Location, customer service, price and quality are just a few of the attributes that help Food Giant stores in northern Mississippi stand out. The Shelby Report of the Southeast recently visited with David Holcomb, division manager, to learn more about the company’s competitive strategy. How long has Food Giant been operating in Mississippi? Kenneth Storey, […]
Category: Shelby Content
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Albertsons, Feature, National
Ibotta Digital Promo Network Powers Loyalty Programs
Denver-based Ibotta powers cash-back rewards for companies including Albertsons, Dollar General, H-E-B, Instacart, Kroger, Schnuck Markets, Sprouts, Walmart and many others. Shoppers download the app and can get rewards by scanning a receipt or linking their store loyalty account to the app to earn points. To date, 50 million people have downloaded the app and […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Amazon Fresh, Northeast, Whole Foods
High Per Capita Income Of Maryland Residents Makes For Competitive Grocery Market
It may be the 42nd largest state, but Maryland has consistently ranked among the nation’s top in terms of per capita income over the past few years. Its economy benefits greatly from its proximity to Washington, D.C., where many of its residents work. This higher-than-average income level continues to positively impact spending in the state. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest
There’s More To Kansas-Based Hired Man’s Grocery Than ‘Exceptional’ Meat Department
The Shelby Report of the Midwest recently visited with Jenny Osner, who along with husband Clint owns Hired Man’s Grocery & Grill in Conway Springs, Kansas, to find out how the pair got started in the grocery industry and their strategy for standing out in a competitive market. How did Hired Man’s Grocery & Grill […]
Posted inProduce News, Feature, National
Zespri Wants ‘People To Have Fun’ In Produce Category
Zespri Kiwifruit, the world’s leading kiwifruit brand, continues to make waves in the North American market. Jeanne Wilson, head of marketing, North America, shared the company’s success story at the recent Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta, Georgia. “We’re the No. 1-selling kiwi brand,” Wilson emphasized. “We sell five times more than any other […]
Posted inExceptional Independents, National
Shelby Publishing Seeks Independent Grocers For Annual Awards Program
Shelby Publishing is accepting nominations for its third annual Exceptional Independents Awards program, which honors the role independent grocers play in the industry. Independent grocers are “an integral part of the communities that they serve,” said John Ross, president and CEO of the Independent Grocers Alliance. “Without these independent grocers, many communities would not have […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Fareway, Feature, Midwest
Fareway Stores’ Headquarters Moves To Johnston, IA
Fareway Stores has completed the move to its new corporate headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, a suburb west of Des Moines that’s about a 30-minute drive from the grocer’s former base in Boone, north of the city. However, the Boone complex continues to be home to more than 100 staff members on the wholesale/warehouse side of […]
Posted inFeature, National, Produce News
IFPA Unveils New Strategic Plan To Drive Global Growth, Influence
Tammy DeBoer, president of Harris Teeter and incoming chair of the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), outlined a new strategic plan during her address at the recent Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta, Georgia. The plan, focused on three key pillars – worldwide influence, personalized member experience and future-proofing the industry – aims to […]
Posted inAssociation News, Albertsons, Market Profile, West
Wildfires, Inflation Among Challenges For Wyoming’s Retailers, Residents
Natural disasters are sometimes more difficult to navigate through in areas that are less densely populated. Wildfires have burned more than 810,000 acres in Wyoming thus far this year, and “towns are under duress,” according to Grier Bailey, executive director of the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, which also represents grocers. “Unlike […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Northeast, Retailer of the Year, Wakefern
Stigers Using All Career Experiences To Lead Wakefern Food Corp.
Mike Stigers is in his second year of serving as president of Wakefern Food Corp., a role he feels he was preparing for throughout his five-decade career in the grocery industry. Stigers started out as a part-time courtesy clerk at Safeway in California in 1974. Over the years, in subsequent roles in retail and wholesale, […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, National
Embracing Traits Of Difference-Makers Can Help Retailers Win Holiday Season
by Steve Black If we’re going to win the holidays in our business, we must have a team full of difference-makers. As we know, December is our busiest month of the year. And this year is one of the shortest time frames – 27 days – between Thanksgiving and Christmas that we’ve had since pre-COVID-19. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, Guest Contributors, The Kroger Co., West
Populous West Home To Dynamic, Diverse Grocery Market
The grocery retail landscape in the western United States is as diverse and dynamic as the region itself. Across states, we find one of the most varied geographic landscapes in the country. The region presents a diverse range of climates and terrains, from deserts throughout Arizona, Nevada and California to rainforests in Washington and Alaska. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Northeast, Retailer of the Year, Wakefern
Wakefern – Powering Success Of Membership For Nearly Eight Decades
Wakefern President Mike Stigers took to the stage Oct. 17 at the Hilton in Parsippany, New Jersey, for Wakefern Food Corp.’s Annual Meeting. In the ballroom audience and tuning in virtually were thousands of retail and corporate team members who came together to hear important business updates from leadership and plans for the next year. […]
Posted inHarps Food Stores, Association News, Executive News, Feature, National
Executive Perspectives: Kim Eskew
After planning to pursue an engineering career, Kim Eskew saw the opportunities that grocery retail had to offer and turned an entry-level position into a lifelong career with Springdale, Arkansas-based Harps Food Stores. Now the company’s chairman and CEO, Eskew shared his thoughts on leadership, management and getting started in the industry with NGA’s Independent […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, West
Benedict Family Has Served Wyoming’s Bridger Valley For 80-plus Years
In the exhibit hall at an NGA Show in Las Vegas a few years ago, Jim Benedict saw a Southern Pride smoker and decided on the spot to buy one for his family’s store in Mountain View, Wyoming. Others were intrigued by it; he was not only intrigued by it but moved decisively to make […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Albertsons, Big Y Foods, Corporate Store News, Guest Contributors, Harris Teeter, Northeast, The Kroger Co.
Opportunity For Independent Grocers Abounds In Urban, Diverse Northeast
by Diana Leza Sheehan / founder and principal consultant, PDG Insights The grocery retail landscape in the Northeast United States is dynamic and multifaceted, characterized by a complex mix of regional players and national competitors. From the bustling urban centers of Boston, New York and Philadelphia to the quaint coastal towns of Maine and Maryland, the […]
Posted inFeature, Northeast
In Remembrance: The Griffin Report Co-Founder
Mary Rose McCarty Griffin, who founded The Griffin Report of the Northeast alongside her husband, the late John H. Griffin, died Oct. 14, 2024, at her home in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, at age 90. Born on Jan. 6, 1934, in Waltham, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Mary and Raymond McCarty. According to […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Executive News, Feature, National, Produce News
Kroger CEO McMullen Discusses Navigating Bifurcated Market, Future Of Food
The recent Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta, Georgia, provided a platform for industry leaders to discuss the evolving landscape of the grocery industry. In a candid conversation with moderator Patrick Vizzone, Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen shed light on the dynamics shaping consumer behavior and the company’s strategic response. McMullen highlighted the […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Small But Mighty Maryland Making Name For Itself In Supermarket Industry
As the new year approaches, several legislative proposals stand to impact Maryland residents and businesses. The Griffin Report recently visited with Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, to find out more about what’s in store for 2025. Locklair has spent nearly 20 years in state and local politics, advocating on the state budget, […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
Education Driving Excitement At 2025 NGA Show
Independent grocers are a dedicated bunch. For many, time away from the business is time wasted, and vacations are certainly not a high priority. NGA understands that your time is precious. That’s why The NGA Show is designed to help you make the most of your time, with an education-centric program built around what you […]