Houchens Food Group’s Store Manager Appreciation Awards events continued in August for its Food Giant divisions. Events were held in Biloxi and Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Dothan, Alabama. On Aug. 14, a luncheon was held at Pier 44 Restaurant in Biloxi, Mississippi. Special speakers included Stephanie Reid from Shelby Publishing, Shane Allison from Alliance Retail Group […]
Category: Feature
Posted inBeverage News, Feature, Frozen Food, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
Powered By ‘Ice For Good’ Mission, Lux Ice Expanding Retail Reach
Lux Ice, a provider of premium craft ice, is making waves in the beverage industry with its unique product offerings and commitment to quality. Founded in 2020, the company has expanded its reach across the United States, partnering with major retailers and foodservice establishments. CEO Michael Crouse recently shared the company’s journey and its mission […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Midwest
Red Bridge Farm Fresh Market To Serve South Kansas City, MO
Residents of South Kansas City, Missouri, are finally getting their wish. After a nearly two-year wait, a new grocery store is preparing to open at 11212 Holmes Road in the Red Bridge shopping center. Red Bridge Farm Fresh Market is taking over the space that formerly housed Sun Fresh, which closed in early 2023 after […]
Posted inFeature, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Southeast
Houchens Food Group Honors Store Managers In Western KY
Houchens Food Group recently unveiled a new program, the Store Manager Appreciation Awards, to recognize the work of its grocery store leadership, whom it considers its “unsung heroes.” Consisting of 18 lunch banquets divided by region and banner, the events include individual recognition of store managers as well as a selection of other awards. In […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, West
Goodwin & Sons Market Reopens In Crestline, CA
Goodwin & Sons Market in Crestline, California, is back to serving customers after record snowfalls in the San Bernardino Mountains crushed the roof of the store in the wee hours of March 1, 2023. Eventually, the entire store collapsed, leading to the opportunity for a redesign. “We built, we believe, one of the most beautiful […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
Houchens Food Group Honors Store Managers In KY/TN Giant North Division
Houchens Food Group recently unveiled a new program, the Store Manager Appreciation Awards, to recognize the work of its grocery store leadership, whom it considers its “unsung heroes.” Consisting of 18 lunch banquets divided by region and banner, the events include individual recognition of store managers as well as a selection of other awards. In […]
Posted inBakery News, Feature, National
St Pierre ‘Putting The Consumer First,’ Continuing To Educate
Sarah Boddy, managing director for St Pierre at Grupo Bimbo, recently spoke to the The Griffin Report about the company’s journey and how it is helping retailers navigate inflation and other industry challenges. “When we launched into the U.S. market…nobody knew what brioche was,” Boddy said. “We had a big job in educating the customers […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Aldi, Feature, National
Aldi Wine Specialist: ‘We Know That We Can Deliver High Quality For Less’
Aldi is the fastest growing retailer of wine and beer. That’s according to Arlin Zajmi, director of national buying and certified wine specialist for Aldi, who flew to Atlanta from company headquarters in Batavia, Illinois, to participate in a store tour for journalists at the grocer’s store in Buckhead in mid-July. “The alcohol category has […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Feature, National, The Kroger Co.
