Southern California’s Super King Markets is the recipient of Unified Grocers’ 2016 “Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award.” The award was presented during a special dinner in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The award is named after Ben Schwartz, the 96-year old former board chairman for Unified. Schwartz was in attendance at the awards dinner. “This […]
Category: Independent Store News
Posted in, Grocery Store Equipment, Independent Store News, Organic Natural, Produce News, Southwest
Brookshire Brothers Celebrates Canyon Lake, Texas, Opening
Brookshire Brothers says the Canyon Lake, Texas, community showed up in big numbers on Feb. 3 for its new store’s soft opening there. The ribbon was officially cut today (Feb. 10) during a ceremony that featured the local high school band, prizes and sampling. The grocer said the event kicked off of a month of grand […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Equipment & Technology, Independent Store News, National, Online Grocery Technology, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Store News, Whole Foods
Expert: How Independents Can ‘Win’ With Technology
Ross Ely, president and CEO of ProLogic Retail Services (PLRS), a provider of loyalty and customer relationship marketing services for the grocery industry, attended this year’s FMI Midwinter Executive Conference, held recently in Miami Beach, Florida, and he came prepared to share his technology expertise with conference attendees. A growing concern for independent retailers is […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest, The Independent Perspective
Affiliated Foods Midwest’s Martin Arter Honored With NGA Spirit Of America Award
Martin Arter, president and CEO Affiliated Foods Midwest, has been recognized with the National Grocers Association (NGA) Spirit of America Award. The presentation was made at the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association’s (NGIA) annual legislative dinner on Jan. 28. The award, presented by NGA President and CEO Peter Larkin, is one of NGA’s top honors and recognizes […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Industry News, Southeast
New Doris Italian Market & Bakery Opens In North Palm Beach
Doris Italian Market and Bakery has opened a new North Palm Beach location. An official grand opening celebration, complete with food and wine tastings and a ribbon cutting, will take place Feb. 20. The 22,000 s.f. location is the largest and the company says most unique of the six Doris Italian Market locations in Broward […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Independent Store News, Industry News, Southeast, Whole Foods
Wynn’s Market In Naples Launching Home Delivery And Store Pickup Service
Wynn’s Market, a grocery retailer in Naples, Florida, is rolling out home delivery and store pickup service. The service is being launched through Digital Foodie, creator of the Foodie.fm platform. Wynn’s, located at 141 Ninth Street North, will use use Foodie’s personalized online grocery platform to provide its customers a modern online ordering service, according to […]
Posted in, Barons Market, Independent Store News, Southwest, Store News
Brookshire Brothers’ Charitable Foundation Distributes Funds To 18 Groups
Since 2008, Texas-based Brookshire Brothers has invited its vendors to play in the company’s two Charitable Foundation golf tournaments each year. Proceeds since the tournament’s inception have exceeded $1 million. Vendors appreciate the opportunity to network with their colleagues while raising money for nearly 20 worthy causes—all which support children and families and align with the […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, National
Profit Up, But IDs, Retail, Indy Business Sales Drop In Supervalu’s 3Q
Supervalu on Jan. 13 reported third quarter fiscal 2016 net sales of $4.11 billion and net earnings from continuing operations of $35 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, which included $11 million in after-tax charges and costs related to asset impairments, the potential separation of Save-A-Lot and employee severance. When adjusted for these items, third […]
Posted in, Center Store, Independent Store News, Marketing News, Suppliers, West
Associated Food Stores Partners With P&G To Combat Post-Holiday Sales Slump
Associated Food Stores of Salt Lake City, Utah, says it is determined to help their member retailers combat the post-holiday sales slump that many businesses feel. The grocery wholesaler is partnering with Procter & Gamble to sponsor “Marvel Universe Live!”, a superhero live-action show at the Vivint Smart Home Arena, Feb. 11-14. As part of […]
Posted in, Bakery News, Coborn's, Independent Store News, Midwest, Women In The News
Coborn’s Cake Decorator To Appear On Food Network’s ‘Cake Wars’
