Utah was named the No. 1 state for economic outlook for the 16th year in a row by Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index. According to a statement from the office of Gov. Spencer Cox, this is attributed to “strategic policies, smart fiscal decisions and forward-thinking reserve funds, combined with the hard […]
Category: Market Profile
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Southeast
Stepherson Inc. Continues Family Legacy In Memphis, TN
Stepherson Inc. has been a Memphis staple since before Elvis or BB King were household names. The employee-owned business operates nine locations under the Superlo Foods and Stepherson’s banners across the Memphis area, as well as a central warehouse. The company was founded in 1944 by brothers Wesley, Kenneth and Jack Stepherson. Wesley and Kenneth […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
Retailers Celebrate Approval Of Pro-Business Legislation In Missouri
The Missouri Grocers Association and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry are celebrating multiple wins following this year’s state legislative session. “[It] will go down as one of the more productive for Missouri job creators,” said Dan Mehan, chamber president and CEO, in a July press release. Gov. Mike Parson signed 31 pieces of […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Northeast
Belmont Market GM: ‘Customer Service Makes Us Who We Are’
Belmont Market in Wakefield, Rhode Island, started as a fruit stand 75 years ago with owner Vincent “Cy” Siravo and his son, Vincent Jr. “Jack” Siravo, that eventually became a wholesale fruit delivery business. Jack Siravo added grocery retail to the wholesale fruit business, “where both companies operate out of the same location and work […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Southeast
Rouses Markets Celebrates History, Heritage With New Houma Store
Rouses Market shoppers in Houma, Louisiana, have a new location to “go make groceries.” The 60,000-square-foot store, located at 2233 Martin Luther King Blvd., replaced the company’s “superstore,” which was built in 1989. It also is the fourth market at or near the site of the first store, Ciro’s, opened in 1960 by Anthony Rouse […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, West
Livestock Changes Looming In California
California’s Proposition 12, which prohibits the sale of uncooked meat or eggs from producers that don’t comply with new state requirements, has been finalized after years of uncertainty, unclear wording and lawsuits. What’s next? Well, according to California Grocers Association President Ron Fong, there’s likely “going to be a shortage in the marketplace.” “The [California […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Southwest
Arkansas Ends Fiscal Year With $1B Surplus
Arkansas ended its fiscal year 2023 with the second largest surplus in its history, according to a July 7 revenue summary from the Arkansas House of Representatives. Results from collections and distributions for FY 2023 reached $7.185 billion. The FY 2023 Revenue Report stated that this was $1.161 billion in excess of full funding level […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest
Feeding The Community An Obligation For Buche Foods
Making sure no one in South Dakota goes hungry is not just a passion for RF Buche. He considers it a moral obligation. It’s why the fourth-generation president of the GF Buche Co. – which operates Buche Foods supermarkets and Gus Stop convenience stores among its retail ventures – strives to make it easier for folks […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Southeast
NC-Based Lowes Foods Poised To Enter New Market
Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based Lowes Foods is set to bring the Lowes banner to Georgia through the acquisition of Foothills IGA, which serves Dawson and Pickens counties. Lowes President Tim Lowe attended a July 27 retirement party for departing owners Jeff and Sandy Downing. Beforehand, The Shelby Report was able visit with Lowe about the expectations […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Home Page Latest News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
End Of An Era For Foothills IGA In Georgia
Nestled at the base of the Appalachian Mountains in northern Georgia sits the aptly named Foothills IGA, which has been serving the nearby communities of Big Canoe and Marble Hill for 21 years. Former owners Jeff and Sandy Downing, who recently retired, committed themselves to exemplary customer service, quality food and connection with their customers. […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Minimum Wage, Tax Refunds Top Of Retailer’s Minds In New York
Retailers in New York are about to see their labor costs increase thanks to new legislation that will result in a gradual minimum wage increase statewide. Mike Durant, president and CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of New York, said the recently concluded state assembly session stirred “heated debate” over the measure. As it stands, the […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
Workforce Top Issue Facing Employers In Iowa As Economy Improves
A second-quarter Economic Outlook Survey by the Iowa Business Council reports a “strong confidence” in the state’s economy. This represents an increase in optimism across all areas measured by the IBC compared to results from the previous quarter. The report measures member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months. The […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Northeast
Powered By Produce, Met Fresh Supermarkets Serving NYC In Style
Danny Hamdan was working in Florida, when he got a call one day in 2011 from his uncle, Omar, who after 25 years working in the grocery business wanted to move into ownership. He wanted Hamdan to come home and help him. “So we opened up our first store, and then the third and the […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Report: Massachusetts’ Economy Sending Mixed Messages
Massachusetts’ economy appears to be slowing, according to a review of data in May by the MassBenchmarks Board, which also noted a number of growing concerns for 2023, along with some better-than-expected news in payroll, employment and demographics. MassBenchmarks is an initiative of the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest
Gary’s Foods Going Strong Under Second, Third Generations
Owner credits success to connection with ‘longtime, loyal customers’ Gary’s Foods in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a family-owned independent grocery store, operated today by the second and third generations. Denny Dietrich and son, Peter, run the store, which was started in 1971 by Denny’s father, Gary, and a partner, Dave Rank. The two had worked […]
Posted inMarket Profile, West
Real Food Market & Deli Works On ‘Building Community’ In Helena, MT
Laughing Water, owner and general manager of Real Food Store Inc., dba Real Food Market & Deli in Helena, Montana, does not have a traditional grocery industry background. He started practicing yoga at age 13. A Presidential Scholar in high school, he earned a degree in philosophy and psychology at MIT. His graduate studies took […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Southeast
LRA Backed Measures To Streamline Tax Remittance, Reduce Retail Crime
Executive director: Law enforcement needs to ‘have discretion to make arrests’ where necessary The Louisiana Retailers Association (LRA) supported legislation this year to benefit its members, according to Jessica Elliott, executive director. Two of the bills – HB 558 and SB 54 – were passed and have been signed into law by Gov. John Bel […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, West
MFDA President: Montana’s Economy Stronger In ‘23
At the end of fiscal year 2022, Montana saw a 39 percent increase in collections from its top seven taxes. Through the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, those same taxes had produced 3 percent less, according to the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana. Most of the […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
Rouses Markets Has Plans For New Stores, Remodels
Rouses Markets, based in Schriever, Louisiana, is staying busy and growing, according to CEO Donny Rouse. The family-owned grocer has announced plans for two new stores in Mississippi – Biloxi and Picayune – and a replacement store for its original location in Houma, Louisiana, is scheduled to open in the middle of August. The remodel […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
Corner Market Stands Out By Putting ‘People Over Profits’
Corner Market in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, stands out from its competitors in several ways, primarily by putting “people over profits.” According to VP of Fresh Price Mabry, the Roberts family – owners of the company – takes pride in caring for employees. “They’re the most generous family you will ever meet…you can ask anybody, from our […]