Independents | The Shelby Report
Posted inStore News, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Whole Foods

Urban Grocery Study Reveals Growing Food Deserts, Significant Shift To Small-Format Stores

According to Mid-America Real Estate Corp.’s biennial Urban Grocery Study published this month, the Chicago grocery sector showed a net loss of nine stores from 2015-17, totaling a loss of 544,512 s.f. of operating or to-be-opened inventory. The average store size continued its downsizing trend as evidenced by the fact that the average size of closed stores over […]

Posted inLipari Foods, Association News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News

MGA Recognizes Oleson’s, Lipari With Outstanding Achievement Awards

Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) has named Oleson’s Food Stores in northern Michigan and Lipari Foods, headquartered in Warren, as its 2017 Al Kessel Outstanding Achievement Award winners. “The award is named to honor former MGA Director Albert F. ‘Al’ Kessel Jr., who passed away in 2012,” said MGA President & CEO Linda M. Gobler. “Al […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest

Accident Doesn’t Hinder Tom Schmutz From Opening Save-A-Lot In Herrin, Illinois

Since it opened in early May, sales have been better at Tom Schmutz’s new store in Herrin, Illinois, than what Save-A-Lot projected. “When the mayor toured our store, he said there was a lot of buzz around it,” Schmutz said. “He asked if we were going to have fresh meat with cutters. I took him […]

Posted inAssociation News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Southeast, Store News, Suppliers, Wholesaler/Distributor News

Alabama Grocers Association Hosts 27th Annual Convention

The Alabama Grocers Association recently held its 27th Annual Convention at the Sandestin Beach Resort in Destin, Florida. The association brought members from all facets of the grocery industry together to promote the growth and success of the food industry throughout the state of Alabama. The convention kicked off with the Larry D. Eddleman Sr. Golf […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Southwest, Whole Foods

Family-Owned GES Has A Hit With Edwards Cash Saver

by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest When the ownership of longtime community grocer Knight’s Super Foods in Beebe, Arkansas, changed hands from one family to another early this year, there likely was some apprehension in the community. The Knight family had been very active in Beebe. People knew and trusted them. Paul Rowton was sensitive to those feelings. […]

Posted inWest, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content

Oliver’s Market Reaffirms Its Focus On Community With Launch Of ESOP

by Alissa Marchat/staff writer Oliver’s Market, Sonoma County’s largest locally owned and independent grocer, in early June celebrated the sale of 43 percent of the company to employees through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The company also registered with the state of California as a social purpose corporation, allowing leadership to consider employees, the […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest

Pete’s Fresh Market To Open At Rice Lake Square In Wheaton, Illinois

Locally owned and operated Pete’s Fresh Market has leased two adjacent spaces vacated by Whole Foods Market and Sports Authority at Rice Lake Square in Wheaton, Illinois. According to property manager Annette Eastman of Mid-America Asset Management, Pete’s will open a 69,586-s.f. “enhanced concept grocery store” at this location in fall 2018. A multiple Talk […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, National

Hunger Fundraiser Under Way In 28 U.S. Grocery Stores

Making Change, a 501(c)(3) organization that partners with retailers nationwide to run point-of-purchase fundraisers, has launched its campaign for summer 2017, “Hunger Knows No Season.” The campaign runs through the end of September, which is Hunger Action Month. A total of 28 stores in different regions across the country are participating in the fundraiser: nine […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Southeast, Store News

Publix Opening Its First Virginia Store In Glen Allen On Saturday

Publix Super Markets will make its highly anticipated Virginia debut on Saturday, July 15, when it opens its new store at 5400 Wyndham Forest Drive in Glen Allen. This first store is located in the Nuckols Place shopping center; it’s a 54,191 s.f. The Nuckols Place store quickly will be followed by two more stores […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Southwest

Natural Grocers Moves Into Denver Food Desert

Natural Grocers is relocating its downtown Denver store to the River North (RiNo) neighborhood, an area referred to as a food desert. Two years ago, a Change.org petition garnered 1,231 supporters who banded together to demand a health-focused grocery retailer open in Northeast Denver. Natural Grocers says it topped the list as a grocer of […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Produce News, Store News, West

Utah Grocers Featuring In-Store And Outdoor Farmers Markets

Five Utah grocery chains are making it easier for shoppers to get the freshest fruits and vegetables this season. Macey’s, Lin’s, Dan’s, Dick’s Market and Fresh Market are bringing back the Eat Fresh, Eat Local in-store and outdoor farmers markets, which feature a variety of Utah-grown produce. The farmers markets run through the first week […]

Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, ROFDA Reports, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Suppliers, Wholesaler/Distributor News

Bo Jackson Says: Brand Name Is Meaningless Without A Reputation For Quality

Vincent “Bo” Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winner, a two-sport athlete and a businessman with more than two decades of experience, doesn’t take a half-hearted approach to anything if his track record is any indication. And the zealousness that has defined his athletic career also characterizes his more recent business ventures, including VEJ Holdings LLC, a […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Store News

More Details About Meijer’s New Urban Grocery Store Released

West Side and downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, residents recently marked the groundbreaking of Meijer’s Bridge Street Market, a grocery store coming to the city’s West Side on the corner of Bridge Street and Seward Avenue.The new 37,000-s.f. store will feature 22-foot ceilings, open-air elements and a pedestrian-friendly design. Bridge Street Market is a first-of-its-kind store […]

Posted inWest, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology

Sunriver IGA In Oregon Credits New System For Deterring Theft, Clerical Mistakes

John Audia had no idea how much theft and clerical mistakes were happening at the checkouts at his Sunriver supermarket near Bend, Oregon, until he implemented technology that caught all of it on video. He had a cashier prosecuted after the video revealed her giving away groceries “left and right” to customers and employees. Since […]

Posted inNational, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Wholesaler/Distributor News

Industry Comes Together For Independents Day Of Giving

The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, NGA Research and Education Foundation and Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) recognized June 21 as the “Independents Day of Giving” to help fight hunger and raise community awareness with more than 1,600 independent grocers across the country participating. Shoppers are […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest

Perch’s IGA Is Great North Foods’ Retailer Of The Year

Perch’s IGA in Alpena, Michigan, has been named Great North Foods Retailer of the Year. Great North Sales Manager Steffen Nizinsky made the presentation during the company’s annual food show recently. The Curtises won the national IGA Fall Into Savings Exclusive Brands sales contest and a trip to the Super Bowl, and also received IGA […]

Posted inWest, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content

Montana Community Comes Together To Build A Desperately Needed Store

by Alissa Marchat/staff writer Lodge Pole, Montana, located within the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, will have its own grocery store for the first time in decades when the Red Paint Creek Trading Post and Pantry, a nonprofit cooperative, opens this summer. Leslie “Josie” Cliff, GM and project manager, told The Shelby Report in late May […]

Posted in, Corporate Store News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Organic Natural

Natural Grocers Opening Fifth Iowa Store June 21

Natural Grocers will open its fifth store in Iowa on June 21. The 15,000 s.f. store is located in Iowa City at 1404 South Gilbert Street. The first 100 people to shop at the new Iowa City store will receive a free Natural Grocers “goody bag.” Other opening day offerings include vendor demonstrations, an ice cream social […]

Posted inIndustry News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Store News, West

Oliver’s Market Sells Portion Of Company To Employees

Oliver’s Market, the largest locally-owned grocer in Sonoma County, California, has sold 43 percent of the company to employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The four-store chain also registered with the state of California as a Social Purpose Corporation, allowing leadership to consider employees, the environment and the community in addition to financial position […]