Jackson’s has announced a plant expansion that will nearly triple its production capacity and add an additional 10,000 square feet of manufacturing space to the Muskego, Wisconsin-based company. The expansion comes less than two years after Jackson’s opened its production facility, which the company believes to be “the first of its kind dedicated to only […]
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 inProduce News, Executive News, West
Driscoll’s Names Bjorn As CEO
Driscoll’s board of directors has elected Soren Bjorn, currently president of Driscoll’s of the Americas, as the company’s new CEO. Miles Reiter, the current chairman and CEO, has announced his plan to retire at the end of the year and become executive chairman of the family-owned company. Reiter has been involved in the berry business […]
Posted inCenter Store, West
Natural Balance Wins 2023 Wet Dog Food Product Of Year
Natural Balance Pet Foods has won a 2023 Pet Independent Innovation Award for its new Limited Ingredient Stews for Dogs. The stews, which hit shelves earlier during the summer, won the award for Dog Wet Food Product of the Year. The Limited Ingredient Stews for Dogs feature single animal protein from chicken, beef or duck […]
Posted inBeverage News, Southwest
BuzzBallz Signs Three-Year Partnership With LSU Athletics
BuzzBallz has signed with Louisiana State University Athletics as “Proud Partners” to feature its ready-to-drink cocktails at LSU Athletics events. The partnership will start in 2023 and continue until 2026. Four SKUs of wine-based BuzzBallz Chillers will be available in the LSU Tiger Stadium and at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The ready-to-drink cocktails will […]
Posted inFood Lion, Corporate Store News, Southeast
Food Lion Launches ‘Be The Season’s MVP’ Program
Food Lion has introduced its “Be the Season’s MVP” program, designed to offer ease and affordability for customers during the upcoming holidays. “Customers can be this season’s MVP by taking advantage of affordability and convenience as well as cooking tips, recipes and catering options at Food Lion,” said Jennifer Blanchard, director of community relations. “We […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Supply Chain News, West
Walmart To Open Fifth Fulfillment Center In Stockton, CA
Walmart plans to open its fifth “next-generation” fulfillment center in Stockton, California, in 2026. The new 900,000-square-foot facility at 150 Mariposa Road in Stockton – about 50-miles south of Sacramento – will enable the retailer to fulfill online orders throughout the west coast with greater speed and efficiency. Increased order capacity means faster shipping speeds […]
Posted inDollar General, Executive News, Southeast
Vasos Returns As CEO For Dollar General
Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based Dollar General Corp. has named Todd Vasos as CEO, effective today. Vasos, who previously served as Dollar General’s CEO from June 2015-November 2022, has agreed to return to lead the company for the foreseeable future. He succeeds Jeff Owen, whose separation from the company and resignation from its board is effective today. “The board […]
Posted inNorthgate Market, Independent Store News, West
Northgate Gonzales Market Recognizes Juntos Award Recipients
Northgate González Market has recognized 12 people during its Juntos Awards campaign, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Born out of the pandemic, the program’s message is that “we are all united in this journey to help those less fortunate,” according to the company. As part of the award, Northgate Market has announced $24,000 in […]
Posted inExecutive News, Northeast
The Giant Co. Promotes Lupfer, Lessard To New Executive Roles
The Giant Co. has named Rebecca Lupfer as CFO and Dave Lessard as SVP of operations, customer experience and perishable distribution, effective Oct. 16. Both will report to John Ruane, president of the Carlisle, Pennsylvania-based company. “Rebecca and Dave are talented, passionate and results-driven leaders, with vast retail grocery experience and a deep awareness of […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Midwest
Hy-Vee, Takeoff Partner For Online Shopping Improvements
Hy-Vee has partnered with Takeoff Technologies, a Boston-based e-grocery technology company, to incorporate its micro-fulfillment capabilities to assist with e-commerce and order fulfillment. Using Takeoff, Hy-Vee can further meet its customers’ growing demand for online shopping through micro-fulfillment centers in select metro locations. The technology will complement Hy-Vee’s Aisles Online grocery ordering system by making […]
Posted inPackaging News, Northeast, Private Label Brands
Giant Eagle Relaunches Private Label Brand, Nature’s Basket
