Twenty years ago, Joe Wolf and Barry Maddox set out to create a company different from all others that serve independent retailers. Having been in the industry for decades, Wolf and Maddox intuitively knew they could get independent retailers more promotional trade dollars by working directly with consumer-packaged goods companies than what the retailers could […]
Category: Shelby Content
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Posted inIndependent Store News, Anniversary Issues, Feature, Southeast
Alliance Companies Mark Two Decades Of Service
What differentiates the Hendersonville, Tennessee-based Alliance Companies, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is the ability to simplify the complex and provide wholistic solutions, all the while being transparent and driving a tremendous value proposition for its retailers as well as a measurable return on investment for its vendor partners. Founded in 2004, […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Food City, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
New Stores Emerge As Demographics Drive Change Across Houston Metro Area
Houston’s urban core is seeing residents shift outward. Seeking a lower cost of living, many are choosing to relocate to towns within a 30-mile radius, which still affords them easy access to the city. Retailers appear to be following suit and selecting locations well outside city limits to build new stores. One of the fastest […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Independent Store News, Midwest, Shelby Content
Village Comes Together To Open Co-op Grocery
The village of Utica, Nebraska, has an estimated population of 840. Located in Seward County, it’s a 45-minute drive to Lincoln, the state capital and home of the University of Nebraska. When the village lost its only grocery store about 15 years ago, it impacted the community. About 13 years ago, when the local Catholic […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
Population Surge Helps Lift Dynamic Grocery Industry In Florida
Brick-and-mortar retailers, including grocers, remain the primary point of purchase for consumers, accounting for about 70 percent of total retail sales in the nation, according to Lorena Holley, VP and general counsel for the Florida Retail Federation. The grocery industry in Florida has remained resilient, Holley noted, with FRF members “actively finding ways to stretch […]
Posted inBeverage News, Albertsons, Feature, West
Caliwater Taps Into Benefits Of ‘Super Fruit’ Prickly Pear Cactus
Oliver Trevena, co-founder with Vanessa Hudgens of Caliwater, was at ExpoWest 2024 to promote the cactus water brand. He spoke with The Shelby Report’s Bob Reeves about the origins of the healthy water product. Trevena said Caliwater has half the calories and half the sugar of coconut water and more health benefits. He added it […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, International Foods, Market Profile, Southwest
Seafood City Sets Up Shop In Sugar Land, TX
Seafood City in Sugar Land is the first Filipino-focused specialty supermarket to open in Texas. The 50,000-square-foot one-stop shop is located in the First Colony Commons shopping center in what was formerly Conn’s Furniture store. Attracting shoppers from well over a 60-mile radius, the store has quickly become a popular destination, drawing more than 3,000 […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Albertsons, Association News, The Kroger Co., West
In ‘Complicated Time,’ Grocers See Shift In Shopper Preferences
Election years are a busy time for any trade group and this year is no exception for the California Grocers Association. “Politically we’re going through an interesting time in Southern California and the entire state right now. The presidential election this fall has created a headwind of sorts,” said Nate Rose, the group’s senior director […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Guest Contributors, National
Inflation, Diversity and Other Hot Buttons
The post-pandemic period is offering independent grocers challenges that operationally may pale in comparison to those of the COVID-19 era but are adding pressure to the bottom line and the way supermarket operators are perceived by consumers. Inflation has driven up the cost of most aspects of doing business in a way that has made […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Albertsons, Association News, Southwest
As North Texas Grows, Grocery Industry ‘Very Competitive’
When looking at northern Texas – and specifically the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex – it is important to note it is a region that spans more than 9,000 miles. Depending on the source and direction viewed, North Texas is either teeming with retail grocery options or in desperate need of them. Take Dallas, for instance. To the […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Feature, West
Following ‘Big Year,’ Kevin’s Expanding Into Frozen Aisle
Kevin McCray, founder of Kevin’s Natural Foods, was at ExpoWest 2024 to promote the company’s move into the frozen aisle. He chatted with The Shelby Report’s Bob Reeves about the product innovation. The expansion was a result of “following the consumer around in their daily lives.” McCray said customers wanted a complete meal they could […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southwest
El Rio Grande Latin Market Largest Local Hispanic Grocer In DFW
Last summer, El Rio Grande Latin Market opened its ninth store in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The opening earned owner Hamdy Shalabi the distinction of becoming the largest locally-based Hispanic grocer in the market. As anyone who has shopped in one of his family’s stores can attest, El Rio Grand Latin Markets are far from […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
Why You Should Be A Part Of The Independent Community
Becoming a member of the National Grocers Association makes you a part of a community based on relationships. NGA is a collaborative network built on trust, with each member helping to make each other, and the collective, stronger as one. The association helps to amplify the story of independent operators and their vendor partners throughout […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
Store Ops Summit Helps Grocers Sharpen Their Focus On Fresh
The fresh perimeter is the epicenter of growth and excitement in the grocery store. For most supermarkets, it’s the front door of the shopping experience – it’s where retailers make their first impression, offering a feast for the senses, from fruits and vegetables to bakery and deli to meat and seafood. And it accounts for […]
Posted inMarket Profile, West
Raine’s Offers Eureka Variety Along ‘Loneliest Road In America’
Scott Raine loves a challenge. And running the only grocery store in Eureka, Nevada, provides plenty of them. Raine owns and operates Raine’s Market along with his mother, Lee, and his wife, Silvia. Scott and Silvia’s sons – Steel, Sabre, Storm and Strider – also work at the store. The “greater metropolitan area” of Eureka […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
Nebraska’s Food Industry Finds Itself In ‘Interesting Position’
Ansley Fellers, executive director of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association, said the state’s food industry is in “an interesting position.” Although it is large, the eastern side is the most populated, with the western side being very rural. Fellers said a recent study by the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association to gauge how many independent grocery […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Sustainability News, West
Heritage Grocers Group Showcases Sustainability Efforts
This Earth Week, Heritage Grocers Group is showcasing its efforts to create lasting and positive sustainability impacts that benefit customers, team members and communities where the Hispanic grocer continues to grow and operate. As a company, Heritage prioritizes its people and the planet. By combining employee empowerment with data-driven sustainability initiatives, its leadership team is […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Feature, Midwest
Russ Davis Wholesale Celebrates ‘Full Circle Partnership’
Russ Davis Wholesale held its annual Customer Appreciation and Vendor Showcase Event on Feb. 28 at Mystic Lake Casino. The Minnesota-based company has been hosting the gathering for more than 35 years. Russ Davis Wholesale is a wholesaler, manufacturer and distributor of fresh produce. Crazy Fresh is the company’s brand of value-added cut fruit and […]
Posted inExceptional Independents, National
The Shelby Report Recognizes EIA Winners
Welcome to our 2nd Annual Exceptional Independents Award (EIA) Winners digital edition. We are incredibly pleased to highlight our winners who attended The Shelby Report’s EIA ceremony at the NGA Show in Vegas on March 11, 2024. This event is Shelby Publishing’s opportunity to highlight those companies who have demonstrated true, industry changing innovations. Independent […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Feature, National
Combined Capabilities Of Mercatus Create Connected Ecosystem
Relationshop recently finalized the merger of two providers of e-commerce solutions for independent and regional grocers – Mercatus Technologies and Stor.ai. The new company is operating as Mercatus, a wholly owned subsidiary of Relationshop Inc. Galen Walters, CEO of Relationshop, spoke with The Shelby Report’s Jan Meade. He said Stor.ai, which is based in Tel […]