by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest There is something special about employee-owned companies. Marc Jones, president and CEO of HAC Inc., sees it as an attribute that attracts both employees and customers. “An employee-owned business is seen as a big plus in both groups, which is kind of a fun thing,” he told The Shelby Report’s Jan Meade, […]
Category: Independent Store News
Posted inMarket Profile, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News
Alabama Market Profile: State’s Economy Is On The Upswing
by Lorrie Griffith/editor–Southeast Alabama’s economy is on the upswing, according to Ellie Taylor, president of the Alabama Grocers Association AGA), located in Birmingham. In fact, the state’s unemployment rate is now 3.5 percent—the lowest in its history. The good times look to be continuing, as two major plants were announced in January. One is a […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Beverage News, Dairy News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Produce News, Store News
Trump Administration ‘Food Box’ SNAP Proposal Sparks Concern
The Trump Administration’s 2019 budget proposal calls for a change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would replace current benefits with a “USDA Foods package.” The food box would contain items like “shelf-stable milk, ready to eat cereals, pasta, peanut butter, beans and canned fruit and vegetables.” Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Chief Public […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Southwest, Store News, Supply Chain News, Whole Foods
Brookshire Bros. Brings Online Ordering To East Texas With Rosie
Brookshire Brothers, a 121-store retailer with locations throughout Texas and Louisiana, is joining the network of independent retailers who have selected Rosie to bring online shopping to their customers. Brookshire Brothers Anywhere Powered by Rosie is initially launching with curbside pickup and delivery at two locations in the retailer’s home market of Lufkin, Texas, on Feb. 19. “Our […]
Posted inDeli News, Coborn's, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Midwest, New Products, Store News
South Dakota Grocer Launches Meal Kits, Sells Out In Four Days
In late January, Aberdeen, South Dakota-based Kessler’s Food and Liquor introduced co-branded Freshop Chef Kit meal kits in its store, using Facebook to announce the new offering. The Facebook post was “liked” more than 850 likes and shared more than 600 times, and all six meal kit varieties stocked at Kessler’s—120 kits in total—sold out within […]
Posted inDeli News, Bakery News, Grocery News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Southeast, Store News
Publix Opening Second Store In Decatur, Alabama, Next Week
Publix Super Markets is opening its new Point Mallard Centre store at 2934 Point Mallard Parkway SE in Decatur, Alabama, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 7:00 am. The grocer will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the opening featuring Mayor of Decatur Bowling and City Council President Paige Bibbee. “Publix is known for providing excellent customer service […]
Posted inCoborn's, Deli News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Midwest, New Products, Store News
Coborn’s Launches Meal Kit Line Across Three Banners
Coborn’s Inc. has entered the growing meal kit market with a new line of “To the Table” meal kits now available at Coborn’s, Cash Wise and Marketplace Foods grocery stores. From package to plate, these meals can be cooked in less than 15 minutes using cooking oil and the fresh, pre-cut ingredients provided in the […]
Posted in, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Store News, West, Women In The News
CEO Out At New Seasons Market As Retailer Rethinks Calif. Strategy
New Seasons Market CEO Wendy Collie is departing the Portland, Oregon-based grocery chain as the company makes a “strategic shift in business direction.” Other changes include a flattening of the executive leadership structure, as well as a decision to close the Sunnyvale, California, New Seasons location and halt further expansion in the state. In California, […]
Posted in, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Store News, West
WinCo To Open Third Waremart This Week In Keizer, Oregon
Waremart by WinCo will open its doors at 5450 River Rd N in Keizer, Oregon, on Thursday, Feb. 1. This will be the third store in the chain to carry the Waremart name and WinCo Foods’ 119th store overall. “Keizer is the perfect kind of community for a store like this one,” said a WinCo Foods spokesperson. “Waremart by […]
Posted inGrocery Store Layout, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Southwest, Store News, Whole Foods
Reasor’s Refocuses To Keep Up With Evolving Needs Of Shoppers
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor—Midwest and Southwest Several factors are driving change at Tahlequah, Oklahoma-based Reasor’s as it celebrates its 55th anniversary this year. Perhaps the most significant will be the ability to sell full-strength beer and wine beginning in October. For decades, Oklahoma grocery stores have only been allowed to offer beer that is 3.2 percent […]
Posted inMidwest, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News
