Western Market’s Rocky Ridge location in Vestavia, Ala., hosted a re-grand opening ceremony at the newly remodeled store Wednesday. A ribbon cutting was celebrated with a wine tasting and snacks. The store, at 3350 Morgan Dr., now includes a new seafood and custom-cut meat case, frozen yogurt bar, homemade fudge, new cheese shop, salad bar,wing […]
Category: Independent Store News
Posted in, Beverage News, Independent Store News, Midwest
Buehler’s Opens Liquor Agency Inside Of Ashland Supermarket
Buehler’s Fresh Foods in Ashland, Ohio, on Thursday opened Ashland Liquor Agency inside of the supermarket—completing the transfer and relocation agreement with Longbrake Carryout to purchase the Ashland Liquor Agency. “This is the first of future Ohio liquor agencies inside Buehler’s Fresh Foods locations, with Wooster Milltown slated to open in June of 2014,” said […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Vallarta Opening New Store In Hesperia On Wednesday
Following the opening of a second Oxnard, Calif., store last week, Vallarta Supermarkets plans to open another new store Wednesday, April 9–in Hesperia. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 7:30 a.m., with the store opening for business at 8 a.m. The store, located at 17390 Main St., is 42,000 s.f. and will provide the local […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Gelson’s Debuts La Cañada Flintridge, Calif., Store
Gelson’s opened its newest supermarket Thursday in La Cañada Flintridge, Calif. The store, at 635 Foothill Blvd., marks the Southern California grocer’s 18th location. Features include: • A spacious service deli, featuring Wolfgang Puck Express (freshly made pizzas, sandwiches, salads); chef-prepared gourmet salads; on-site sushi chef; smoker for tri-tip and brisket sandwiches with “melt-in-your mouth” […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
NGA Expresses Concerns With Chairman Camp’s Tax Reform Proposal
On behalf of the National Grocers Association (NGA), Peter J. Larkin, NGA president and CEO, sent a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) outlining concerns with Camp’s draft proposal to overhaul the nation’s tax code. Specifically, NGA addressed the negative impacts that the exclusion of non-manufacturing S-corporations from a lower […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
AWG Reports Record Sales And Earnings
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), the nation’s second largest cooperative food wholesaler, has reported consolidated net sales of $8.38 billion, up 6.8 percent over the prior year, marking the first time the company has exceeded the $8 billion mark. Same-store sales were up nearly 2 percent over the prior year. Operating income was a record $201 […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
Russ’s Lincoln Wine & Food Experience Raises Record Amount
Supporters of the Lincoln Community Playhouse in Nebraska raised a record $43,550.56 at last month’s 2014 Lincoln Wine & Food Experience. The event, presented by Russ’s Market, has now raised more than $200,000 total for the playhouse in its six years of existence. Nearly 900 people attended this year’s event held at Embassy Suites. The […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Stater Bros. Launches 2-Ads-1-Day Wednesdays
Stater Bros. is debuting a program called “2 ads 1 day.” A new Stater Bros. ad breaks on Wednesday of each week, and now the prior week’s ad also is effective on that one day as well. In other words, on Wednesdays, Stater Bros. customers can shop two ads, together, on the same day. “Food […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
Mrs. Green’s Natural Market Plans To Open 22 Stores By Year’s End
Mrs. Green’s Natural Market has big expansion plans for 2014. The company plans to open 22 new locations this year across the Northeast and Midwest U.S. and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Alberta. Spring grand openings will include West Windsor, N.J., on March 28 and New Canaan, Conn., on April 11. Mrs. Green’s plans […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
IGA Donates $290K To Wounded Warrior Project
IGA has donated $290,000 to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) as a result of the third annual IGA exclusive brand national marketing initiative that ran in participating IGA stores from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend of 2013. During the promotional period last year, IGA donated a portion of the proceeds from the sale of […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Completion Of Arden Deal May Lead To Gelson’s Expansion
Arden Group, parent of Gelson’s Markets, an operator of 17 full-service specialty grocery stores in Southern California, has completed its previously announced acquisition by TPG, a leading global private investment firm. The merger agreement was approved by the company’s board of directors in December. Under the terms of the agreement, Arden Group’s shareholders will receive […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Northgate González Wins Unified’s Ben Schwartz Visionary Award
Anaheim, Calif.-based Northgate González Markets, which operates 38 supermarkets in Southern California, was the recipient of the 2014 “Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award” from Unified Grocers at a special awards dinner Tuesday at Tamayo Restaurant in Los Angeles. This is the ninth year that Unified has presented the award to an outstanding independent retailer. […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
IGA Pauses To Celebrate, Then Turns Focus To Future
The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) Global Rally was held Feb. 7-11 in conjunction with the National Grocers Association (NGA) Show in Las Vegas for the second time this year. NGA had a record turnout for its show, and IGA was close to one as well. “It makes sense,” said Mark Batenic, CEO of IGA Inc. […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
Buehler’s Fresh Foods Names Director Of Communications
Deb Wilcox has been named director of communications at Buehler’s Fresh Foods in Wooster, Ohio. Wilcox started in Buehler’s advertising department in March 1983 working on ad layout and has served as director of marketing since 1991. As director of communications, Wilcox will be responsible for community, government and consumer relations, décor and branding of […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Newport Avenue Market Astounds Feeding Agency With Donation
Newport Avenue Market in Bend, Ore., is celebrating a mission accomplished: The company’s “Food for February” campaign held in December resulted in a fresh food donation that will produce 5,000 meals per month for nearly five months. The December campaign raised $12,668.24 from customer donations. Inspired by that level of generosity from its shoppers, Newport […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
Natural Grocers Posts Sales Increase For Fiscal ’14 1Q
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has posted positive results for its fiscal 2014 first quarter ended Dec. 31. Net sales increased $24.8 million, or 25.8 percent, over the same period in fiscal year 2013 to $120.6 million—due to a $14.6 million increase in sales from new stores and a $10.2 million, or 10.6 percent, increase […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southeast
Ken’s New Market Founder Dies At 87
Mr. Kenneth C. Techau, 87, founder of Ken’s New Market that today operates three stores in Kentucky, died Sunday at Baptist Health in Lexington. He was 87. Born in Round Lake, Minn., on March 15, 1926, to the late George and Alma Schmidt Techau, Mr. Techau was a member of Daybreak Community Church in Lexington […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Northeast
AG New England Acquires Bi-Wise Market, Will Operate As Sully’s
Bi-Wise Market of Allenstown, N.H., is selling its business to Associated Grocers of New England. “Bi-Wise Market has been in operation since August of 1966 and was founded by ‘Mighty’ Mike Genest and continues to be run by the Genest family,” says Mike Bourgoine, president and CEO of AG of New England. “Since that time, […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southeast
Mrs. Green’s Opens First Virginia Store Today
Mrs. Green’s Natural Market is opening its first Virginia store today at 12995 Fair Lakes Shopping Center in Fairfax. The new store boasts 100 percent organic produce, a fresh bakery and gourmet coffee bar, all-natural vitamins and supplements as well as prepared meals, among other features. Mrs. Green’s says it is a neighborhood store, passionately […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
IGA Recognizes Five Star Retailers
A number of IGA retailers in the U.S. have achieved IGA Five Star status, the highest level of recognition possible based on the alliance’s rigorous standards. The Five Star assessment program aligns a series of in-store appraisals, IGA Coca-Cola Institute training and online customer feedback to provide a unique “brand-building” tool available only to IGA […]