Posted inBonus Content, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, National, The Independent Perspective

Larkin: Independent Grocers Are Vitally Important To Political Process

by Peter Larkin/ president and CEO, National Grocers Association Special to The Shelby Report The 2018 midterm elections are quickly approaching, as observed by all the political ads that currently pepper our airwaves, and much is on the line for both political parties. A look at historical data on congressional elections suggests that Democrats will have an […]

Posted inDairy News, Bonus Content, Grocery Industry, Grocery News, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, International Foods, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National

Sorensen: Connecting With Hispanic Shoppers

by Cindy Sorensen/Founder and CEO of The Grocery Group The Hispanic population represents the fastest-growing ethnic group in the U.S. In fact, by 2020, Hispanics will be the largest ethnic group. They currently represent 17 percent of the population and will grow to be 29 percent by 2050. This growth will occur in all regions […]

Posted inGuest Contributors, Bonus Content, Home Page Latest News, National

Providing Timely Service Is Essential To Developing Customer Loyalty

by John Larson/senior partner at John Larson & Co. and co-author of Capturing Loyalty Last week, I went to my local Trader Joe’s and bought an inexpensive bottle of Chilean wine. When I went to pay for the wine, the register operator complemented me on my selection. “Several of my customers have purchased this wine […]

Posted inPackaging News, Bonus Content, California Perspective, Grocery Industry, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, West

Prop. 65 Warning No Longer Needed For Coffee; Cereal Under Scrutiny

by Ron Fong/president and CEO, California Grocers Association In many respects, California is like an island unto itself when it comes to laws and regulations. For better or worse, our state is home to a number of laws and regulations that exist nowhere else in the nation. Among the most notorious and controversial of them […]

Posted inDairy News, Bonus Content, Grocery News, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, National

Milk’s Missed Opportunity

by Cindy Sorensen/founder and CEO, The Grocery Group With approximately 96 percent of all households purchasing milk, it holds an enviable spot in consumers’ shopping baskets and refrigerators. There is only one other category that can claim a higher household penetration, and that is toilet paper. But milk’s stronghold with consumers is fading. As competition […]

Posted inGuest Contributors, Bonus Content, Grocery Industry, Home Page Latest News, National

HR & Benefits News: Key To Success—Hire & Keep The Best People

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. It’s no secret, hiring and keeping workers has significant impact on independent grocers. Its impact is second only to “competition from other retailers” say independent grocers who participated in the 2018 Independent Grocers Financial Survey prepared by […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Bonus Content, Equipment & Technology, Grocery Industry, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, National

The Top Four Reasons Self-Checkout Fails In Grocery

(And why line-free mobile checkout is the future) by Will Hogben/ CEO, FutureProof Retail The first iteration of what we now call “self-checkout” in the grocery industry was launched at the Food Marketing Institute’s annual convention in 1987. The “Automatic Checkout Machine” was unveiled by a Florida company called CheckRobot, and it was received well, […]

Posted inPackaging News, Beverage News, Bonus Content, Grocery Industry, Grocery News, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Shelby Signature Content, Sustainability News

Meet Gen Z: Plastic Water Bottles Bring Landfills To Mind

by Claire Lentsch/a contributor to The Shelby Report The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to landfills is plastic. Although plastic is not the only thing that forms mountains of waste, it is one of the more common things we face in our day-to-day lives. Ads promote the idea of “save the […]