Ray Sprinkle has been at the helm of URM Stores Inc. in Spokane, Washington, for four years now. During that time, the retailer-owned co-op has enjoyed some bright spots, like sales growth and a frozen and refrigerated warehouse expansion, while also weathering some storms, including a data breach. The future looks to be mostly sunny, […]
Category: Bonus Content
Posted inMarket Profile, Bakery News, Bonus Content, Grocery Industry, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News
Georgia Independent’s Own-Recipe Fried Peanut Clusters Spawn A Thriving Second Business
by Lorrie Griffith/editor–Southeast West Foods, an independent grocery store in the rural southwest Georgia town of Edison, has been making and selling fried peanuts to its customers for many years. The store’s owner, John West, who bought the store from his dad, Richard, back earlier in this decade, said the peanuts have always been a […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Bonus Content, Grocery Industry, Home Page Latest News, Northeast
New Maine Food Group Executive Director Working To Join Retailers And Producers
by Mike Berger/editor-Northeast Christine Cummings, new executive director of the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association (MGFPA), will be returning to her position in January after maternity leave. She joined the association in 2017 and was promoted to executive director in June. She is excited about the growth of the association, the rise of Maine […]
Posted inBonus Content, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Whole Foods
Year In Review 2017: Top Stories In The Southeast
New competition—namely Lidl—garnered the most press in the Southeast edition this year. The merger of Amazon and Whole Foods Market also generated a good bit of speculation about what that might mean for the grocery industry. A number of top-level executive changes took place among the region’s grocers this year. Many also fine-tuned formats, undertook […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Aldi, Amazon Fresh, Bonus Content, Costco Wholesale, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Recommended Reading, Store News, Whole Foods
Recommended: Kroger’s Battle Plan For Whole Foods, Amazon, Costco, Walmart And Aldi
To arm itself against competition from the merged Whole Foods/Amazon behemoth, Kroger has reshaped its strategy to make it leaner and more accessible, moves that will have a big impact on how you shop. There are plenty of challengers who’d like a piece of your food budget, but Kroger still dominates the Lexington grocery market. […]
Posted inROFDA Reports, Amazon Fresh, Bonus Content, Grocery Industry, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Northeast, Shelby Signature Content, Special Section, Store News, Whole Foods
At Hanover Co-op Food Stores, ‘Local’ Actually Means Local
Associated Grocers of New England member If you’ve ever seen a picture postcard of a quaint New England town, then you have a pretty good idea about the communities Hanover Co-op Food Stores serves, according to Allan Reetz, director of public relations. The 81-year-old co-op operates four retail stores in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, […]
Posted inGrocery Industry, Bonus Content, Equipment & Technology, Grocery Store Equipment, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, National
The Right Coin Management Strategy For Grocers: Turn Hidden Costs Into Profits
by Jim Weaks/ VP, Cummins Allison The grocery industry is constantly changing. Grocers must adapt to changes in consumer behaviors and expectations, online competitors luring away once-loyal shoppers and economic uncertainty that threatens already razor-thin margins. With that in mind, the pressure is on to control costs and find new ways of increasing profitability. Fortunately, […]
Posted inFood Service News, Bonus Content, Corporate Store News, Grocery Industry, Home Page Latest News, Recommended Reading, Southeast, Store News
Recommended: Lowes Foods Opens First Charleston-Area Supermarket In Summerville
Holly Famulari can’t wait to come to work every day. The cake “wizard” (decorator) at the new Lowes Foods supermarket dances and waves a wand in front of the store’s cake-making corner when the music begins to play for a game of cake walk. “You work, but you have so much fun doing it,” said […]