Shoppers in Carmel, Indiana, have a new destination for their grocery needs. Niemann Harvest Market opened May 15, the first in the state for the Niemann Foods banner. According to Store Director Sean Olson, what makes the store different is “everything that we do starts with partnerships with local producers and makers.” He clarified that […]
Category: Market Profile
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
Indiana ‘Beset’ With Same Economic Problems As Rest Of U.S.
Indiana’s economy is experiencing a period of sustained growth. According to IBISWorld, the Hoosier state’s gross domestic product reached $353.9 billion in 2023, with a 20.3 percent increase over the past five years. Manufacturing remains a significant driver, with sectors like motor vehicles, metals and electronics leading the way. However, the recent “Feeding the Economy” […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Aldi, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Southeast, The Kroger Co.
Aldi To Begin Winn-Dixie, Harveys Assimilation Process
North Florida’s biggest retail grocery news over the past year arguably came out of Jacksonville. Following a deal announced in August 2023 and completed in early March this year, Southeastern Grocers’ Winn-Dixie brand, along with sister banner Harveys Supermarkets, now are owned by Aldi, the value-focused retailer headquartered in Batavia, Illinois. Aldi said the deal […]
Posted inH-E-B, Corporate Store News, Independent Store News, Market Profile, Southwest
H-E-B Still King, But New Grocers Spicing Up Region’s Landscape
Spanning nearly 38,000 miles, some 2.4 million people live in South Texas. While San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Laredo and Brownsville are among the largest cities, most of the towns located within this expansive region are much smaller. Grocery powerhouse H-E-B dominates the region, with a nearly 50 percent market share, according to Shelby Report data. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, West
Jack’s Country Store Honored By WFIA For Community Service
Jack’s Country Store’s roots in Ocean Park, Washington, date back to 1885, when the area was still known as the Washington Territory. Founded by John Morehead, Jack’s is believed to be the oldest continuing retail business in the state. Over the years, leadership and location changed (the store burned down in 1937 and was relocated, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Northeast
Sunshine Brings Out Customers For Pump & Pantry, Wings Market
Sam Adams, owner of the Pump & Pantry and Wings Market in Vermont, attributes his ability to stay in business for more than 25 years to being adaptable and finding unique ways to grow. Through store expansions and increasing assortments, the changes Adams made to his stores over the years has meant the difference between […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Amazon Fresh, Market Profile, West, Whole Foods
Hammer & Wikan Celebrates ‘Simpler Life’ In Alaska’s Petersburg
Independent grocers across the U.S. face many challenges, but additional obstacles face those operating in Alaska. Hammer & Wikan is an independent grocer in Petersburg, Alaska, which is located on Mitkof Island in the southeastern part of the state. Hammer & Wikan was founded in 1921 by John Hammer and Andrew Wikan, two Norwegian immigrants. […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, West
Alaska’s ‘Famously High Food Prices’ Result Of Logistical Hurdles, Weather
Alaska’s grocery industry faces a unique set of challenges. The vastness of the state, coupled with a relatively small and dispersed population, creates logistical hurdles for getting food onto shelves as well as higher prices. This complex environment necessitates a diverse grocery landscape, with national chains, regional players and independent grocers all vying for a slice […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
Lack Of Workers Poses Challenge For Businesses In South Dakota
Business owners in South Dakota are “cautiously optimistic” for 2024, according to Nathan Sanderson, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association. He noted that 2023 was better than most expected but, thus far, things in 2024 “are flat.” “They’re generally seeing better foot traffic, but that increased foot traffic doesn’t necessarily result in more […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, IGA, Market Profile, Southeast
Reigning U.S. Retailer of the Year Pocahontas IGA Mixes It Up In Marlinton, WV
Pocahontas IGA in Marlinton, West Virginia, has been named one of the 2024 U.S. Retailers of the Year by the Independent Grocers Alliance, the highest honor the organization bestows upon its retail members. Owner Rob Hilleary and his team were nominated by their wholesaler, Merchant Distributors Inc., for their innovative store operations and for moving […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
Retail Federation Executive: Grocery Industry In Florida Remains Resilient
Many Central Florida businesses are optimistic about the economy, according to a report by WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. The report featured an update from Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting, who stated the central region and the state should be able to avoid the worst impacts […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Grocery Industry In Ohio Both Prosperous, Challenging
Ohio’s grocers have grappled with several significant challenges in recent months, according to Kristin Mullins, president and CEO of the Ohio Grocers Association. Describing the complexity of the market as “a mixed bag of issues and successes,” Mullins noted that factors such as inflation, labor challenges and escalating competition – combined with the rising cost […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Independent Store News, Midwest, Shelby Content
Andover Sparkle Market Shines As OGA 2024 Pinnacle Award Recipient
The Ohio Grocers Association has named Andover Sparkle Market as the winner of its 2024 Pinnacle Award, small operator. The awards recognize overall excellence in retail operations and are the highest honors given by the group. Winners are selected based on several criteria, including creativity, merchandising, innovation, human resources, community relations and successful operation. Owner […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, West
Oregon’s Productivity Outpacing Nation, But Population Growth Remains Unchanged
From staff reports Oregon’s productivity gains have outpaced the nation, according to the March 2024 Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast from the state’s Office of Economic Analysis. The report states the 2023 population estimates show that Oregon’s population continued to stagnate during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the OEA has lowered the population outlook as a […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, West
Employee-Owned McKay’s Market Maintains Hometown Feel
McKay’s Market is a small independent grocery chain on the Oregon coast. In business for more than 70 years, the company operates 11 stores and is 100-percent employee owned. Kevin Murray, chief operations officer, has been with McKay’s for 41 years. He started his grocery career when he was 12, bagging ice and sorting bottles […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Southeast
Produce Takes Center Stage At Detwiler’s Farm Market
Detwiler’s Farm Market is very much a family affair. Henry Detwiler Sr. and his wife, Natalie, have nine children, many of whom work for the Sarasota, Florida-based company. The Detwilers opened their first brick-and-mortar store in 2009. Now with six locations, Henry Detwiler remains as CEO but has turned over the day-to-day operations to his […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Southeast, The Kroger Co.
Grocers In West Virginia Prove Resilient
West Virginia’s grocery landscape continues to shift in 2024, reflecting both national trends and unique state-specific factors. Growth, as reflected in the number of new store openings, has signaled a cautiously optimistic outlook, even as economic and demographic challenges persist. While national chains including Kroger and Food Lion have dominated West Virginia’s supermarket scene, this […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Amazon Fresh, Association News, Northeast, Whole Foods
Independent Grocers Building Strong Customer Relationships In Connecticut
One expert recently dubbed Connecticut’s grocery industry “a battleground of competition,” referring to the number of retailers in this market brandishing competitive pricing strategies to attract shoppers and online retail giants that are leveraging convenience with click-and-collect options. Price and convenience are valid drivers, especially given the economic pressure facing residents. But as independent retailers […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Food City, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
New Stores Emerge As Demographics Drive Change Across Houston Metro Area
Houston’s urban core is seeing residents shift outward. Seeking a lower cost of living, many are choosing to relocate to towns within a 30-mile radius, which still affords them easy access to the city. Retailers appear to be following suit and selecting locations well outside city limits to build new stores. One of the fastest […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Independent Store News, Midwest, Shelby Content
Village Comes Together To Open Co-op Grocery
The village of Utica, Nebraska, has an estimated population of 840. Located in Seward County, it’s a 45-minute drive to Lincoln, the state capital and home of the University of Nebraska. When the village lost its only grocery store about 15 years ago, it impacted the community. About 13 years ago, when the local Catholic […]