Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, West

3-Store Acquisition Strengthens Stokes Markets’ Position In Mountain West

John Stokes and his brother, Steve, are fourth-generation grocers who have spent their lives immersed in the family business, Stokes Markets. Their work ethic and dedication to excellence are a direct result of their upbringing in the industry and the influence of those who worked alongside them. Stokes credits their customers with pushing them to […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, Northeast

Minier’s Unlikely Mix – Meat Destination With ‘Pottery Barn’ Feel In Big Flats, NY

Minier’s has a long, rich history, stretching back to the 1870s when Henry Minier opened a general store in Big Flats, New York, in the state’s Southern Tier. That store was about half a mile from where Minier’s full-service supermarket sits today at 84 Canal St. The family-owned store, known as Minier’s Neighborhood Meat Store […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, Rouses Market, Southeast

Fast-Growing Lafayette Leading Way As Rouses Expanding In Louisiana

For this month’s Market Profile, The Shelby Report of the Southeast visited with Donny Rouse, the third-generation CEO of Rouses Markets, to talk about the company’s newest location in Lafayette and its strategic expansion in its home state of Louisiana, where it has 53 stores.   What can you tell us about your newest store […]

Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southwest

Past Inflation, Current Tariffs Driving Shoppers To Seek Best Deals In U.S., Mexico

U.S. grocery shoppers continue to battle to affordably feed their families, wherever they live. From inflation following the COVID-19 pandemic to tariffs going into effect under the new presidential administration, prices are driving shoppers to form new habits and/or make some tough decisions. In towns along the U.S. border with Mexico – located in the […]

Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, Midwest, News

Michigan Retailers Face Economic Uncertainty Amid Tariffs, Inflation, Dip In Tourists

Michigan retailers are facing a challenging economic environment marked by inflation, tariff-related disruptions and fluctuating consumer behavior, according to Vic Veda, VP of communications with the Michigan Retailers Association. “The best specific data that I have on this topic here really does talk about the impacts of tariffs,” Veda said. “We did a member survey […]

Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, News, Northeast

Orange May Not Have Lock On Future Shelf Tag Color In Massachusetts

In late May, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced she was eliminating outdated regulations to save businesses and business owners time and money. The change that affects grocers in the commonwealth was the overhaul of unit price disclosure requirements that had not been adjusted since the 1990s. Brian Houghton, SVP of government affairs and communications at […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest, News

Mackinaw Family Market Thrives As Community Hub In Bustling Tourist Town

At the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the independent Mackinaw Family Market stands as a cornerstone of Mackinaw City – both during the bustling summer tourism season and the quiet winter months. The village of 847 residents is a resort community located on the shores of the Straits of Mackinac. For Mackinaw Family Market […]

Posted inMarket Profile, News, West

Favorable Job Market Intensifying Employer Competition For Talent In WA

Anneliese Vance-Sherman, chief labor economist with the Washington Employment Security Department, recently spoke with The Shelby Report about the workforce challenges retailers are facing in the state.   How would you summarize the retail workforce situation in Washington state? The overall job market, while showing a slight slowdown after recovering from COVID-19 pandemic job losses, […]