As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, Giant Eagle Inc. has relaunched its private label brand, Nature’s Basket. All items from the Nature’s Basket product line will now feature responsibly-sourced, high-quality ingredients. “We’re committed to helping our customers realize meaningful value through our Own Brands program, and I am particularly excited to reintroduce […]
Posted inMeijer, Midwest, Packaging News
Meijer Reduces Plastic Packaging In Bolthouse Farms’ Partnership
Meijer is the first retailer nationwide to carry Earthbound Farm Organic Mini Peeled Carrots, packaged by Bolthouse Farms in compostable bags. According to Ron Lovelace, director of produce for Meijer, the partnership with Bolthouse Farms – one of the retailer’s longest supplier relationships – reflects the company’s preference for offering its customers more sustainable packaging […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Northeast
Third-Generation Colalillo Joins ShopRite Of Hunterdon County
ShopRite of Hunterdon County, the family-owned company that operates five ShopRite stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, has announced that Sam Colalillo has joined the business. He will work with Joe Colalillo, his father and president of ShopRite of Hunterdon County, and the retail teams at the family’s ShopRite stores located in Flemington, Greenwich and […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Northeast
Whole Foods Market To Open Store In Jersey City, NJ
Whole Foods Market will open a new 51,156-square-foot store Nov. 9 at Washington Street and Columbus Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey. This is the retailer’s first store in the city. With graphics representing the Hudson River in the store’s backyard, a cool-toned color palette was chosen to provide a sense of calm in the […]
Posted inSustainability News, Northeast
Innovative Hannaford Store Pursues Sustainability Challenge
Celebrating its 15th year and a recent remodel, the Hannaford store on Cony Street in Augusta, Maine, is pursuing the Living Building Challenge Core green building certification, which looks at how the building and its operations support ecology, community and energy-efficiency. The performance-based certification is an advanced regimen of sustainability standards developed by the International […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Southwest
Sysco Acquiring Edward Don & Co.
Houston, Texas-based Sysco Corp. has agreed to acquire Edward Don & Co., a distributor of foodservice equipment, supplies and disposables. Headquartered in Chicago, Edward Don & Co. generates about $1.3 billion in annual revenue, serving a range of restaurant, foodservice and other customers across the U.S. The acquisition will allow Sysco to add capabilities and […]
Posted inSustainability News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
SpartanNash ESG Report Highlights Progress On 2025 Goals
SpartanNash has released its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance Report, offering an in-depth look at the company’s advancements across its employee career experience, sustainability initiatives, environmental health and safety practices, community outreach and philanthropy. Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash also shared its 2025 ESG goals, which are aligned to the company’s core capabilities – people, operational […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, West
Sprouts Opens Southern California Distribution Center
Sprouts Farmers Market has unveiled a 337,000-square-foot distribution center in Fullerton, California, that it says will enhance the efficiency and freshness of produce deliveries to some 95 stores within a 250-mile radius of the site. The facility will also support the company’s ongoing expansion across California and the U.S., as well as efforts to improve […]
Posted inCenter Store, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
Diamond Crystal Salt Co. Introduces Fine Kosher Baking Salt
Diamond Crystal Salt Co. has introduced Fine Kosher Baking Salt, designed specifically for baking. The Minneapolis-based company said the salt’s finer-cut crystals dissolve, mix and blend faster and more evenly into batters and doughs than table salt. Using Cargill’s proprietary Alberger refinement process, the baking salt delivers increased flavor and is free of additives. The […]
Posted inCenter Store, Midwest
Post Holdings To Acquire Perfection Pet Foods
Post Holdings has agreed to acquire the assets of Perfection Pet Foods for $235 million. Perfection is a manufacturer and packager of private label and co-manufactured pet food and baked treat products. The acquisition includes two facilities in Visalia, California, which will provide Post Holdings with additional manufacturing capacity to source a portion of its […]