At this time last year, tariffs dominated the conversation among Michigan retailers. This spring, the pressures look different: severe weather across the northern part of the state, gas prices pulling extra spending money to the pump and a retail index that has fallen to 43.7 from 59.4 a year ago, according to Victoria Veda, VP […]
Category: Shelby Content
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, National, News
Crossroads: Future Of Independent Grocery – Growing Next Generation Of Owners
I recently had the privilege of speaking at the IGA Coca-Cola Institute in Atlanta. In the room were some of the brightest young leaders in independent grocery – selected by their organizations because of their talent, commitment and potential. Representing stores and communities from around the world, they and those like them are the future […]
Posted inGrocery Research, Feature, Featured News, National, News
Ibotta Report: Don’t Wait Until August For Back-To-School Launch
If a retailer’s back-to-school offers launch in August, it may be too late. By then, shoppers have already set their budgets, built lists and decided which brands they are willing to consider. The season may look most active in late summer, but the window to influence what makes it into the basket opens earlier. New […]
Posted inGrocery Research, Feature, National, News
Circana: AI, Social Media Reshape Discovery
The brands breaking through are the ones meeting consumers where they are: balancing health with enjoyment.
Posted inFeatured News, Feature, Grocery News, Independent Store News, International Foods, News, Southeast
Hispanic Supermarket In ATL Winning World Cup Summer
A visit to Talpa Supermercados in metro Atlanta shows how experiential retail, fresh departments and cultural connection can turn a soccer summer into sustained traffic. The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11-July 19, co-hosted for the first time by the United States, Mexico and Canada, with Atlanta among the 11 U.S. host cities. […]
Posted inInternational Foods, Feature, Featured News, National, News
Two Economies, One Aisle: What Retailers Must Know For 2026
Most consumers report rising prices. In March, more than 70 percent of the general population said prices had risen in the last three months.
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, Finance News, Grocery Store Equipment, National, News
Hidden Profit: The Power Of Knowing Your Store
My colleague Peter Cooke and I are approaching a combined 40 years of helping food retailers improve their operations and, ultimately, their profit. For many of these years, this was represented by best sustainable practices or a similar vernacular. Regardless of the outside wrapper, we helped real retailers – real people – identify and capture […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, National, News
Column: Great Execution Starts With Simple Teaching
Leadership is often described in big words such as vision, strategy, culture, influence, transformation. While those words matter, the best leaders have a way of bringing leadership back down to earth. They make it plain, practical and repeatable. That is why the story of a lunch conversation I had with Peyton Manning is so powerful. […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Featured News, Independent Store News, Midwest, News
Indiana Grocers, C-stores See ‘Iffy’ Future Amid Taxes, SNAP Limits
Indiana grocery and convenience retailers are facing mounting pressure from state tax policies, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program restrictions and transportation regulations, according to Joe Lackey, president of the Indiana Grocery & Convenience Store Association. Lackey said while the state is financially stronger this year – “they’re suddenly finding money all kinds of places” – legislators […]
Posted inFinance News, Featured News, Guest Contributors, National, News
Crossroads: Beyond The Store – Financial Balance In Independent Grocery
By Grant Fossum, AIF, RFC | ProWealth Financial Independent grocers understand diversification better than those in most other industries. Inside the store, balance is built into daily operations – meat and produce drive traffic, center store drives volume, service departments drive margin and the front end shapes the customer experience. Outside the store, that […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Featured News, Food City, News, Retailer of the Year, Southeast
For ‘Experience-Based Retailer’ Food City, Every Element Of Store Matters
Walk into a Food City store and the first thing you see is a thank-you note. A tribute to the town – whatever one it happens to be – right there in the lobby, where the company has made a habit of saying thank you to the community before asking anything of it. “I just […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Featured News, Food City, News, Retailer of the Year, Southeast
Food City Growth Brings ‘Fun Challenge’ Of Managing Distribution, Culture
When an ice storm hits and the news tells everyone to stay home, Greg Sparks knows exactly what happens next. “Our drivers are out there,” he said. That mindset – part duty, part pride – helps explain why Food City is The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s 2026 Retailer of the Year. Having served friends […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Featured News, Food City, News, Retailer of the Year, Southeast
Food City CEO Reflects On Legacy, Growth, Art Of Running Best Store In Town
Having served friends and neighbors for more than 100 years, Food City is proud to be locally owned and operated. With 164 retail outlets spanning five states, the company’s dedicated team of more than 19,200 associates is committed to the mission it was founded upon: to “run the best store in town.” That commitment to […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Featured News, News, Southeast
Kueffner: NC Grocers Maneuvering To Meet Regulatory Rules, Consumer Needs
Lindsey Kueffner, executive director of the Carolinas Food Industry Council, is in the midst of a busy legislative season in North Carolina that got under way April 21. Nevertheless, she took time to respond to questions from The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s Lorrie Griffith about the state’s grocery industry and some of the challenges […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Feature, Featured News, News, Southeast, Walmart
Walmart Blanketing Southeast With Remodeled Supercenters, Additional Locations
On April 16, Walmart announced its plans for remodels and new locations in markets across the country. A total of 650 remodels is planned, along with 20 new store locations this year and early into 2027. “This year, we are making a significant investment in our stores across the United States, reinforcing our commitment to […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Feature, Featured News, News, Southeast
PWADC Food Show To Feature New Products, Education Sessions
Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co. (PWADC) is heading into its May food show and aims to build on recent gains in show performance, private label, fresh and digital participation. Tod Seiling, who joined PWADC as chief merchandising officer in October 2025 after executive roles with Lidl US and Save A Lot, said the co-op has […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, National, News
Leadership: Be The Leader People Want To Work For
People do not follow titles for long. They follow credibility. They follow consistency. They follow leaders whose behavior makes trust possible. In an age when culture is tested daily, the enduring leadership principle is surprisingly simple: do your job, live your values, and give people something worth following. There is a leadership lesson that never […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Featured News, Midwest, News
South Dakota Grocers Navigate Market Shifts, Trends
South Dakota’s grocery industry is settling into what Nathan Sanderson, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, calls an “average year,” with consumers trading down on proteins and store brands, convenience stores grabbing more food sales and big-box retailers delivering groceries at a loss into rural communities. Sanderson told The Shelby Report that business […]
Posted inFinance News, Featured News, Guest Contributors, National, News
Crossroads: Beyond Value – Factors Impacting Decision To Sell
Life is complicated. Every decision creates a ripple effect, and no meaningful decision is ever driven by a single factor. Few choices carry more weight for a business owner than the decision to buy or sell. The decision to purchase often is made at a relatively young age, at a stage when there’s not much […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, Featured News, National, News
NGA Foundation ELDP – Leadership For A Changing Grocery Industry
From shifting consumer expectations and rapid technological advancement to supply chain complexity and workforce transformation, the grocery industry is evolving faster than ever. Today’s leaders in the independent sector must be equipped with new skills to guide their organizations through change. Developing strong leaders is no longer optional – it’s essential to success. That’s why […]