Shaun O’Keefe, Aldi regional VP based out of the company’s Jefferson, Georgia, distribution center, conducted a tour for journalists in mid-July at the company’s store on Peachtree Road in Atlanta’s Buckhead area. Aldi currently operates 81 stores in Georgia, with 50-55 of them in the Atlanta area, depending on your definition of what the Atlanta […]
Category: Feature
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Southeast
Super G Mart Serves As Meeting Ground For Different Cultures
Super G Mart is the largest international supermarket in North Carolina, offering spices, produce, grocery and household items from across the globe. Paul Han, VP of operations, spoke with The Shelby Report of the Southeast about the company during the recent Carolinas Food Industry Council conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The first Super G […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Feature, Southeast
Acosta Group Execs Talk Key Trends, Challenges
As the landscape of fresh foods continues to evolve, two executives with Jacksonville, Florida-based Acosta Group shared some of their insights with The Shelby Report of the Southeast. Kathy Risch, SVP of shopper insights and thought leadership, and John DuBois, VP of fresh foods, were presenters at the recent IDDBA Show and talked about key […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Feature, National
Toshiba Executive: AI Powering Improvements For Self-Checkouts
Self-checkout systems have revolutionized the grocery shopping experience, offering numerous advantages for both customers and retailers. By empowering shoppers to scan and bag their own items, these systems reduce wait times, allowing customers to move through the checkout process with greater speed and convenience. This increased efficiency not only benefits customers but also frees up […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Feature, Meijer, National
Driving Produce Sales As Parents Prepare For 2024-25 School Year
A new study by The Foundation for Fresh Produce reveals most children are not eating enough fruits and vegetables every day. To boost consumption, the foundation has launched a month-long campaign, “Hacks for Healthy Back-to-School Habits.” Designed to promote simple and engaging food, cooking and meal prep “hacks,” the effort aims to instill healthy eating […]
Posted inFeature, Home Page Latest News, Meijer, National, The Kroger Co.
Back-To-School Spending Shifts As Parents Sacrifice Loyalty To Stay Within Budget
It may be the dog days of summer, but many families have already made a dent in their back-to-school shopping. With about two months of spending under their belts, some interesting trends are beginning to emerge. Chief among them is that increasing economic pressure is pushing consumers to adjust spending patterns, from how much they […]
Posted inExecutive News, Feature, Lowes Foods, Southeast
Lowes Foods Redefines Traditional Grocery Experience For Growth, Innovation
Lowes Foods is on a mission to redefine the traditional grocery store experience. The North Carolina-based retailer, a division of Alex Lee, is an entertainment destination centered around food, according to Tim Lowe, head of Alex Lee retail and president of Lowes Foods. Lowe spoke to The Shelby Report of the Southeast during the recent Carolinas Food Industry Council […]
Posted inBakery News, Feature, Food Service News, Northeast
Rich’s Highlights Ready Cakes, Portfolio Of Hispanic Products
Rich’s, a family-owned company providing foodservice and retail products to in-store bakery, deli and prepared foods, showcased some of its new products and innovations at the recent IDDBA Show in Houston. Rachel McCrone, director of customer marketing for in-store bakery and deli for Rich’s, talked with The Shelby Report’s Maggie Kaeppel on the show floor. […]
Posted inBakery News, Feature, Northeast
Bimbo Bakehouse Lines Designed For Making Meals Memorable
A current that seemed to run through the IDDBA show this year was looking at food as more than just sustenance; instead, as an experience, an occasion, a part of one’s life that brings enjoyment. Bimbo Bakehouse’s Dana Strain and Brandi Unchester shared some breads from the company’s portfolio that are more experience-focused. The company […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Midwest
Houchens Food Group Honoring Top 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 inPackaging News, Feature, Midwest
Anchor’s ‘Packaging That Performs’ Good For Ops, Consumer Experience
