Idaho independent’s “Social Deal” program turns Facebook comments into a weekly reservation system – no shopping app to download, no online checkout, no problem. When Swensen’s Markets posted a deal on 50-pound boxes of Idaho russet baking potatoes to its Facebook page in mid-February, the family-owned grocer likely expected a solid response. What it got […]
Category: Feature
Posted inExecutive News, Anniversary Issues, Feature, Featured News, Midwest, News, Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
Stewardship And Growth: Former AWG CEO Smith Reflects On Leading Through Change
As Associated Wholesale Grocers celebrates its centennial, former CEO David Smith looks back on his tenure with the perspective of a steward who sought to leave the cooperative stronger than he found it. Smith joined AWG in August 2003 as director of real estate. He stepped into the CEO role at the end of 2015, […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Feature, Featured News, Midwest
Lipari Foods Debuts Global Strategy At ‘Passport To Flavor’ Event
Lipari Foods marked its largest-ever trade show March 25 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, welcoming 11,000 retailers under the theme “Passport to Flavor” as the company unveiled a comprehensive rebrand centered on global foods. The event featured about 750 booths with 13,000 items on display, 1,300 of which were new to Lipari’s […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Feature, Finance News, West
Store Closings Part Of Grocery Outlet Turnaround
Grocery Outlet’s top executive was candid in his remarks to the investment community during the grocer’s earnings call March 4. Jason Potter, who took over as president and CEO of Emeryville, California-based Grocery Outlet in February 2025 after nearly five years as CEO of upscale retailer The Fresh Market, said, “I joined Grocery Outlet because […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Anniversary Issues, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Feature, Featured News, Finance News, Midwest, News, Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
AWG’s Cooperative Strength Positions Independent Grocers For Future
As Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, the cooperative is reflecting on a century defined by independent spirit, shared success and an unwavering commitment to its members – while keeping its focus firmly on what comes next. Founded in 1926 by a group of independent grocers who believed they were stronger […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Featured News, National
National Rural Grocery Summit Focusing On Innovation
The National Rural Grocery Summit will be held May 5-7 in Fargo, North Dakota. The event was created by the Rural Grocery Initiative out of Kansas State University, with the first summit held in 2008 in Kansas. Since then, the summit has grown to attract rural grocers, community leaders, food suppliers, academic researchers, healthy food […]
Expert Article
From Luck To Legacy: How Independent Grocers Are Finding Gold In Data
For the independent grocer, success is measured in generations. You aren’t just selling groceries; you are building a legacy. But in a landscape dominated by corporate giants, passing down a thriving business requires more than a well-stocked shelf. It requires trading “luck” for the leverage of actionable shopper data. Mapping the modern shopper journey The […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Feature, Featured News, News, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
The Present: Kroger Texas Division Understands What Shoppers Want
Texas has always been one of the most dynamic, competitive markets Kroger has competed in. To try and keep a competitive edge, the grocer focuses heavily on offering customers value and savings. Savings come in the form of extensive digital coupons, personalized offers, Fuel Rewards (including a variety of 4x gas points offers throughout the […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Feature, Featured News, News, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
The Past: 70 Years Strong, Kroger Texas Division Paves Path Of Progress
Kroger has a longstanding history and deep roots in Texas, dating back to 1955 when the Ohio-born grocer entered the Houston market with the purchase of grocery company Henke & Pillot, which had been in operation since 1872. Kroger kept the Henke & Pillot name on the stores for about 10 years, replacing it in […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Feature, Finance News, News, West
Instacart Executive Touts Benefits Of Storefront Pro E-Commerce Platform
The Shelby Report of the West recently visited with Merrick Rosner, Instacart’s head of revenue and solution sales, independent grocery, to learn more about the company’s e-commerce platform Storefront Pro. What is involved in training employees on how to use e-commerce platforms like Storefront Pro? Storefront Pro gives grocers of all sizes the ability to […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Feature, News, Southeast
Retailers Embrace PWADC ‘Savings In A SNAP’ Digital Program
