For six decades, Trion Industries has been a steadfast presence in the retail landscape, particularly renowned for its shelf management solutions. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the family-owned company stands as a testament to adaptability, innovation and a solid commitment to quality, deeply rooted in its American-made ethos and strong community ties. The company’s trajectory has […]
Category: Feature
Webinar Unpacks Trends From IDDBA 2025
Consumer anxieties, vibrant merchandising and the fast rising influence of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare topped the talking points during a June 12 International Dairy Deli Bakery Association-sponsored webinar, “Digesting All the Trends at IDDBA 2025.” Maeve Webster, president of the Bennington, Vermont-based consultancy Menu Matters, and Mike Kostyo, VP, sifted through what they saw on the show floor to […]
Longtime Leader McCloud Bids Farewell To USC FIM
Cynthia McCloud, director of Food Industry Programs and adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business, is retiring. McCloud, a student in the Food Industry Management (FIM) program in 1990, has served as director since 2014, following a 40-year career in the food industry. In a farewell speech during the […]
Harris Teeter Reopens Hurricane-Damaged Store In Hendersonville, NC
In what wasn’t merely another retail remodel, the Harris Teeter store at 636 Spartanburg Highway in Hendersonville, North Carolina, officially reopened June 10 following an eight-month closure due to damage from Hurricane Helene. For the grocer’s team and the community, the occasion marked a far more profound milestone. In late September, Helene made landfall in […]
French Yogurt Brand La Fermière Fortifies U.S. Operations
Since entering the U.S. market eight years ago, French yogurt company La Fermière has maintained a 35-40 percent year-over-year growth rate. In 2024, the brand sold about 16 million ceramic pots of yogurt and oven-baked crème desserts. The company has a manufacturing plant in New York, as well as a newly opened West Coast facility […]
American Bakers Association Offers Optimistic Outlook
Despite inflation and economic uncertainty, the American Bakers Association (ABA) forecasts steady, slow growth in the retail and foodservice space over the next few years. Acknowledging that 94 percent of consumers are concerned about their current financial situation due to inflation, ABA President and CEO Eric Dell still sees some positive signs. “The good news […]
St Pierre Groupe Goes All Out For ‘Biggest And Most Important’ Show
St Pierre Groupe brought a big team to New Orleans to staff a big booth for IDDBA 2025. Sarah Boddy, UK-based managing director of St Pierre Groupe, said the show is the only one where the brioche pioneer brings this large a booth, which is modeled after the famous French neighborhood Montmartre and the café […]
Publix Celebrates Opening Of New Supermarket In Gainesville, GA
Publix Super Markets held a grand opening celebration May 28 for a new 48,387-square-foot store at 3715 Wahoo Falls Trace in Gainesville, Georgia. The supermarket is the second the grocer has opened over an eight-month span in the Northeast Georgia city, following the Sept. 12 debut of its store at 2155 Limestone Ridge. For the […]
Caraluzzi’s Commits To Taking Back Sandwich Biz
Caraluzzi’s Markets made a proactive decision to take back the sandwich business that it was seeing migrate to franchise sandwich shops in the areas around its four stores in Connecticut. Mark Caraluzzi, president and CEO of the family-owned company that has been in business for 75-plus years, said that in the past, customers knew they […]
Consumers Carry High Expectations When Making Dairy Purchasing Decisions
Product quality is the most critical factor in consumers’ dairy product purchasing decisions. That’s according to a March article from Innova Market Insights based on its Top Trends 2025: Dairy & Dairy Alternatives – Global report. Dairy products play an essential role in global diets, providing vital nutrients like calcium and protein while promoting overall […]
Popular Trends, New Flavors Highlighted At Sweets & Snacks Expo
One of the perks for attendees at the Sweets & Snacks Expo is the chance to discover trends and flavors before they hit retailers’ shelves. This year was no exception, with more than 1,000 exhibitors showcasing their innovations to 14,000 show-goers. Nostalgia and decadent One of the recurring trends at the 2025 expo is nostalgia. […]
Webinar Explores Tariffs, E-commerce, Omnichannel Imperatives In Grocery
A recent webinar hosted by Grocery Doppio, “Decoding Q1 2025: Tariffs, E-commerce Realities and Omnichannel Imperatives in Grocery,” provided a candid look at the grocery industry’s performance in the first quarter of 2025, navigating the complexities of new tariffs, the evolving role of e-commerce and the need for technological and cultural shifts. The panel, featuring […]
Experts: Adaptability Key For Producers, Retailers Amid Protein Market’s Volatility
From staff reports At the Annual Meat Conference, held March 24-26 in Orlando, Florida, industry leaders convened to discuss the evolving landscape of the meat and poultry sectors. For the 2025 Meat and Poultry Market Outlook presentation, key speakers included Brian Earnest, lead protein industry analyst at CoBank; Christine McCracken, executive director and protein analyst […]
Consumer Spending Shifts In Meat, Seafood, Poultry Amid Economic Uncertainty
The grocery industry has faced significant changes in consumer purchasing habits due to economic fluctuations such as inflation and shifting concerns over tariffs and unemployment. Anne-Marie Roerink, principal at 210 Analytics, shared her insights on how these factors have influenced the meat, seafood and poultry markets. Inflation, consumer behavior Roerink noted a shift toward home-cooked […]
FMI Expert: Helping Customers With Health Can Yield Loyalty For Stores
Rick Stein, VP of fresh foods for FMI – The Food Industry Association, took time out during the association’s recent Midwinter Executive Conference in Marco Island, Florida, to share some insights from its bountiful research. How bountiful? Each year, FMI publishes “State of” and “Speaks” reports that outline what’s going on in the food industry […]
Celebrate Earth Day With Sustainable Organic Produce
Earth Day (April 22) is the perfect time to highlight the benefits of organic produce and how it plays a crucial role in sustainability. With growing consumer interest in environmentally friendly choices, organic produce presents a great opportunity to meet demand while also supporting sustainable agriculture. Why organic matters Organic farming works hand in hand […]
Beyond Organic: CEO On Redefining Health, Industry Honesty
Karen Howard has served as CEO and executive director of Organic & Natural Health Association in Washington, D.C., since its inception in 2014. She has championed causes such as defining the term “natural,” promoting quality manufacturing, ensuring traceable sourcing, advancing regenerative farming, advocating for sustainable practices, addressing nutrient deficiencies and propelling vitamin D research and […]
FMI Committees Doing Important Work On Private Brands, AI, Asset Protection
Doug Baker, VP of industry relations for FMI – The Food Industry Association, spoke to The Shelby Report during the association’s recent Midwinter Executive Conference on Marco Island, Florida. Baker touched on three topics that are of interest to FMI’s membership and the food industry as a whole – private brands, technology advancements and asset […]
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 […]
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 […]