Packaging is one of those things that isn’t always the center of attention but can play an important supporting role. Kurt Richars, director of growth and marketing for St. Louis-based Anchor Packaging, said his company focuses on providing customers with “packaging that performs.” Richars, speaking with The Shelby Report shortly after the IDDBA Show in […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Feature, Midwest
Harvest Health Foods Leveraging AI To Make Best Use Of Technology
Harvest Health Foods, a family-owned grocery chain in Michigan, is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize inventory management and online shopping experiences, according to Bill Reiffer, the company’s VP of purchasing. Prior to becoming an ECRS customer in 2015, Harvest Health Foods employees were pricing each item individually. “It was our first point of sale,” […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Feature, National, Snacks Brands
The Hershey Co. Highlights New Retail Capabilities For Boosting In-Store Sales
The Hershey Co. is “perfecting perfection” with its Reese’s Big Cup, utilizing two new technologies designed to “drive decisions, track performance, collect actionable data and boost sales.” Momin Bhatti, Hershey’s associate manager of corporate communications, visited with The Shelby Report during the recent Sweets & Snacks Expo in Indianapolis, sharing how the company is using […]
Posted inCenter Store, Feature, Northeast
Catania Oils Works To Meet Demand, Keep Prices Steady
Catania Oils reported a move to a larger facility as well as packaging and product innovation at IDDBA 2024. Anne Whitney, marketing generalist for the Ayer, Massachusetts-based producer of oils, told The Shelby Report’s Maggie Kaeppel that the company is seeing increased demand, which led to the move to the new 215,000-square-foot warehouse last September. […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Feature, Southeast
ECRS’ CATAPULT Retail POS Utilizes AI To Help Independent Grocers Compete
Artificial intelligence applications for local and regional retail grocers are no longer on the horizon – they are a reality today. Pete Catoe, founder and CEO of ECRS, a retail solutions provider, said AI technology is available to grocers with practical tools they should already be using to enhance the customer experience. Catoe said two […]
Posted inFood Service News, Feature, Gelson's, National
Grocers Eye Fresh, Local As Popularity Of Grab-And-Go, Ready-Made Meals Soars
Customers at the new Niemann Harvest Market that opened May 15 in Carmel, Indiana, have a wide range of innovative options when it comes to picking up fresh food for any time of day, from grab-and-go meals to fresh-cut meats and produce. And it has experts at its service counters who can provide input as […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Feature, Midwest
Seaboard Foods Exec: Quality, Value Expected To Drive Pork Sales This Year
With 2023 well in the rearview, manufacturers and retailers are looking forward to this spring’s grilling season kicking off renewed demand for meat. The last 12 months were a bit turbulent for the meat industry, with escalating feed costs, inflation and lower demand in the U.S. affecting sales. But industry experts are optimistic that these […]
Posted inPackaging News, Feature, National
Cascades’ Packaging Solutions Designed To Advance Circular Economy
Shelby Publishing’s Maggie Kaeppel recently visited with Evolène Serié, senior product marketing manager at Cascades. Based in Quebec, Canada, Cascades offers sustainable, innovative and value-added packaging, hygiene and recovery solutions. What is new with your company? “We’re excited to introduce two ground-breaking packaging solutions designed to advance the circular economy. First up, our cardboard tray […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Anniversary Issues, Feature, Southeast
Closing Technology Gap Between Independents, Competition
ARG’s technology has continued to evolve along with its retailers over the last 20 years based upon the changing market and competitive landscape. As company officials have noted, this includes leveraging the advantages of data utilization and machine learning on its repository of retailer data to deliver solutions for individual stores that they are not […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Albertsons, Feature, Northeast, The Kroger Co.
Grocery Retailing In Northeast: Diverse Landscape Varies By City, State
by Diana Leza Sheehan, founder and principal consultant, PDG Insights From bustling cities to quaint coastal towns, the northeastern United States offers a broad array of cultures and lifestyles. This extends far beyond accents and historical landmarks. Venture into a grocery store in the Northeast, and one encounters a retail landscape unlike any other in the […]