“Navigating the Realities of Imperative Business Issues” was the topic of an executive roundtable industry discussion at the recent FMI Midwinter Executive Conference in Orlando, Florida. The FMI board of directors and key committees, along with FMI partner Oliver Wyman, have identified the most significant issues keeping food executives up at night. Mark Baum, FMI […]
Category: Feature
Posted inCorporate Store News, Feature, Southeast
SEG Chief Shares Keys To Weathering Industry Storms
“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Southeastern Grocers President and CEO Anthony Hucker referenced the quote from Winston Churchill during his remarks at the recent FMI Midwinter Executive Conference in Orlando, Florida. Hucker shared photos from Mexico Beach, Florida, after Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 storm in October 2018. He noted […]
Posted inC-Store News, Feature, Southwest
7-Eleven Activates ‘Awesome’ To Attract Younger Generations
Marissa Jarratt, CMO for 7-Eleven, recently spoke at GroceryShop about how the convenience store giant is working to keep its nearly 100-year-old brand relevant. Founded in 1927, 7-Eleven invented to-go coffee in Long Island, New York, Jarratt said. “Even today, we continue to innovate.” Today’s innovation is more from a digital perspective, she added, as […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Feature, Southeast
Price Hikes, Product Shortages Have Cut Into Shopper Loyalty
Private label products have seen a major increase in popularity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Matt Reese, EVP of Nashville, Tennessee-based food brokerage the Reese Group Inc., sees the lingering effects in stores and customer purchasing habits. Manufacturers began having issues producing products, grocers had trouble keeping name-brand items on shelves and customers began […]
Posted inAssociation News, Feature, West
Posey Ready To Guide Western Association Of Food Chains
Patrick “Pat” Posey took the helm of The Western Association of Food Chains as chief operating officer on Sept. 1, succeeding Carole Christianson, who retired but is staying on as an advisor. Scott Drew, 2022-23 WAFC president and chairman, made the leadership announcement last month, describing Posey was an “industry legend” who has “always made […]
Posted inAssociation News, Feature, National
Food Retailers Pursuing Strategic Differentiation Strategies
Despite a challenging year marked by a persisting pandemic, historic inflation, supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages, the food industry is making significant investments to meet shoppers’ evolving tastes. That’s the assessment of FMI – The Food Industry Association’s annual comprehensive research report, The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2022. The survey found that food retailers […]
Posted inCenter Store, Feature, International Foods, Northeast, Snacks Brands
Olive Importer DeLallo Also Has Authentic Italian Foods, Cookies
When George and Madeline DeLallo came from Italy to the U.S. in 1950, they settled in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. When they couldn’t find the Italian food they were used to eating, they started importing it themselves. After selling door to door, they bought a little gas station in Jeannette and converted it […]
Posted inAldi, Dairy News, Feature, Snacks Brands, Southeast
Bodacious Food Succeeds With Mama Geraldine’s Cheese Straws
While working in the radio business during the mid-1990s, Cathy Cunningham made a discovery one night. The cheese bites on which she had been snacking were nowhere near as good as those of her mother, Geraldine Cunningham. “I knew my mama’s cheese straws were better than those things,” said Cunningham during an interview with The […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Feature, Southeast
Seahorses Don’t Have Stomachs And Neither Does Martin
In a recent interview with The Shelby Report, Stacy Martin explained why her company is called Seahorse Snacks. “Seahorses don’t have stomachs, and neither do I.” Martin went on to share that she discovered three years ago she had a rare genetic mutation that gave her an 80 percent chance of developing stomach cancer and […]
Posted inDeli News, Feature, Market Profile, Southwest
Van’s Kitchen Navigates Release Of New Product During Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, companies had to figure out how to connect remotely, network in new ways and attempt to conduct business during an unprecedented time. Van’s Kitchen, based out of Dallas, Texas, was among the many businesses that had to quickly adjust. The 36-year-old company is a minority-, women- and family-owned and -operated business. Theresa […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Feature, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Southwest
