by Cindy Sorensen/ Founder and CEO, The Grocery Group Today’s produce departments provide a great example of how grocers have reinvented departments within their stores to be relevant to consumers’ ever-growing and changing desires and demands. Several years ago, when local farmers markets began to pop up in library, shopping center and school parking lots around their […]
Category: Guest Contributors
Posted inShelby Originals, 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, Grocery Industry, Grocery News, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, International Foods, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National, Shelby Originals
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, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Originals
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, California Perspective, Grocery Industry, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Originals, 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, Grocery News, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Originals
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, Grocery Industry, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Originals
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, Equipment & Technology, Grocery Industry, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Originals
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, […]