Ring Bros. Marketplace got its start 100 years ago, when teenager Stephen Ring Sr. and his older brother, Edmund, sold produce from a horse-drawn wagon on the streets of Boston. Later, Stephen Sr. would take his sons, Ed and Stephen Jr., along to help. The sons eventually made the business their life’s work, like their […]
Category: Market Profile
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southwest
Grocers Large, Small Serving Shoppers In ‘Strong And Growing’ South Texas
While H-E-B and Walmart garner a large portion of grocery dollars in the South Texas market, independent grocers play a vital role as well, especially in the large number of smaller towns that dot the landscape. For chains and independents alike, South Texas has a number of upsides. Grocery stores provide good, steady jobs in […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southeast
Specialty Retailers Find Opportunity With North Florida’s Growing Asian Population
Driven by strong retail investments, North Florida’s grocery market is experiencing considerable change. In a reflection of the region’s robust economy and appeal to business, areas such as Jacksonville and the state capital of Tallahassee in the Panhandle are outperforming many parts of the country. A cost of living just below the national average and […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, West
Collaboration With Residents Results In New Store For Remote Kotzebue, AK
In November, the Alaska Commercial Co. (AC) unveiled a new 26,000-square-foot grocery and general merchandise store in Kotzebue, Alaska, which lies about 26 miles north of the Arctic Circle in the northwestern corner of the state. The store plays a vital role in providing essential food and supplies to the residents of the town and […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, News, West
Grocers Bracing For Impact Of Largest Tax Hike In WA’s History
Washington is considered one of the most expensive states in the nation when it comes to the cost of gas, housing and healthcare. It has the fourth highest average grocery prices in the country, and 55 percent of residents face food insecurity. And officials from the Washington Food Industry Association note that grocers and consumers […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southeast
North Florida Grocers Facing ‘Persistent’ Challenges With Labor, Inflation, ORC
The Shelby Report of the Southeast recently visited with Lorena Holley, VP and general counsel for the Florida Retail Federation, to glean some insights on the state of the grocery industry in northern Florida. How robust is the supermarket industry in North Florida? The grocery marketplace in North Florida is diverse, vibrant and buoyant. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Babbs Supermarket Has Deep, Personal Connection To Indiana Community
Babbs Supermarket in Spencer, Indiana, will celebrate its 97th anniversary in July. Third-generation grocer Robert Babbs says his family legacy is not about making money but about building community. Chester Babbs, Rob’s grandfather, opened the original store July 28, 1928, by purchasing a meat and grocery business in receivership. Over the years, the business grew […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Indiana Economy: Stability, Setbacks And Grocery Industry’s Fight To Adapt
Indiana’s economy remained largely stable through 2024, buoyed by strong capital investments and modest GDP growth. But a forecast released in April cast a shadow over the state’s two-year financial outlook, setting the stage for challenges in the grocery and convenience store industries. According to the Indiana Business Research Center, the state’s GDP showed modest […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Independent Store News, News, Northeast
Marty’s 1st Stop On Cusp Of Major Expansion In Danville, VT
Sometimes a career change comes when one sees the handwriting on the wall. For Marty Beattie, this happened in 1989. Vermont farms were going out of business, and he was working for a grain company. He had invested 15 years in that industry, but he knew he needed to pivot to something with a brighter […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southeast
Still Much Work To Do As Western NC Continues Helene Recovery
In the last weeks of April, roughly seven months after Hurricane Helene ripped through Western North Carolina, new federal and state grant programs were rolled out to help the area continue on the path toward recovery. On April 25, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southeast
New Potential Shoppers Continue To Pour Into North Carolina
North Carolina grocers have great incentive to keep their stores and product offerings at the top of their game – new customers coming into the state who have no pre-existing loyalty. Lindsey Kueffner, executive director of the Carolinas Food Industry Council, which covers both North Carolina and South Carolina, said that North Carolina’s population has […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest, News
South Dakota Grocers Navigate Uncertainty Amid Economic Shifts
South Dakota’s economy showed a mixed performance in late 2024, and recent data indicates economic stagnation and the need for budgetary adjustments in 2025. The divergence in economic performance between urban and rural areas also is a key factor to consider. While the unemployment rate remains low and revenue for fiscal year 2025 is projected […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, Southwest
Mother, Daughters Aspire To Serve More Houston Food Deserts
Eladia Ayala has had an affinity for food since she was a young girl in Mexico in the 1970s. She started cooking early, having closely watched her mother create dishes like tamales and tacos and whip up frozen sweets. Eventually, she sold her own creations at her town’s central market on Saturdays. During the week, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Growing GF Buche Co. Remains Passionate About Helping Those In Need
Fourth-generation South Dakota grocer RF Buche has a passion for retail but an even greater passion for helping people. That sentiment stems from a lesson he learned at age 7 from his father. While helping out in the store, he saw his dad quietly slip some cash to a mother in the checkout line who […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, News, Northeast
Connecticut Shoppers Adapt Grocery Habits Amid Economic Shifts
Come September, Wayne Pesce will have led the Connecticut Food Association as president for 10 years. In the conversation below, he discusses with The Griffin Report of the Northeast what’s happening in the state’s grocery industry, including some of the keys to success in today’s grocery industry. How is Connecticut’s economy faring? Connecticut’s economy […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, Northeast
Family-Owned Caraluzzi’s Markets Continues To Nurture Reputation For Fresh
Mark Caraluzzi is president and CEO of Caraluzzi’s Markets, a family-owned operator of four food stores in Connecticut – Bethel, Georgetown (Wilton), Newtown and Danbury. Caraluzzi is a member of the third generation of ownership of the company, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year. His grandfather, Anthony Caraluzzi Sr., bought Bethel Fruit & Vegetable […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, West
Roth’s Fresh Markets Has Fostered Decades Of Deep Community Investment
Roth’s Fresh Markets, an Oregon-based grocer with nine stores in the mid-Willamette Valley, isn’t just about providing fresh groceries – it is a cornerstone of community support with an ingrained tradition of charitable giving that spans decades. The company’s commitment to community is rooted in its culture, with various initiatives that benefit residents and organizations. […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, West
Anchored In Eclectic Portland Area, Oregon’s Supermarket Industry Surging
The supermarket industry in Oregon has been experiencing consistent growth, projected to reach an estimated $11.7 billion this year. Contributing factors include population increases in key market segments and changing demographics. The Portland area remains one of the strongest in the state and often ranks among the top 20 grocery markets in the country. The […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southwest
Houston Continues To Experience Growth Of All Kinds
Houston continues to be one of the most vibrant, growing areas of Texas. The Greater Houston Partnership in December released its forecast for job growth in the metro Houston area – 71,200 are projected to be added this year. If that pans out, Houston would finish the year with more than 3.5 million payroll jobs, […]
Posted inProduce News, Market Profile, News, Southeast
Florida’s Watermelon Heartland Prepping For Start Of Sweet Season
Florida, particularly Central Florida, is a major watermelon-producing region, providing the sweet summer fruit to grocers across the Southeast and beyond. The Shelby Report of the Southeast recently visited with Lee Wroten, VP of Lakeland, Florida-based Global Produce Sales, to learn more about what makes this growing region special and how this year’s crop is […]