Snowfox, YO! Finds Success With Sushi In Supermarkets
The Shelby Report recently caught up with Richard Hodgson, group CEO of Snowfox Group, and Stacy Kwon, president of Snowfox | JFE Franchising, to chat about its new sushi products. The two companies merged in 2019. The Snowfox Group includes Snowfox (JFE), YO!, Bento and Taiko. Snowfox, based in Houston, Texas, is one of the […]
Posted inBakery News, Amazon Fresh, Feature, Market Profile, Southwest, Whole Foods
Einstein Brothers Bagels Expanding Into Retail Locations
Einstein Brothers Bagels found success in its restaurant concept, with more than 1,000 across the country. Now, it is looking to expand into retail to give its customers better access to the brand. Andrew Heald, director of sales for the Lakewood, Colorado-based company, recently sat down with The Shelby Report to share some of the […]
Posted inPackaging News, Feature, Southeast
Mister Bee Potato Chips Expands Co-Packing Production
Parkersburg, West Virginia-based Mister Bee Potato Chips is expanding its private label co-packing services to add to its chip making for retail outlets. The small, woman-owned business upgraded its entire facilities – new fryer, computerized seasoning, bagging process and new warehouse – providing opportunities for expanding its production to make custom chips for other snack companies, […]
Posted inDairy News, Feature, National
IDFA Board Member: Innovation Remains Key For Industry
The International Dairy Foods Association Economic Impact Study, which measures the combined impact of the dairy products industry, showed the economic impact totaled $752.93 billion in the U.S. With more than 90 percent household penetration and high frequency of consumption, IDFA board member Blake Waltrip said the average U.S. consumer today has anywhere from three […]
Posted inFeature, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
Isom IGA Is A Hometown Grocer, Through And Through
When Gwen Christon was introduced to grocery retail, she was just looking for a job in her hometown of Isom, Kentucky. “I didn’t envision ever being in the grocery business. I really just envisioned getting a job…and going to work,” she said with a laugh. After her entry position in stocking, Christon continued to move […]
Posted inFeature, Home Page Latest News, Northeast, Online Grocery Technology
AppCard Remains Focused On Personalization, CPG
By Eric Pereira / content creator As a coupon platform with more than five billion transactions under its belt, AppCard’s focus has been on empowering grocers to communicate with shoppers through personalized offers and awards derived from shopper purchase history and future intent, said Yair Goldfinger, co-founder and CEO. New York-based AppCard is a shopper […]
Posted inFeature, Albertsons, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
SMARTS Speakers Encourage Grocery Leaders To Care, Share, Motivate
by Eric Pereira / content creator Harold Llyod Presents held its 21st annual Supermarket SMARTS conference in a virtual format the week of Jan. 10. The SMARTS event combined education and entertainment for grocery managers, assistant managers and management trainees to learn through interactive seminars and assignments. The Supermarket SMARTS event featured various guest speakers including, […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Feature, Home Page Slider, National
IGA Experiences Growth In Sales, Market Share, Store Count
by Eric Pereira / content creator The past year was a great one for the Independent Grocers Alliance, according to John Ross, president and CEO. For many of its retailers, 2021 was the best in modern history for top-line sales and market share growth. “For a 100-year-old-chain, that’s an amazing thing to say,” Ross said. […]
Posted inFeature, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Southeast
Savannah Bee Company Reaches 20 Years
The Savannah Bee Company is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with continued expansion and product development. “Savannah Bee Company grew out of my passion for bees, beekeeping and honey,” said founder Ted Dennard on their website. “Our specialty honey is the culmination of a 35-year search, both locally and around the world for the […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Beverage News, Feature, Home Page Slider
Callaway Blue Bringing ‘Crisp, Clean Taste’ To Market
When you think of Pine Mountain, Georgia, the Callaway Resort and Gardens or FDR State Park may come to mind. When exploring the area, nestled in the Pine Mountain Ridge, the water of Blue Springs has been safeguarded by the Callaway family for four generations. It was initially purchased by Cason Calloway Sr., according to […]