Officials talk about agency’s purpose, recent transformation, modernization efforts The Defense Commissary Agency, headquartered at Fort Lee, Virginia, operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries in a safe and secure shopping environment to U.S. military personnel, retirees, service-related disabled veterans and their families. Authorized patrons can purchase items tax free, plus a 5-percent surcharge, […]
Category: Feature
Lowes Foods Focused On Offering Entertainment, Experiences
‘We want people to be able to come in and escape all the pressures of life in general’ The Shelby Report of the Southeast caught up with Tim Lowe, head of retail for Alex Lee and president of Lowes Foods, during the recent FMI Midwinter Executive Conference in Orlando, Florida. Lowe provided an update on Lowes […]
Official: Fresh Organic Produce Industry Has ‘Optimistic Future’
Top trends in 2023 include sustainability, CEA, regenerative Organic produce is a vibrant industry with an optimistic future, according Matthew Seeley, CEO of Organic Produce Network in Monterey, California. “People are going to want to continue to eat healthy, nutritious products, and organic fits that bill,” he said. “And that’s why I think we’ve got an […]
Produce Is ‘Heart And Soul’ Of Turnip Truck In East Nashville
Three locations serve shoppers seeking fresh, organic items The Turnip Truck in Nashville, Tennessee, has been dedicated to providing fresh and organic products since 2001. What began as a 2,800-square-foot organic shop now has three locations that also offer prepared foods and a full deli, among other features. Founder and CEO John Dyke was working […]
Publix Holds Hunger Summit, Brings Stakeholders To Table
The issue of hunger is very real in the United States. According to Feeding America, 34 million people in the U.S. are food insecure. In an effort to bring awareness to the issue, Publix hosted its inaugural Hunger Summit Feb. 23 at its Lakeland, Florida, headquarters. Executives from 35 Feeding America member food banks in the […]
Experts Share Ways Market Can Keep Profitability Post Pandemic
During the recent FMI Midwinter Executive Conference, two experts discussed how the grocery market can sustain its profitability as the nation moves further from the COVID-19 pandemic. Karen Short is managing director for Credit Suisse, while Scott Moses serves as managing director and head of food retail and restaurants investment banking for Solomon Partners. The […]
Official: Transactions ‘Winning Now’ For Consumers, Retailers
The year 2023 is shaping up to be one of the most challenging economic environments in more than two decades. Deborah Weinswig, founder and CEO of Coresight, tackled the topic and possible avenues for retailers to overcome it during an Insights speaking engagement at the recent FMI Midwinter Executive Conference. Weinswig was introduced by Scott Moses, […]
Chairman Of Brookshire Grocery Co. Reflects On State Of Industry
Brad Brookshire, chairman and CEO of Brookshire Grocery Co., shared some thoughts on the industry with The Shelby Report of the Southwest during the recent FMI Midwinter Executive Conference in Orlando, Florida. While supply chain issues from the COVID-19 pandemic have improved, Brookshire noted they’re “not 100-percent resolved.” Problems with out-of-stock items remain. “It’s a […]
Grocery Shopii Working To Address Changing Consumer Behaviors
When Katie Hotze, founder and CEO of Grocery Shopii, was asked what’s keeping retailers up at night, she said “changing consumer behaviors.” Hotze, who attended the recent FMI Midwinter Executive conference with some Grocery Shopii colleagues, said grocery retailers got the nation through the COVID-19 pandemic. “They’re the ones who kept the lights on and […]
E-Commerce At Core Of Hy-Vee’s Expansion Southward
Jeremy Gosch was named sole CEO of Hy-Vee, The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s 2022 Retailer of the Year, at the beginning of 2023 following a six-month shuffle. In July 2022, the company announced that he and Aaron Wiese would serve as co-CEOs. That changed when Wiese was named president of Hy-Vee Healthcare. Another longtime […]
Mercatus Offers E-Commerce Innovation For Grocery Retailers
Executive: Company’s approach ‘really is a focus on customer service and support’ Research from Mercatus, a provider of digital commerce solutions for grocery retail, has shown that interest in online shopping has declined since the height of COVID-19, although it’s still higher than pre-pandemic levels. Conversely, December saw the second highest monthly total for online […]
XRC Labs Investing In Future Of Grocery
XRC Labs – Accelerated Retail and Consumer Labs – is a venture capital firm and accelerator for the next generation of disruptors in the retail technology, consumer goods and consumerization of healthcare sectors. XRC has three types of funds with different stages and company type priorities, but all are consumer retail related. Al Sambar, general partner, […]
Invafresh Offers Technology To Manage Fresh Perimeter
Vancouver, Canada-based Invafresh offers item management technology for the fresh food retail industry. According to Steve Midgley, VP of Invafresh, while e-commerce and the omnichannel approach is here to stay, consumers are “more picky” when it comes to fresh items in the grocery store. “What one person may consider to be a ripe avocado might […]
Inmar Leverages Data To Make Customers Smarter
Celebrating its 42nd anniversary in 2022, Inmar Intelligence opened a new headquarters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The company has invested more than $1 billion in its technology platform solutions, “which has really driven momentous growth,” said Rob Weisberg, SVP. “With that perspective, we’re doing about $120 billion in commerce driven through our platform,” he said, […]
Criteo Looks To Future In Its Retail Media Solutions
Criteo is a global technology company that helps marketers and media owners reach their goals through its Commerce Media Platform. Headquartered in Paris, France, the company has offices in New York City and other locations throughout the U.S. and around the world. According to Lucile Roose, global product strategy director for retail media, Criteo acquired […]
Rosie Keeps Focus On Independent Grocers As Part Of Instacart
Last year was an eventful one for the e-commerce company Rosie, as it was acquired by Instacart. Rosie founder Nick Nickitas termed the acquisition “a massive win for independent grocery.” “Rosie was built as an e-commerce solution for independent retailers, enabling grocers to give their loyal customers a fully custom-branded online experience,” he said. “Now […]
Upside Gives Retailers Ability To Personalize Cash-Back Incentives
The app from Washington, D.C.-based technology company Upside rewards cash back to users through partnerships with retailers. The scope of its services includes all aspects of retail, but the grocery industry in particular has used it to draw customers through the doors. “What’s unique about Upside is we work directly with the retailer,” said Tyler […]
AppCard Helps Grocers Know Shoppers, Understand Preferences
“Last year was the year of the three whammies – labor shortage, logistic issues and, of course, inflation,” said Eran Harel, AppCard’s SVP of corporate development and strategic partnerships. These three issues have been at the forefront of every retailer’s grievance list the past year. And they are continuing to be felt by retailers across […]
Barbecue Sauce Maker Keeps ‘Puttin’ The South In Your Mouth’
Mrs. Griffin’s Barbecue Sauce, headquartered in Macon, Georgia, was founded in 1935 by Mangham Edward Griffin. He created a special sauce for his family’s Fourth of July picnic every year, according to owner Roland Neel. The company has been “puttin’ The South in your mouth” for 88 years and is one of the oldest continuously […]
ECRS Helping Retailers Be Creative, Bold With CATAPULT
Western North Carolina-based ECRS is going into 2023 with a challenge for retailers: “Be Creative. Be Bold.” Much of the last two years have been a constant state of waiting, said Caroline Catoe, ECRS president. “Waiting for storms to pass or for the next storm to show. Waiting with uncertainty of what the future would […]
