H-E-B is accepting entries through April 23 for its 12th annual “Quest for Texas Best,” a competition to find the top products made in the state. Participants will compete for a combined $100,000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to land their products on H-E-B shelves across the state. Over the past decade, H-E-B has […]
Category: Independent Store News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, Feature, Northeast
Northeast Grocers Tailor Strategies For Latino Customers
by Diana Leza Sheehan / founder, principal consultant, PDG Insights In this new series, we explore the opportunity created for retailers by targeting Latino grocery consumers across the United States. For context, the Latino population in 2024 reached about 66 million, or about 19.5 percent of the total U.S. population. Spending power among this diverse […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Corporate Store News, National
Grocery Industry Faces Inflation, Tariff Uncertainty, FMI Reports
The grocery industry is grappling with many challenges, including inflation and the threat of tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, according to FMI – The Food Industry Association’s 2025 Inflation & Food Price Outlook. Andrew Harig, FMI’s VP of tax, trade, sustainability and policy development, highlighted the mixed signals in recent inflation data during […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, National, News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Topco Associates Shares Membership Updates
Topco Associates recently held its Annual Membership Conference, during which the cooperative provided updates, including that American Foods International and Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) have become members. American Foods International, headquartered in Miami, serves independent retailers throughout the Caribbean, Latin America and South Florida. It has joined as a full member, participating in dairy/commercial bakery; […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Northeast
Delaware’s Harvest Market Thriving As 30th Anniversary Approaches
A college assignment helped steer Bob Kleszics into a career in the grocery business. Founder and CEO of Harvest Market in Hockessin, Delaware, Kleszics was an anthropology major at the University of Delaware in 1979 when he took a field methods class. For the course, the student goes outside the classroom and into a group’s […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News, Schnucks
Schnucks Donates $112K To Support The Urban League
Schnucks Markets Inc., in partnership with its customers, donated $112,000 to support the Urban League through the fifth annual “Round Up at the Register.” The campaign ran Feb. 5-18, with customers donating $97,364 and Schnucks providing an additional $14,636. Customers had the option at checkout to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, Feature, West
Latinos Are Driving Retail Force Across West
by Diana Leza Sheehan / founder, principal consultant, PDG Insights In this new series, we explore the opportunity created for retailers by targeting Latino grocery consumers across the United States. For context, the Latino population in 2024 reached about 66 million, or about 19.5 percent of the total U.S. population. Spending power among this […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, Retailer of the Year
BFS Transitioning Focus From Customer Service To Hospitality
Balls Food Stores has been recognized as The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s 2025 Retailer of the Year, an honor that celebrates the company’s dedication to innovation, community service and operational excellence. Scott Bayne, EVP of operations, attributes this recognition to the company’s forward-thinking leadership, commitment to its teammates and ongoing transformation into a teammate […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Balls Foods, Midwest, Retailer of the Year
BFS Charts Future With Employee Ownership, Growth Initiatives
Kansas City, Kansas-based Balls Food Stores (BFS) – The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s 2025 Retailer of the Year – is embarking on an ambitious new chapter, marked by employee ownership, a strategic growth initiative and deep commitment to its teammates. The independent grocer, which operates 25 stores under the Hen House, Price Chopper, Sun […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Private Label Brands, West
Market Of Choice Launches New Private Label Line
Market of Choice, Oregon’s largest independent, family-owned grocer, is strengthening its commitment to local producers with Craft & Kitchen, its new private label line. The line includes premium dairy products and center-store pantry staples distinguished by recipes and flavors created with Oregon makers and Market of Choice chefs. Market of Choice stores have the largest […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Big Y Foods, Northeast
Big Y Donates $75K To Red Cross For California Wildfire Relief
Big Y Foods has donated $75,000 to support the American Red Cross network’s humanitarian relief efforts to those affected by the wildfires in California. The Springfield, Massachusetts-based supermarket chain collected donations from customers and employees Jan. 17-31 in-store, online and myExpress Checkout Mobile app. The total also included contributions from Big Y. “We are truly […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Northeast, ShopRite
ShopRite Cheerios Contest Raises $1.3M For Food Banks
ShopRite’s recent ShopRite Partners In Caring Cheerios Contest raised $1.3 million, which the company attributed to customers’ generosity and the dedication of its associates who helped raise awareness around food insecurity. As part of the annual hunger-fighting tradition, employees from the top fundraising stores will be featured on limited-edition Cheerios cereal boxes the grocer sells […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, Schnucks
Schnucks Springboard Seeks Second Cohort For Business Accelerator
Schnuck Markets Inc., in partnership with Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council, is seeking a second cohort of local and diverse-owned businesses to participate in the Schnucks Springboard accelerator program. Diverse-owned is defined as at least 51 percent owned, operated and managed by a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident that is a member of one […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Hannaford Supermarkets, Northeast
Hannaford Donates $1.3M To Advance Child Health, Wellness
Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford Supermarkets has announced a $1.3 million investment in programs that impact child health and wellness across New England and New York. The latest chapter of Hannaford’s “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative, the funding will enhance programs that help children eat healthier and stay active with the […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Independent Store News, Southwest
Destination Grocery Store To Open At New Address In Marathon, TX
Some grocers are born into the business and some choose it. Some just seem to have it in their blood and are able to create not just stores, but destinations. Sam Stavinoha has created such a place in the tiny West Texas town of Marathon, a stop on the way south to Big Bend National […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Northeast
King Kullen, Wild By Nature Raise $16K For Long Island Food Bank
Hauppauge, New York-based King Kullen and Wild by Nature recently held the annual in-store “Check Out Hunger” campaign, raising $16,000 for the Long Island Cares/Harry Chapin Food Bank. Tracey Cullen, King Kullen VP of corporate strategy and initiatives and the great-granddaughter of King Kullen founder Michael Cullen, noted that the company and its customers have […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Foodtown, Northeast
ARS Co-op Member Ferreira Wins Industry Award
Jason Ferreira, a member of Allegiance Retail Services, a supermarket grocery services co-op, was recognized by Shelby Publishing in its third annual Exceptional Independents Awards program, which celebrates the contributions of independent retailers across the industry. Ferreira, who owns and operates Foodtown stores in the New York City area, was honored for his achievements in […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Corporate Store News, Independent Store News, National
Circana Report Highlights New Era Of Private Label Transformation
Circana has released two new reports highlighting the continued global momentum of retailers’ private label products. Initially driven by cost-conscious shoppers, private labels have evolved into sought-after options as consumers recognize their quality and variety. Circana’s global research, From Growth to Transformation: A Global Private Label Perspective, explores regional approaches to private brands across the European […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Harps Food Stores, Southwest
Harps Taps Lesso As Information Systems Director
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. […]
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 […]