Food City’s meat and seafood and produce and floral departments can be best described in two words: picky and convenient. The company prides itself on providing the freshest produce, highest quality meat and seafood and brightest floral arrangements in the market – all while cultivating partnerships with local farmers and growers to provide the best […]
Category: Shelby Content
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
Community Co-op Market Caring For Community In Tallahassee
Founded on Jan. 1, 2020, Community Co-op Market in Tallahassee, Florida, is on a mission to provide residents of the capital city and beyond access to healthy food. The store is one of two grocery co-ops in the state, according to CEO Troy Bond. Community Co-op Market was aided by National Co-op Grocers to help […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Food City, Southeast
It’s All About Experience – ‘People Don’t Forget Things Like That’
Food City, The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s Retailer of the Year, was founded on the simple notion to run the best store in town. But how has it accomplished that? Customer experience is the strategy, said Dan Glei, EVP merchandising/marketing. “If you come into our stores as a customer, we want you to have […]
Posted inFood City, Home Page Latest News, Retailer of the Year, Southeast
Food City Named 2023 Southeast Retailer Of The Year
From Virginia mountains, Food City evolves into regional leader Food City, The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s 2023 Retailer of the Year, has grown exponentially over the years through acquisition and natural growth. The privately held, family-owned company began as an 800-square-foot Piggly Wiggly in Grundy, Virginia, according to Steven C. Smith, president and CEO. Food City […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
‘Game-Changing’ Bill Had Florida Retail Federation’s Backing
The 2023 legislative session in Florida brought two major changes that will alter the legal landscapes for businesses, according to Scott Shalley, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation. HB 837 addresses tort reform and civil remedies, something Shalley said was “one of the first significant pieces of legislation to become law this session,” […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
FMI Leader Lays Out Six Imperatives Facing The Food Industry Today
By Janet Jones Kendall, FMI Smartbrief After the pandemic forced years of shortened vision and focus on constantly changing issues within the food and other industries, it is now time for leaders to focus on bigger-picture issues facing the industry today, said FMI — The Food Industry Association — President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin in a State […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest
Baesler’s Market Finds Hospitality Key To Success In Terre Haute, Sullivan
Baesler’s Market is a fifth-generation independent grocery store with two locations – Terre Haute and Sullivan, Indiana. Bob Baesler, president, said his great-grandfather started Baesler’s Meat Market in 1894 in Terre Haute. His grandfather and father continued in the business, with Bob starting at age 13, working on Saturdays. His son, Casey, is manager of […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
Inflation, Recession, Obsession – How Retailers Can Navigate An Unpredictable Market
Were you a math kid or a reading kid? Right brain or left? As retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and technology partners, we clearly need a hearty dose of right brain creativity to be successful in the grocery business. Just as important, we also need some good math chops. We wouldn’t survive long if we couldn’t count […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
Solar Eclipse Expected To Bring Economic Boost To Grocers, C-Stores
Hoosier state ‘got lots of money,’ benefits from low cigarette tax that draws smokers from afar Indiana is one of the top 20 locations in the world to view the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, according to Joe Lackey, president of the Indiana Grocery and Convenience Store Association. As part of the state’s Homeland […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest
Ohio Grocers Association Eyes CDL, Child Care Changes
Ohio’s retail economy has not been immune to the higher food prices being felt nationwide, according to Kristin Mullins, president and CEO of the Ohio Grocers Association. “While our retailers always look to provide the best prices for our customers, costs and supply chain challenges force our prices up while trying to remain competitive,” she […]
Posted inFeature, National
Hanks’ Talk On ‘Experience Business’ Entertains, Informs
The ballroom at the Anaheim Convention Center was standing room only as actor Tom Hanks took the stage June 5 at the 2023 IDDBA Show. Know for his film roles in “Forrest Gump,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Cast Away” and many others, Hanks also is a producer, director and writer. Attendees were given copies of his […]
Posted inFeature, Southeast
Fogle’s, Inc. Owner: Opportunity ‘Never Been Better’ For Independents
“Piggly Wiggly is an excellent name here in the South. Everybody knows it. It has a good reputation.” That’s how Chuck Fogle, VP at Fogle’s, Inc., explained switching the family business to The Pig. The Fogle family owns six Piggly Wiggly stores across South Carolina. The family has been in the grocery business since the […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
Never Too Busy To Make Time For Boosting Store Operations
It’s no secret that being an independent community grocer is hard work. Grocers aren’t strangers to long days on the job, fulfilling their commitment to ensure customers are not just satisfied but surprised and delighted every time they visit. As such, opportunities to spend time away from the store can be few and far between. […]
Posted inFeature, Association News, National
New President: Association More than Show, ‘We’re Here 365 Days’
David Haaf, the new president of the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, said he is pleased with the organization’s show in Anaheim, California. The Shelby Report caught up with him Sunday on the expo floor. “We’re most excited that we have actually hit our 2019 retail registry numbers,” he said. “And 2019 in Orlando was a record […]
Posted inFeature, Southeast
Lowcountry Grocers Proud To Carry ‘The Pig’ Banner In Competitive Market
Piggly Wiggly in North Charleston, South Carolina, has weathered some challenges over the past few decades. It began in the 1990s when the city decided that the retail center shared by The Pig, a BI-LO and a few other businesses should be blocked off from the main road. “Immediately, that BI-LO bailed out,” said Craig […]
Posted inFeature, West
Exclusive Interview With Tom Hanks Ahead Of IDDBA Appearance
Tom Hanks, known for larger-than-life roles in “Forrest Gump,” “Saving Private Ryan” and “Cast Away,” will be the keynote speaker for the second day of the IDDBA Show. Shelby Publishing EVP Bob Reeves, who shares a personal connection with the award-winning actor, was able to interview him ahead of the event. His history with Hanks, […]
Posted inFeature, Association News, Bakery News, Dairy News, Deli News, National
Outgoing IDDBA Executive Readies For Retirement After Show
Mike Eardley, president and CEO of the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, is getting ready to wrap up a decades-long career in the food industry. He will be retiring following the IDDBA Show, to be held June 4-6 in Anaheim, California. Eardley recently reflected on his years in the industry and his plans for retirement. […]
Posted inFeature, Southeast
Emphasis At PWADC Is On Building From Within To Help Throughout
Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co. started in 1959 when 27 Piggly Wiggly owners formed the distributing company in an effort to obtain greater buying power. The company began with a single warehouse, called the Birmingham Food Terminal, with a rented outside freezer and refrigeration facilities. In 1967, the company – known then as the “Birmingham […]
Posted inPiggly Wiggly, Feature, Southeast
B&W Foods Ownership Preaches ‘Value Of The Piggly Wiggly Brand’
Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co. has been a part of Jay Welborn’s entire life. Welborn, co-owner of B&W Foods in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has partnered with PWADC for 23 years. His father, Jimmy, the founder of B&W, had previously worked for the distributor beginning in 1980. His late father worked his way up from a retail […]
Posted inH-E-B, Feature, Independent Store News, Southwest
H-E-B Unveils New E-Commerce Fulfillment Center
San Antonio, Texas-based H-E-B showcased its new e-commerce fulfillment center May 30 in Plano, Texas. The facility will serve H-E-B’s new stores in north Texas with an automated fulfillment process. This is the company’s first service center of its kind in the area and is set to add 125 jobs, according to Joe Fairchild, facility […]