With grocery costs continuing to rise and uncertainty surrounding federal nutrition assistance programs, Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Company has rolled out an innovative coupon initiative designed to help consumers stretch their food budgets further. Launched Nov. 1, the Savings in a SNAP digital program focuses on staple items like eggs, milk, potatoes, pasta, tuna and […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Feature, Finance News, News, West
Swiftly’s Audience Optimizer Offers Retailers Digital Tools For Success
The Shelby Report recently visited with Swiftly, a Seattle-based retail technology platform, to learn more about its new Audience Optimizer, a tool designed to help brick-and-mortar retailers transition their marketing efforts from traditional print circulars to targeted digital campaigns. Sean Turner, co-founder and chief technology officer of Swiftly, said the platform provides retailers with digital […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Feature, News, West
Local Express Showcases Unified Commerce Platform
Local Express, an artificial intelligence-native unified commerce platform, highlighted its comprehensive technology solutions for grocery retailers during Grocery Shop in Las Vegas, emphasizing how the company has evolved from serving small-format stores to providing enterprise-level capabilities for retailers of all sizes. Maria Gallegos, chief marketing officer for Glendale, California-based Local Express, said the company is […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Feature, Finance News, News, West
Keyed By Tally, Simbe Helps Grocers With Inventory, Workforce Issues
In a recent interview with The Shelby Report, South San Francisco-based Simbe highlighted how its autonomous retail intelligence solutions address critical inventory and operational challenges facing grocers. Simbe describes itself as the global leader in retail shelf digitization and combines artificial intelligence with robotics to provide retailers with real-time insights into store operations. The company […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Feature, National, News
Independent Grocers Find Support in NGA Foundation’s Resources
For grocers, staying competitive requires more than selling fresh goods. It demands a commitment to workforce excellence and embracing new technology to handle federal food assistance programs. That is where the National Grocers Association Foundation (NGAF), the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the National Grocers Association (NGA), comes in, providing free specialized, hands-on guidance at no cost to grocery stores of all […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Ahold Delhaize, Feature, Finance News, News, Southeast
ADUSA Launches Edge Retail Media Platform With In-store Digital Screens
Ahold Delhaize USA will launch Edge, a new retail media platform designed specifically for grocery retail, on Jan. 5, marking a significant shift in how the company manages advertising across its digital and physical store environments. The platform, which will initially power on-site sponsored-product display ads and a network of in-store digital screens, represents a […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Feature, News, Southeast
Smithfield Campaign Aims To Court Younger Consumers, Elevate Pork At Retail
Smithfield is putting a fresh, bolder stake in the ground with its new “We Speak Pork” campaign, an effort designed to reintroduce the category to younger consumers while reinforcing the company’s long-standing authority in pork. Marianne Radley, Smithfield’s managing director of marketing, told The Shelby Report that the campaign emerged after the company evaluated how […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Feature, Giant Food, News, Northeast
Giant Food, Upside Aim To Drive Incremental Sales Through Cash-back Offers
Giant Food is launching a partnership with Upside, a cash-back marketplace platform, to reach new shoppers and recapture market share as customers increasingly spread their grocery spending across multiple retailers. The collaboration pairs the mid-Atlantic’s largest grocer by market share with a Washington, D.C.-based technology company that delivers personalized cash-back offers designed to drive incremental […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Feature, National, News
Private Label, Public Preference – How Diverse Consumers Are Shaping Store Brand Growth
Private label products have come a long way from their early reputation as plain, low-cost alternatives to national brands. Today, they represent a strategic pillar for retailers – offering differentiation, margin advantages and a way to build loyalty in an increasingly competitive grocery landscape. As inflation and economic uncertainty continue to influence consumer behavior, private […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Feature, News, Southwest, West
GVH Distribution Conference Unites Grocery Leaders To Drive Innovation
Lubbock, Texas-based GVH Distribution recently welcomed wholesalers, retailers and vendors from across grocery to its annual conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Over four days, the industry partners combined business strategies with networking and social activities designed to strengthen relationships and spark innovation across the supply chain. “The GVH Customer and Vendor Conference is about much […]