Greg Ferrara, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association, recently took time from his busy schedule to talk with The Shelby Report about the state of the grocery industry and the many challenges facing independents in 2025. While it may be some time before the new administration’s policies begin to have their full […]
Category: Bonus Content
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Southeast
Food Insecurity, Deserts Remain Issue For Alabama Grocers
Many rural Alabamians lack access to grocery stores, resulting in “food deserts” with limited access to fresh, affordable and nutritious food. In 2024, state leaders hosted two conferences addressing the issue – the National Rural Grocery Initiative and the Feeding Change Conference. Ellie Taylor, president and CEO of the Alabama Grocers Association, presented at both. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, National
IGA Chief Talks Top Independents, Herculean Wholesalers, Fighting Food Deserts
IGA stores range from 10,000 to 100,000 square feet and are located in big cities, small towns and everywhere in between. But John Ross, president and CEO of IGA, has observed some attributes shared by retailers that achieve the alliance’s highest honor, IGA USA Retailer of the Year. They all begin with C: Curiosity: “When […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Northeast
Maine’s Bow Street Market Known For Prioritizing Local Products
About 20 minutes from Portland, Maine, on the shores of Casco Bay, is Freeport, home of LL Bean and popular discount retail outlets. For nearly 80 years, this charming coastal town also has been served by Bow Street Market. Established in 1946 as a small, family-run shop, Bow Street Market has become a local institution […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, West
Steady Growth In Economy, Population On Horizon In Arizona
Lisa Bednar was promoted to president of the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance last year, taking the helm April 1. She is the first female president in the 80-plus-year history of AFMA. Bednar was promoted from her role as AFMA senior director of community and education, which she had held since February 2022 and was responsible […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Piggly Wiggly, Southeast
Piggly Wiggly In Eutaw, AL, Endures As Town’s Only Grocer
For nearly a quarter of a century, Jacky and Sandra Hamilton have been fixtures in the grocery business. In 2001, they purchased the Piggly Wiggly in Eutaw, a rural town of fewer than 3,000 residents in western Alabama. Since 2021, their store has become the sole grocery provider and a vital hub for the community. […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, National
Leadership: Continual Learnings From Cutting Firewood
by Steve Black It was about 25 years ago that I had an awesome idea. We lived in Oklahoma at the time and had always bought our firewood. Mesquite trees were an abundant nuisance to farmers that needed the land cleared to grow crops. Our boys were teenagers, and it made sense to me that […]
Posted inFeature, Exceptional Independents, Southeast
HFG Allows Teams To Be Flexible, Closer To Communities
Craig Knies, chief marketing officer, has been with Houchens Food Group for 16 years. HFG has been recognized as The Shelby Report of the Southeast‘s Exceptional Independent Retail Organization of the Year. Knies said the company provides a “great environment where the management teams are given the opportunity to run their business and make decisions […]