Buehler’s Welcomes Former SpartanNash VP As CFO, Promotes Three
Buehler’s Fresh Foods has brought Peter O’Donnell on board as treasurer and CFO. He joins the company’s senior leadership team after spending 10 years as a VP in the grocery wholesale and retail industry with SpartanNash. His responsibilities include corporate governance, supervision and oversight of Buehler’s financial and accounting functions, IT, compliance, lender relations and […]
Posted inHarps Food Stores, Equipment & Technology, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Marketing News, Merchandising News, Online Grocery Technology, Southwest, Store News
Harps Food Stores Using AI Platform To Support Merchandising Decisions
Springdale, Arkansas-based Harps Food Stores Inc. has implemented an AI (artificial intelligence) platform from Daisy Intelligence Corp., a software-as-a-service company, to “improve and optimize” decision-making around pricing and promotions. According to Daisy, Harps chose it to analyze data and determine which products should be featured in its frequent circulars. Harps launched the partnership with Daisy […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Grocery News, Grocery Store Equipment, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Store News
Publix Launches First Telehealth Centers With BayCare
Publix and BayCare Health System have teamed up to launch “Walk-In Care provided by BayCare” telehealth centers that will be available at 26 in-store Publix pharmacy locations by the end of the year. Each center features a private room where shoppers can receive non-urgent medical care from board-certified physicians through teleconferencing and medical diagnostic equipment. […]
Posted inDeli News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, ROFDA Reports, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News
Independent Grocer Manning Rethinks How Things Are Done
Danny Manning has come a long way since he started as a bagger at 15 years old at a Food Town store in Eight Mile, Alabama. He moved to stocking, found favor with the company and got a produce rack about a year later. Once he graduated from high school, Manning went on to study […]
Posted inNortheast, Equipment & Technology, Independent Store News, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Store News
Schiel’s Family Market Launches Click & Go Program
Schiel’s Family Markets of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, is partnering with Rosie to provide its customers with a new online shopping platform called Click & Go. The service will deliver the flexibility of shopping from anywhere and on any device.ways looking for ways to enhance our customer’s grocery shopping experience, and we know that online shopping […]
Posted inNortheast, Independent Store News, Industry News, Store News
Asian American Grocer To Offer Western Union Money Transfer Services
iFresh Inc., an Asian American supermarket chain and online grocer, has engaged Western Union Co. for money transfer services. Effective Jan. 16, four of the six iFresh locations in New York City will provide Western Union services, including money transfer, money order and bill payments. The services will be rolled out in the remaining two […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Marketing News, Southeast, Store News
Publix Pharmacy Launches Low-Price Prescription Drug Program
The Publix Pharmacy has introduced a new prescription drug program, “Next Best Thing to Free,” which offers up to a 90-day supply for $7.50. The company hopes the program will improve patients’ access to some of the most commonly prescribed medications. Regardless of insurance coverage, Publix Pharmacy will dispense a select list of medications for […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News
Remodel Yields Amazing Returns For Southeast Georgia Independent
In 2016, Reynolds Foodliner converted its store in the southeast Georgia town of Hazlehurst to the Piggly Wiggly Country Fresh banner. As part of the Country Fresh part of the name, the store features expanded fresh departments like meat, produce and deli/bakery. “We have had a tremendous amount of success in that store,” notes Tom […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Market Profile, Midwest, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Store News
Born On One Coast & Based On The Other, Cohn Wholesale Serves Small Towns In Between
Editor’s note: This story is part of the Dakotas Market Profile, which can be found in the February 2018 print edition of The Shelby Report of the Midwest. by Terrie Ellerbee/editor—Midwest and Southwest The Cohn name likely is familiar to some in the Midwest, where Cohn Wholesale once operated 20 stores. The family business, however, began in […]
Posted inDeli News, Bashas', Grocery News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Produce News, Store News, West
Bashas’ Family Of Stores Opens Remodeled Food City In Tucson
Bashas’ Family of Stores this week celebrated the reopening of a Food City supermarket in Tucson. As part of the opening day festivities, shoppers enjoyed live performances from Mariachi singers, as well as a grocery bag giveaways, food samplings, and a variety of prize giveaways including gift cards, kitchen appliances, and event tickets. The store […]