Lakeland, Florida-based Publix has been named Shelby Publishing’s 2023 Growth Leader. Now operating more than 1,360 stores, the employee-owned company has opened 45 new locations this year and completed more than 100 remodels. Executive Chairman Todd Jones said Publix is averaging 40-50 new stores per year. The company has recently entered a new market, Kentucky, […]
Category: Feature
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Feature, National
IGA CEO Says Quality, Marketing Help Lift Private Label Offerings
The perception of private label or store brand products in the grocery industry has changed over the years. Many shoppers think of private labels as items that sit next to national brands on the grocery shelf but cost less. IGA President and CEO John Ross views them as “anything that you manufacture or sell to your […]
Posted inProduce News, Feature, Southeast
Former Georgia Ag Commissioner: Branding Most Important For Produce Firms
Gary Black, Georgia’s former agriculture commissioner, says producers and retailers should look to branding as the future of selling produce. Black, now a founding and managing partner of On Point Strategies consulting firm, has a number of produce-producing clients, including Lake Park, Georgia-based Corbett Brothers Farms. The company has been producing fruits and vegetables commercially […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Southeast
IGA President: U.S., Georgia Ag Leadership ‘On The Right Journey’
“They’re on the right journey,” John Ross, president and CEO of IGA, said following his participation on a panel featuring U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. Ross, Vilsack and Harper were three of the 15-person panel featured in the USDA’s More, New & Better Markets Stakeholder Meeting in Atlanta, […]
Posted inFeature, Amazon Fresh, National, Shelby Signature Content, Snacks Brands, Whole Foods
Sales Of Confections Posting Increases Across Categories
Even with inflation and price increases, consumers still are focused on food and beverages, including confections. In an Aug. 23 webinar presented by Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, Dan Sadler, principle of client insights at market research firm Circana, took a deeper look into the confections industry. Looking at dollar sales percent change versus a […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Feature, National
Panel At IFPA Global Produce And Floral Show Addresses AI
“Technology does not scale linearly. It scales exponentially.” That comment from Patrick Vizzone, executive director of DiMuto, perhaps best sums up the CEO Panel on Oct. 19 at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show in Anaheim, California. The panel – Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president and CEO of SHRM; Elliott Grant, CEO of Mineral, […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, C-Store News, Feature, National
Tech, Foodservice Paramount At NACS Show
Over the past 20 years, convenience stores have become much more than a place to pick up drinks, snacks or a magazine. “But what does the next 20 years look like,” asked Jeff Lenard, VP of strategic industry initiatives for the National Association of Convenience Stores. The size of the industry itself attests to its […]
Posted inCenter Store, Feature, Northeast
Olive Oil Market Sees Little Decline Despite Higher Prices
While prices continue to rise and supplies are down from last year, the olive oil market is growing. High temperatures and drought in Spain have caused about a 50 percent decline in production, according to Mouna Aissaoui, EVP and COO at Baltimore-based Pompeian Inc. “Although Spain is just one of the producing countries of olive oil, it […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Feature, Meijer, National
Health, Tech Highlight 2023 Global Produce And Floral Show
The greatest challenge for the fresh produce and floral industry continues to be getting people to consume more of its products, according to Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association. “If you look at the data, consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables remains well below both the U.S. Dietary Guidelines and the World […]
Posted inDeli News, Feature, West
FreshRealm Focused On Ready-To-Go Meal Solutions
San Clemente, California-based FreshRealm offers fresh meal solutions that range from ready-to-heat items to low-effort meal kits and ready-to-cook products. Michael Lippold, founder and CEO, talked with The Shelby Report’s Bob Reeves on the floor of the recent IDDBA Show in Anaheim, California. “We’re a platform that allows retailers to enter the category, grow the […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Southeast
Hi Nabor Maintains Family Legacy, Close Ties With AGBR
Hi Nabor, a three-store grocery chain in the greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana area, is growing. Two new stores are planned, with property purchased for one of the locations. Founded by Sam Crifasi on Jan. 1, 1963, Hi Nabor converted to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan in 2020. President Jim Crifasi, one of Sam’s nine children, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Southeast
Treppendahl’s Super Foods Grateful For AGBR
Wettlin Treppendahl Jr., owner of Treppendahl’s Super Foods in Woodville, Mississippi, has been a member of Associated Grocers Inc. of Baton Rouge (AGBR) since 1988. And he is quick to credit the wholesaler for helping him keep up with industry technology. He described the company as “the next best thing since sliced bread,” adding that […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Feature, Market Profile, Southeast
Service, Support Setting AGBR Apart
Louisiana-based Associated Grocers Inc. of Baton Rouge (AGBR) has a close relationship with its more than 180 independent retailers spanning the Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas regions, offering them a “complete support system.” “We pride ourselves on service, which sets us apart from our competitors,” said Pete Tortorich, VP of retail operations – business development and […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Feature, National
Mars Wrigley Using Insights, Innovation To Deliver For Consumers
Mars Wrigley is “consumer obsessed,” according to Mike Gilroy, VP of trade development and sponsorship. The company is “all about the consumer and delivering value and quality to the consumer.” Gilroy said if the 100-plus-year-old company is going to continue to be successful, it needs to “continue to listen to what the consumer is telling […]
Posted inFeature
Let Us Hear From You – Shelby Survey Seeks Feedback
Dear readers, At The Shelby Report, we strive to provide you with valuable resources and insights to help you run your grocery store more efficiently and effectively. Your success is our priority, which is why we want to hear from you about the topics and content that would be most beneficial to your business. We […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Feature, National, Northeast
The Hershey Company Investing In Innovation
The Hershey Company has been building a “snacking powerhouse” over the last few years, featuring both sweet and salty options, and innovation will continue to be a focus for the company in 2024. Allison Mason, Hershey’s strategic communications manager, talked with The Griffin Report of the Northeast’s Maggie Kaeppel during the recent Sweets & Snacks […]
Posted inAssociation News, Feature, National
FMI Report: Firms Investing To Future-Proof Business
How are food retailers and suppliers reacting to inflation, as well as a myriad other challenges in this post-pandemic era? FMI–The Food Industry Association’s 74th annual The Food Retailing Industry Speaks report looks at what’s happening in the industry to better understand the issues, challenges and goals of its member companies in the industry as […]
Posted inCenter Store, Feature, Northeast
Catania Oils Showcases Products, Monitors Trends At IDDBA Show
Ayer, Massachusetts-based Catania Oils spotlighted its new palm-based shortening products at the recent 2023 IDDBA Show in Anaheim, California. Anne Whitney, marketing generalist for the company, talked with The Griffin Report of the Northeast about the company and its products. “We actually had a customer of ours supply cookies that were made with our shortening,” […]
Posted inDeli News, Feature, West
Reser’s Fine Foods Crosses ‘Every Category’ Within Deli Department
Beaverton, Oregon-based Reser’s Fine Foods focused on product versatility during this year’s IDDBA Show in Anaheim, California, where The Shelby Report’s Bob Reeves was able to catch up with the team to see what’s new. With a wide range of products, the prepared foods company provides retailers with solutions across the deli, according to Anne […]
Posted inFeature, National
Hanks’ Talk On ‘Experience Business’ Entertains, Informs
The ballroom at the Anaheim Convention Center was standing room only as actor Tom Hanks took the stage June 5 at the 2023 IDDBA Show. Know for his film roles in “Forrest Gump,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Cast Away” and many others, Hanks also is a producer, director and writer. Attendees were given copies of his […]