by John McCurry/contributing writer Gary Huddleston, a former longtime Kroger executive now serving as grocery industry consultant for the Texas Retailers Association (TRA), describes the grocery business as being robust across most areas of Texas. “Western Texas is certainly unique. There are three or four metro areas, but the vast majority is rural. The four […]
Category: Market Profile
Market Profile: Distribution A Challenge For Grocers In The Dakotas
by John McCurry/contributing writer While they are two different states, North Dakota and South Dakota share some challenges for their independent grocers. Distribution to retailers in rural areas and labor shortages are common problems for both North and South. Our market profile looks at the economies and state of the grocery industry in the Dakotas. […]
SOUTHEAST: Market Profile: More Bravo Stores Planned For Florida’s Southern Half
by John McCurry/contributing writer Bravo Supermarkets has been growing fast in Florida ever since it expanded there about 16 years ago. The chain now has more than 50 multicultural stores in Florida and is looking to add more. Bravo is part of a “virtual” chain operated by New York-based Krasdale Foods and its marketing arm, […]
Janssen’s Market Successfully Fills ‘Gourmet Convenience’ Niche
by John McCurry/contributing writer Janssen’s Market has been a fixture in the Greenville, Delaware, community for 68 years. Paula Janssen, the store’s current co-owner, is the granddaughter of its founder, Joseph Janssen Sr. Her parents—Joe Jr. and Eileen Janssen—are her co-owners. Since its founding in the fall of 1952, the store has focused on being […]
High-Tech Facilities Gravitate Toward Land Of Enchantment
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest It is no small thing when a company like Virgin Galactic relocates jobs to a state. But then, New Mexico went big when it invested more than $200 million in Spaceport America, an 18,000-acre FAA-licensed facility adjacent to the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range and about 45 miles north of Las […]
Grocery Business Is In DNA Of Mackenthun’s Fine Foods Family
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest August Mackenthun opened a little butcher shop in Plato around the turn of the last century. The exact year is not known, said Kim Mackenthun, who with his son, Jaime, and daughter, Jessa, owns the business today. “Jaime and Jessa’s great-great-grandfather started a little store 12 miles west of (Waconia) right about […]
Hispanic Grocer Finds Success Across Different Cultures
by Treva Bennett/staff writer Born and raised in the grocery business, Omar Jorge has followed in his family’s footsteps and now is a partner in Compare Foods and chairman of Aurora Grocery Group. Compare Foods is a subsidiary of Aurora, which is an umbrella holding company. Each supermarket in the group is individually owned by […]
Profile: Zapata Next On List For Border Town Markets, Then Remodeling
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest Amando Pena Jr. got into the grocery business working for his father. He carries on the tradition now with his own family. If you ask what makes him most proud, he will tell you it is that he and his wife, Dalina, are able to work with their three children, Liana, Amando […]
Market Profile: Kansas Grocers Still Seeking To Defeat High Food Sales Tax
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest Jon McCormick told the state House taxation committee in February that the Kansas Food Dealers Association (KFDA) has lost 150 stores in the last 20 years. He then gave a short list of reasons why that happened that included the usual suspects, like competition from Walmart, dollar stores and Aldi, but— perhaps […]
Faith And Community Keep Versailles Hometown IGA Prosperous
2019 Indiana Market Profile by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest Robert Wood evidently was meant to be a grocer. A grocer in Versailles. He was a contractor for years, building foundations and bridges. His father had an implement dealership that he and his wife, Dotty, worked with for five years. After that, they started a bulk food business […]
North Florida Profile: Region’s Economy Offers Opportunities For Growth
by Treva Bennett/staff writer The North Florida economy is strong and getting stronger, as the Sunshine State continues to grow in population, job opportunities and tourism. Jacksonville.com, citing an “Elevate Northeast Florida” report, recently said the Jacksonville area could become the “highest performing economy in the country” over the next five years. The report recommended […]
The United Family Brings Texas-Born Culture To New Mexico Stores
The United Family’s parent company, Albertsons, handed United the reins to its stores in New Mexico in September 2014. Since then, United has worked to bring the culture it perfected in West Texas to the Land of Enchantment. “Your biggest fear is your culture, because you can integrate the systems and you can change the […]
Specialty Products Have Always Had A Home At Kaune’s In Santa Fe
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest Kaune’s Neighborhood Market—and as stated on the company’s website, “if you’ve ever known a Connie, you can say Kaune’s”—is a small boutique grocery that has been in operation in Santa Fe since 1896. According to a story in Specialty Food Magazine, founder Henry Spencer Kaune, who was from Illinois, was known for […]
Rural North Dakota Grocers May Soon Get Help From The U.S. Postal Service
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest The Republican Party dominates state politics in North Dakota. With large majorities in both the House and Senate, state politics can be somewhat predictable, said John “Jiggs” Dyste, president and CEO of the North Dakota Grocers Association (NDGA). But North Dakota is different from most other states in at least one way. […]
Now-Thriving Arizona Seeing Grocers Investing In Stores And Growth
by Treva Bennett/staff writer Competition is alive and well in the Arizona grocery industry, and it looks to become even more so in the future. With a strong economy and growing population, Arizona—one of the hardest-hit states during the recession—is becoming more attractive to national retailers, according to Tim McCabe, president of the Arizona Food […]
Alabama’s Economy Bolstering All Kinds Of Businesses, Including Grocery
by Treva Bennett/staff writer Home to the Rocket Capital of the World in Huntsville, the state of Alabama is blasting off in terms of its business climate. Overall, Site Selection ranked Alabama No. 8 in its 2018 Business Climate analysis, tied with Indiana. Another economic development-focused publication, Business Facilities, ranked the state No. 1 for […]
Minnesota Nice Could Get Tested In St. Paul This January
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest There is much that is new and unique in Minnesota right now. Let’s start with the Minnesota Grocers Association’s (MGA) new logo. It was refreshed in 2018 after almost 20 years to more accurately reflect the association’s mission. The logo now features a grocery cart as the foundation for the state, reflecting […]
Georgia’s Grocery Market Is ‘Extremely Competitive’
by Treva Bennett/staff writer As Georgia’s economy has improved over the past few years, competition in the grocery industry has grown. Kathy Kuzava, president of the Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA), said for the fifth year in a row Georgia has been named “No. 1 State for Business” by Site Selection, a leading economic development […]
Lowes’ President Continues To Ask: How Can We Reinvent Ourselves?
Tim Lowe, president of North Carolina-based Lowes Foods, was a featured speaker at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) Leadership Forum in August in Colorado Springs. Lowe was among the speakers invited to share their strategies and collaboration opportunities. Lowe oversees a locally owned (by Alex Lee Inc.) and operated grocery company comprising nearly 100 full-service […]
Wisconsin Grocer Of The Year Gooseberries Crafting A 70/30 Experience
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest Gooseberries Fresh Food Market opened its doors in 2006. Eight years later, David Spiegelhoff received the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) Excellence in Operations Award. This year he and Gooseberries Fresh Food Market took the top honor as WGA Grocer of the Year. The association’s board of directors makes the selection. WGA President […]