Cake decorator Amanda Hansen of the Coborn’s store in Sartell, Minnesota, will appear on Food Network’s “Cake Wars” at 9 p.m. (Eastern) today, Jan. 18. According to the Cake Wars website, the episode is described as a Dr. Suess theme: “Everyone from the Cat in the Hat to Thing 1 and Thing 2 are coming […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southeast, Store News
Work On Lucky’s Market In Orlando Begins
Work to transform a vacant fitness center in east Orlando into a Lucky’s Market is under way. The store will be the first in Orlando for the Colorado-based grocer. The Orlando Business Journal reports that the 35,000-s.f. Lucky’s is in the Alafaya Village shopping center on the southwest corner of Colonial Drive and Alafaya Trail in […]
Posted in, Executive News, Independent Store News, National
NGA Promotes Four Executives
The National Grocers Association (NGA) on Jan. 11 announced the promotions of four of its staff members. NGA, an Arlington, Virginia-based national trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, promoted Greg Ferrara to SVP-government relations and public affairs; Matthew Ott to COO; Maggie Lyons to senior director of government relations; and Laura Strange to senior […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Independent Store News, National, Store News
Supervalu Takes Next Step to Spin Off Save-A-Lot Business
After announcing over the summer that it was exploring a separation of its Save-A-Lot business, Supervalu said Thursday that it had filed an initial Form 10 Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the possible spinoff of Save-A-Lot into a separate, publicly traded company. With the filing of the Form […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Store News, West
Stater Bros. Building New Rancho Cucamonga Store
Plans are in place to build a new Stater Bros. Supermarket at the northwest corner of Baseline and Day Creek roads in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The 44,000-s.f. full-service store slated to open in the fall is being developed by Lewis Retail Centers in the Day Creek Marketplace, which also will include a full-service drug store […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest
SpartanNash To Become Primary Wholesaler To Gordy’s Market
SpartanNash has signed a long-term contract to be the primary wholesaler to Gordy’s Market, the largest locally-owned and -operated grocer in the western Wisconsin area. SpartanNash will begin distributing private brand product to Gordy’s in mid-February and will be servicing the retailer as its primary distributor by May. Gordy’s will be serviced out of SpartanNash’s St. Cloud, […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Specialty Food Retail Exec Wolpert Passes Away
Mr. Tracy Wolpert, VP of operations for Southern California’s Bristol Farms, died in Long Beach last month. Additional details about his passing and funeral arrangements were unavailable at the time of this report. “While he was only with us for a short period of time, he had a big impact on our Bristol Farms family,” […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National, The Independent Perspective
NGA Launches Enhanced Website
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has launched a new, redeveloped website to better serve its members and educate consumers about the independent supermarket industry. “In today’s information age, people are going online on a daily basis, seeking information on a variety of issues, and NGA wants our website to be a destination that provides timely […]
Posted in, C-Store News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest
Minnoco Retailers Raise $13,000 For Hope Chest
Minnoco fuel retailers in Minnesota raised $13,000 for Hope Chest for Breast Cancer through a six-week “Fueling the Fight Against Breast Cancer” campaign. For every gallon of unleaded plus gasoline (a blend containing 15 percent ethanol) sold, Minnoco stores, with support from an organization called Prime the Pump, donated $0.02 to Hope Chest for Breast […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Marketing News, Southwest, Store News
Buy For Less Gives Away New Home Just In Time For Christmas
This Christmas season is one Oklahoma City resident Barbara Allen likely will never forget. Santa, a.k.a. Buy For Le$$, gave her a new home on Dec. 19. She held the winning key to the front door of the 1,642-s.f. house located in Sycamore Creek in Yukon, Oklahoma. “It’s been a tough year and this is […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Independent Store News, Shelby Signature Content, Store News, Suppliers, West, Women In The News
Group Carries On Industry’s ‘Little Joe’s Christmas Party’ Tradition
In 1957, three men—Sam Guzzo of Oroweat Baking Co., Charlie Dragna of Barbara Ann Bread Co. and John Fusano of San Fernando Valley Olive Co.—started what would become an annual Christmas party. The event was held during the holiday season and hosted at Little Joe’s Italian Restaurant in Chinatown Los Angeles. The party quickly became […]