IFPA Officials Preview Fresh Produce & Floral Show
“Make the most of these three days in October.” That’s the advice of Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), referring to the 2024 Global Fresh Produce & Floral Show, coming up Oct. 17-19 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. “We’re really excited to be in Georgia this year after […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Feature, Midwest
New-look Greenridge Naturals Introducing 1-oz. Snack Sticks Later This Year
Claire Flannery, director of communications for Greenridge Naturals, talked with The Shelby Report about the company’s recent rebranding and new products coming later this year. Illinois-based Greenridge was founded in 2008 by Michael and Sebastian Madej, who wanted to produce clean, simple meats – such as meat sticks, sausages and deli meats – made with […]
Posted inFeature, Snacks Brands, Southeast
Stuckey Shares Family Company’s Comeback Journey
Stephanie Stuckey, chair and co-owner of Stuckey’s, was one of the speakers during the recent Sweets & Snacks Expo, sharing with the crowd how she revived her grandfather’s company and offering tips to market a brand’s products on a “scrappy” budget. “I know a thing or two about comebacks,” Stuckey said. “I had a completely […]
Posted inFeature, Aldi, Corporate Store News, Southeast
‘Aldi Math’ Keeps Retailer Focused On Saving Customers Money
Aldi hosted a behind-the-scenes tour of its store in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta on July 17 to communicate how it can save area shoppers money – it estimates up to 40 percent – on groceries. The tour was hosted by Shaun O’Keefe, regional VP based out of the Aldi’s Jefferson, Georgia, distribution center. “What […]
Posted inFeature, Aldi, Southeast
Aldi Finds Aisle Offers BTS Items For Kids, Teens
A store tour for journalists at an Aldi store in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta finished up on the Aldi Finds aisle. For the uninitiated, the aisle is a mix of Aldi-exclusive brands as well as some national and licensed brands. It’s mostly general merchandise, but there also are some food items classified as “Finds.” […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
Houchens Food Group Honors South Alabama Division Store Managers
Houchens Food Group recently unveiled a new program, the Store Manager Appreciation Awards, to recognize the work of its grocery store leadership, whom it considers its “unsung heroes.” Consisting of 18 lunch banquets divided by region and banner, the events include individual recognition of store managers as well as a selection of other awards. In […]
Posted inBakery News, Feature, Midwest
St Pierre Highlights Success Bringing French Brioche To U.S.
St Pierre continues to grow across the U.S., helped in part by the backing of Grupo Bimbo, according to Rachel Wells, commercial director. In a recent interview with The Griffin Report, Wells recounted how the company was acquired by Grupo Bimbo in October 2022. She said that development has allowed St Pierre to retain its […]
Posted inFeature, Aldi, Corporate Store News, Private Label Brands
Aldi’s Supplier Ties Fuel Product Development Efforts
One of the keys to Aldi being able to keep prices low, quality high and on-trend products rolling in is its strong relationships with suppliers. Those relationships came up frequently during a recent store tour conducted by Shaun O’Keefe, regional VP at the company’s Jefferson, Georgia, distribution center. The tour, conducted for journalists at the […]
Posted inPackaging News, Feature, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Southeast
Focused On Togetherness, Butterball Rolls Out New-Look Packaging For Portfolio
Butterball, a provider of turkey products, recently unveiled a comprehensive redesign of its retail packaging, aiming to enhance brand visibility, consumer engagement and overall shopping experience. Rebecca Welch, director of retail marketing at Butterball, talked to The Shelby Report about what was behind the strategy. She noted that Butterball’s last retail portfolio redesign took place […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Aldi, Amazon Fresh, Feature, Southeast, The Kroger Co., Whole Foods
Mama Geraldine’s Snacks Returning To Grocery Shelves After Plant Burned
Following months of rebuilding after tragedy struck in September 2023, Mama Geraldine’s Cheese Straws and Bodacious Snacks is back in business. Cathy Cunningham, company founder, talked about her journey with The Shelby Report at the 2024 IDDBA Show. At a dinner last fall with some girlfriends in downtown Jasper, Georgia, Cunningham said she received a call […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Feature, Southwest
John Soules Foods Helping Retailers Differentiate
The Shelby Report recently caught up with John Soules, co-CEO of John Soules Foods. Established in 1975, the Tyler, Texas-based company is a formulator, manufacturer and marketer of ready-to-cook and fully cooked beef and chicken products as well as fully cooked breaded chicken. It has production facilities in Tyler, Texas; Gainesville, Georgia; and Valley, Alabama. […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Dollar General, Feature, Food Lion, National
Self-Checkouts A ‘Double-Edged Sword’ For Grocery Customers, Retailers
Self-checkouts in grocery stores present both benefits and challenges for the retailers that utilize them. In the benefits column, they allow customers buying just a handful of items to not get in a line behind someone doing two weeks’ worth of shopping. They also lessen the labor and eventually payroll burden for retailers, many of […]