Posted inShelby Exclusives, COVID News, Home Page Latest News, Southeast

Market Profile: Alabama Grocers Association Adjusted And Aided Awareness

Like the supermarket industry, group ‘continues to reinvent itself’ by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer During the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alabama Grocers Association sent more than 100 emails and made 80 Facebook/Twitter posts related to COVID-19, said President Ellie Taylor. The association even created a new media campaign called Shop […]

Posted inShelby Exclusives, COVID News, Southeast

Market Profile: Gateway Foods Feels Shoppers’ Frustration, But ‘It’s Going To Get Better’

‘Strange cloud hanging over the grocery business’ by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Gateway Foods was founded in 1978 in Double Springs, Alabama. Some seven years later, Harold Garrett, current president and general manager, joined the company. “I grew up in Double Springs and actually worked for the competition. I started in the grocery business in […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Produce News, Shelby Exclusives, Southeast

Market Profile: Fresh Value Focused On Product Selection, ‘Great Customer Service’

Company has stores throughout state; the ninth opened on Feb. 1 by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Gerry D’Alessandro officially started working for his family’s grocery business at age 14. At the time, his father and uncle – Jerry and Frank D’Alessandro – owned a single store called Fourth Avenue Supermarket in Bessemer, Alabama. When he […]

Posted inPiggly Wiggly, Independent Store News, Shelby Exclusives, Southeast

Market Profile: Piggly Wiggly Alabama Investing Resources In Technology

by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer For Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co., David Bullard said the most challenging part of 2020 was finding a balance between supply chain demands and providing for its retailers. And as the entire industry witnessed when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, balance was hard to come by. “With the tremendously increased […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Midwest, Shelby Exclusives

New Year Brings Self-Checkout, Online Shopping To Buche Foods

Family-owned business serves smaller rural towns of South Dakota by Mary Margaret Stewart / staff writer   R.F. Buche is the fourth-generation owner of Buche Foods, which was founded in Lake Andes, South Dakota, in 1905 by his great-grandfather, Gus Buche. Today, R.F. Buche owns and operates grocery and convenience stores, a Subway sandwich shop, […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Midwest, Shelby Exclusives

MarketPlace Foods Keeps Focus On Associates, Their Resilience

Employee owned as of Jan. 1, company celebrating 80th anniversary by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Founded in 1940 in Edinburgh, North Dakota, MarketPlace Foods just celebrated its 80th anniversary. And the company is entering 2021 with strong grocery business on its side. “The sales that we’ve had since the pandemic started are amazing – […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Shelby Exclusives, The Kroger Co., West

Scolari’s Food And Drug Owner: ‘We Are Not The Normal Grocery’

One of Scolari’s stores features strong gaming presence by John McCurry / contributing writer   Jerry Scolari thinks increased grocery sales, propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue through the first part of 2021. He is co-owner of the two-store chain, Scolari’s Food and Drug, which he said has been up to the challenges presented […]

Posted inROFDA Reports, Home Page Slider, National, Shelby Exclusives

Labor, Product Shortages And Uncertainty Among Top Concerns for ROFDA

Members also assess e-commerce, other trends likely to stick around by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer  With 2021 in full swing, ROFDA Chairman David Bullard said the association’s membership has expressed three major concerns. “One is the labor problem. Finding enough quality workers with a good work ethic gets harder and harder to do. Labor challenges […]