Harps Food Stores has promoted Chris Lesso to director of information systems, where he will oversee the company’s technology infrastructure and lead initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience. Lesso’s career at Harps began in summer 1998 at Store 177 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he worked part-time as a sacker while attending high school. […]
Author Archives: Treva Bennett
Senior Content Creator
After 32 years in the newspaper industry, she is enjoying her new career exploring the world of groceries at The Shelby Report.
Posted inIndependent Store News, Fareway, Midwest
Fareway Receives Several Awards At NGA Show
Fareway Stores has wrapped up a successful trip to the National Grocers Association Show, which ran Feb. 23-25 at the Ceasars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas. For the second year in a row, Fareway received an Exceptional Independents Award from The Shelby Report. The honor showcases the grocer’s commitment to community, bringing people together […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Northeast
Price Rite Marketplace Celebrates Team On Supermarket Employee Day
Keasbey, New Jersey-based Price Rite Marketplace celebrated its associates Feb. 22 on Supermarket Employee Day – a day proclaimed by FMI – The Food Industry Association to recognize grocery workers for their commitment to feeding families and enriching lives. Team members from 46 Price Rite Marketplace stores were acknowledged for the essential role each plays […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Surpasses Billion Pounds Of Donated Food
Publix Super Markets has exceeded 1 billion pounds of food donated through its Good Together program, which began in 2009. The milestone was shared at the company’s Hunger Summit Feb. 27. The event brought together Publix leaders and Feeding America partner food bank representatives from across the Southeast to collaborate on ways to get food into […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Independent Store News, Midwest
Jim’s SuperValu Thrives In Rural ND With Community-focused Innovation
For nearly 40 years, Jim’s SuperValu in Park River, North Dakota, has been a cornerstone of its rural community. Co-owner Diana Hahn, who has spent decades working in the store her parents purchased in 1986, understands the unique challenges and opportunities that come with running an independent grocery store in a small town. “My dad […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Southwest
Albertsons Market Coming To Lovington, NM
Representatives from The United Family joined city officials and other community representatives Feb. 25 to break ground on an Albertsons Market grocery store and fuel station in Lovington, New Mexico. Slated to open in 2026, it will be the first United Family location in the market. “It is always exciting to enter a new community, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Northeast, Wakefern
Wakefern Members Cingari Family Markets, Kinsley Market Named Exceptional Independents
For the second year in a row, Wakefern Food Corp. cooperative members Cingari Family Markets and Kinsley Market [ShopRite of Brodheadsville] were among those recognized in Shelby Publishing’s Exceptional Independent Grocer Awards program. Presented at the National Grocers Association (NGA) Show in Las Vegas on Feb. 24, the awards shine a light on independent grocers that […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, West
Heritage Grocers Group Appoints Garcia VP Of Marketing
Ontario, California-based Heritage Grocers Group has appointed Allison Garcia VP of marketing, where she will oversee HGG’s go-to-market strategy and report to Suzy Monford, chairman and CEO. “Allie brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for the grocery industry to our team,” Monford said. “Her deep understanding of the industry and innovative marketing approach will […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Midwest
The Fresh Market Opens Location In Northbrook, IL
The Fresh Market that opened Feb. 26 in Northbrook, Illinois, is the speciality grocer’s seventh store in the greater-Chicago area and 168th location overall. The grand-opening celebration kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m., as well as a $2,000 donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The first 500 shoppers received special The […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Opens New Miami Store Feb. 27
Publix Super Markets opened a new 53,287 square-foot store Feb. 27 at Briar Bay Shopping Center, 13005 SW 89th Place in Miami. The supermarket offers departments for grocery, dairy, frozen food, seafood, meat and fresh produce, as well as a full-service bakery, deli, pharmacy and an adjacent Publix Liquors. There is also a seating area […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
North Dakota’s Grocers Adapting Amid Economic Shifts
North Dakota’s grocery industry is navigating changes, shaped by population growth, economic shifts and evolving consumer habits, according to John “Jiggs” Dyste, president of the North Dakota Grocers Association. “We only have some 700,000 people in the whole state,” Dyste said. “I think as far as growth, we’re probably in the top five for people […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest
Paylessfoods Team Joins G.F. Buche Grocery Family
Paylessfoods, a Mobridge, South Dakota, retail grocery operation since 1960, will become Buche Foods on Feb. 27, according to RF Buche, CEO and president of G.F. Buche Co. “We’re proud to have Paylessfoods join our seven other community grocery stores throughout South Dakota,” said Buche, a fourth-generation grocer. “The Stoick family has provided 65 years […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
IFPA Member Erickson Urges Congress To Tackle Labor, Regulatory, Economic Crises
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is urging Congress to take bipartisan action to support American growers, strengthen food security and maintain U.S. leadership in fresh produce production. Bret Erickson, SVP of business affairs at Texas-based Little Bear Produce, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Feb. 26, representing his company […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Arizona State University Wins NGA Student Case Study Competition
Arizona State University has been named the winner of the 2025 National Grocers Association (NGA) Student Case Study Competition. Organized by the NGA Foundation, the event is a key initiative to foster career growth and position grocery as a top career choice for college students. The competition, which took place at the 2025 NGA Show in […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Southeast
Houchens Food Group Celebrates More Store Manager Award Recipients
Houchens Food Group continued its Store Manager Appreciation Award banquets into the latter part of 2024. Consisting of 18 lunch banquets divided by region and banner, the events included individual recognition of store managers as well as a selection of other awards. In addition, a Store Manager of the Year was named. In a statement, […]
Posted inAssociation News, Feature, National
NGA To Build Upon Momentum Of In-Roads On Antitrust Reform, Enforcement
Greg Ferrara, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association, recently took time from his busy schedule to talk with The Shelby Report about the state of the grocery industry and the many challenges facing independents in 2025. While it may be some time before the new administration’s policies begin to have their full […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, National
Leadership: Continual Learnings From Cutting Firewood
by Steve Black It was about 25 years ago that I had an awesome idea. We lived in Oklahoma at the time and had always bought our firewood. Mesquite trees were an abundant nuisance to farmers that needed the land cleared to grow crops. Our boys were teenagers, and it made sense to me that […]
Posted inFeature, Exceptional Independents, Southeast
HFG Allows Teams To Be Flexible, Closer To Communities
Craig Knies, chief marketing officer, has been with Houchens Food Group for 16 years. HFG has been recognized as The Shelby Report of the Southeast‘s Exceptional Independent Retail Organization of the Year. Knies said the company provides a “great environment where the management teams are given the opportunity to run their business and make decisions […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Feature, Southeast
Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace Pleased With ECRS’s POS Solutions
Specialty grocer Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace, headquartered in Melville, New York, turned to ECRS for its point-of-sale solutions about three years ago. Tom Waibel, VP of technology for Uncle Giuseppe’s, said the change occurred just prior to him joining the grocer. Uncle Giuseppe’s is a family-owned independent whose 11 locations all feature kitchens, which prepare a […]
Posted inExceptional Independents, Feature, Southeast
ESOP Status, Awards Program For Store Managers Helping HFG Shine
Houchens Food Group (HFG) is a subsidiary of Houchens Industries, an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) that includes 14 other subsidiary companies. Houchens Industries is highly diversified with businesses in construction, insurance, pharmacy, pet and retail. HFG has been recognized as The Shelby Report’s Exceptional Independent Retail Organization. The company launched a new program this […]