the anticipated opening of its first club in Alabama by donating $15,000 to Midtown Elementary School. The foundation is providing funds for newly expanded music and arts programs at all seven Madison City elementary schools. “BJ’s Wholesale Club is committed to supporting the local communities […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest
Report Predicts Thanksgiving Celebrations To Use Whole Turkeys
As Thanksgiving approaches, Minneapolis-based Cargill’s U.S.-focused “Future of Turkey” study indicates a return to traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, with more than eight in 10 consumers who responded saying they plan to purchase a whole turkey this year. This marks a turnaround from previous years, when consumers often purchased individual turkey parts such as turkey breasts as […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Amazon Fresh, Meijer, National, Whole Foods
Walmart Claims Top Spot On 2023 Kantar Benchmarking Report
Kantar has released its annual industry benchmarking report 2023 PoweRanking, which identifies retailers and manufacturers/suppliers that set the standard of performance, ranked by their trading partners. Walmart claimed the top spot for retailers for its 27th consecutive year, while PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, P&G, Nestle and General Mills round out the top five suppliers for 2023. “It is a […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, West
New Seasons Market Plans New Stores, Freshens Others
New Seasons Market, The Shelby Report of the West’s Retailer of the Year, has been updating its stores across its soon to be 20 locations, while four more are slated to open in the next three years. For the company’s recognition, EVP Bob Reeves visited multiple stores to get a glimpse of what the future […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest
Fareway, Iowa Farm Bureau Donate Protein To Food Banks
Fareway Stores Inc. and Iowa Farm Bureau have partnered to donate 57,863 pounds of ground protein to food banks across Iowa in the Meat the Need campaign. For every 10-pound tube of ground beef sold at Fareway from Oct. 30-Nov. 4, one pound of lean protein was donated to local food banks in partnership with […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Southeast
Survey Notes Barriers To Boosting In-Store Experience
Significant disconnects between physical and digital commerce and store and corporate leadership are among the key barriers to improving the grocery experience, according to a study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina-based Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. The study, which surveyed 346 high-volume store leaders and corporate level customer experience […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
Amazon Fresh Offering Delivery Without Prime Membership
Previously available only to Prime members, Amazon is making grocery delivery and free pickup available to customers in all U.S. cities and towns where Amazon Fresh is offered. “All customers can order groceries online for delivery or pickup from Amazon Fresh across the U.S. – with Whole Foods Market coming soon – even if they […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, Festival Foods, Food Lion, National
Grocers Marking Veterans Day In Various Ways
Grocers across the U.S. are commemorating Veterans Day on Nov. 11 through discounts and fundraisers for all veterans and active-duty military members. Festival Foods In collaboration with 11 vendor partners, veterans visiting any Festival Foods location on Nov. 11 can pick up 12 free products that are available while supplies last with a $20 minimum […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest
Creekstone Farms Unveils Onsite Childcare Center
Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, a supplier of premium meats, celebrated the grand opening of Walnut Valley Learning Center, an onsite childcare facility beside the company’s headquarters in Arkansas City, Kansas, with a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 18. The 20,000-square-foot Creekstone Farms’ childcare center can accommodate more than 100 children in Cowley County, which faces a […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, National
September Remains Tough Month For Seafood Sales
Prices came down for fresh and shelf-stable seafood, according to the primary shopper survey presented by Circana, 210 Analytics and Elanco. Inflation for frozen seafood was below average, at 1.6 percent in September versus last year at the same time. In the 52-week look, total seafood prices are down 0.6 percent, however, at an average […]