by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Grocers are “subtle partners within their community,” says Jamie Pfuhl, president of the Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA). The words “Consumers, Careers & Communities” are prominently displayed on the MGA website, and though she knows they hate to do it, Pfuhl wishes grocers would do a bit better job touting what they […]
Category: Bonus Content
Posted in, Market Profile, Northeast
Retail Sector Emerges Modestly Triumphant In Flat Maine Economy
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Though the Maine economy remains flat, as it has for the last several years, there is a bright spot, albeit dimmer than most would like, and it’s in retail. According to Charles S. Colgan, professor of public policy and management for the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Southeast
Modest Growth Expected For Georgia In 2013, But National Fears Loom
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal reported in early December that the state is doing OK. His office’s highest priority continues to involve bringing new industry to the state in order to create jobs. The Peach State’s unemployment remains high, at 8.5 percent, above the national rate of 7.7 percent. “As of mid-2012, […]
Posted in, National, The Independent Perspective
Status Quo The Result Of Election 2012
If you live in one of the 2012 battleground states, you are probably thankful that Election Day has come and gone. Your phone has stopped ringing, your mailbox is not overflowing with political flyers and you can watch television without being bombarded with ads for candidates and causes. A record $6 billion was spent in […]
Posted in, Market Profile, West
Arizona Shows Signs Of Recovery With Growth In Housing, Real Estate Market
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer The housing and real estate market, which many consider the best gauge of how the economy is doing, certainly appears to be improving in Arizona. In Phoenix alone this year, home prices have risen by more than 20 percent, the highest of any city in the country, according to Tim McCabe, […]
Posted in, Bonus Content, National, ROFDA Reports, Special Section
2012 ROFDA Report
Celebrating 50 years of promoting, supporting and servicing the independent retail grocer with the Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates. Read from the leaders of ROFDA on what drives their entrepreneurial spirit and how they lead their organizations to success in the 2012 ROFDA Report. Open publication
Posted in, Feature, National
Diving Into Social Media Can Bring Up Valuable Info
Grocery is a hot topic on social media these days, with an estimated 10 million-plus industry-related digital conversations taking place each year. Grocery-related conversations on Yelp, for instance, grew by 25 percent in just one year’s time. And these conversations aren’t mere mentions. They are “rich, robust and informative” conversations, according to Black Pearl Intelligence, […]
Posted in, Feature, National
Social Media, Mobile Technology Increasingly Driving Shopper Behavior
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Kevin Kirsch, co-owner of Chevy Chase Supermarket in Chevy Chase, Md., understands the importance of technology and social media. In fact, he assumes the younger generation expects his 25,000-s.f. single-store operation to have a website, at the very least. “Then I assume that you figure stores should at least have a […]