Similar to 2012, this past year’s themes encompassed those of partisan gridlock and legislative uncertainty, making it another challenging year for our industry. While the so-called “fiscal cliff” was averted in the very early hours of 2013, Americans experienced a partial government shutdown for the first time in more than a decade. Many issues, including […]
Category: Bonus Content
Posted in, Bonus Content, National
Conquering That Pesky Millennial Generation
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Millennials, as retailers have come to discover, are a tough collective nut to crack. The group includes those born between 1977 and 1995 and also is referred to as Gen Y. There are 79.8 million Gen Yers and, while they may be the children of Baby Boomers, they pose […]
Posted in, California Perspective, Guest Contributors, West
A Light At The End Of The WIC Moratorium Tunnel?
by Ron Fong, CGA president/CEO For The Shelby Report California continues to suffer under an indefinite moratorium on new WIC vendor authorizations. The issue remains one of the most critical facing California’s retail grocers. The California Grocers Association (CGA) has taken a multi-pronged approach in an attempt to help the California WIC Department and the […]
Posted in, Bonus Content, National
Store Brands Play Major Role In Retailer Brand-Building
by Rick Rusch For The Shelby Report Private label or store brand foods have grown explosively. No news there! Private label food and beverage sales surpassed $98 billion in the United States in 2011, according to Packaged Facts figures from October 2012. Take a quick look at the facts: • Between 2006 and 2009, private […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast
How AWG Formed The Consortium That Landed Belle Foods
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer How did Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) manage to put together the consortium that will buy 43 Belle Foods stores across three states? David Smith, SVP and Gulf Coast Division manager for AWG, says it’s due to the determination of the co-op’s members. Birmingham, Ala.-based Belle Foods filed for bankruptcy July 1. […]
Posted in, Feature, National
Staying On Top Means Always Looking Ahead
by Brian Numainville Special to The Shelby Report We live in a world of rapid change. As technology continues to evolve, new retail concepts come to light and innovative ideas surface, what does the future hold for food retailers? I recently reflected on some interesting concepts and ideas that have the possibility to impact our […]
Posted in, Southeast, The Independent Perspective
Southern Season Opens In Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
A Southern-style emporium featuring cooking classes, a specialty grocery store, a restaurant and more is now open for business in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Live 5 WCSC reports that Southern Season, located at 730 Coleman Blvd., is holding a grand opening celebration through Sept. 22. The festivities include live music, cooking demos, tastings and a “Southern […]