Anthony Marino, Keith Milligan, Steve Garrett and Cody McDaniel are retailers who are part of Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co. All own their respective stores and some have been buying from the company for decades. “I can’t remember the year when it happened, but it’s been, I would say, probably one of the best moves […]
Category: Shelby Content
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Posted inFeature, Southeast
Industry Veteran Who Later Became An Owner Reflects On Storied Career
Lynn Willard has been working with Piggly Wiggly since he was 16, starting as a part-time bagger. He continued into college, eventually deciding to leave school – and the grocery industry. But that didn’t last long. “I said, ‘You know what? I miss the grocery business.’ I enjoyed it a lot,” he said. “I really […]
Posted inPiggly Wiggly, Feature, Southeast
‘No Matter Who You Walk In As, You’re Family’ At Piggly Wiggly Southeast
The McLeod family is somewhat unique in its business interests. Ricky McLeod’s grandfather has been in the grocery industry since the 1940s. After his death, McLeod’s father, Billy, took over the food retail side and continues in it to this day. In fact, at age 92, he still comes into the office Monday through Friday, […]
Posted inPiggly Wiggly, Feature, Southeast
Independents, Down-Home Roots Focus Of Piggly Wiggly Southeast
Building on the brand’s iconic history, C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC (C&S) operates corporate Piggly Wiggly stores while serving independent franchisees under a chain-style model known as Piggly Wiggly Southeast. The grocer offers the selections and assortments of a national chain with the service and customization of a community-based retailer. C&S acquired Piggly Wiggly Carolina, a […]
Posted inFeature, Beverage News, Southwest
BuzzBallz Founder Reflects On Success Of Her Business
Reflecting on BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion’s rise to one of the country’s leading ready-to-drink cocktail brands, CEO/founder Merrilee Kick said she learned that “you had to build it yourself.” Thirteen years after building a company from “nothing to something,” Kick is being honored as one of Shelby Publishing’s 2023 Southwest Women of Influence. Kick left her […]
Posted inMarket Profile, West
There’s Optimism In Oregon For Avoiding Mild Recession
Changing economic conditions have pushed back the likelihood of a mild economic recession for Oregon. This is attributed to a few months of somewhat lower inflation, along with the Federal Reserve waiting for the impact of past interest rate increases to cool the economy, according to Josh Lehner, senior economist for the state. “Any near-term […]
Posted inPiggly Wiggly, Feature, Midwest
Thanks To Piggly Wiggly Midwest, Frank’s Can Be ‘Two Stores In One’
Frank’s Piggly Wiggly started small, beginning in 1981 with 5,000 square feet of space in downtown Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Within a year, however, the company had moved across the street to a location twice that size, according to owners Stephanie, Steve and Frank Lueptow. By 1991, it had outgrown that location. The company decided to build […]
Posted inPiggly Wiggly, Feature, Midwest
For Stinebrink’s, Piggly Wiggly Has Become ‘Best Fit For Family’
Family and community are at the center of Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly, which is based in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Local involvement begins at the store level and continues up to Stinebrink’s president, Matt Stinebrink. Stinebrink owns the company in partnership with his brother, David, and cousins, Tim, Ben and Todd. David’s wife, Kathy, is the company’s […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest, Rulli Brothers
‘Everything From Scratch’ – Rulli Bros. Renown For Its Offerings
Family-owned grocer has kept up connections for some 100 years Michael Rulli is a busy man. A fourth-generation grocer, he serves as the director of operations for Youngstown, Ohio-based Rulli Bros. But what sets him apart from the five other family members in the business is that he’s been a state senator since 2018. Rulli […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Southeast
Floridians May Weather This Recession Better Than Previous Two
Also, tort reform legislation targets ‘plague of frivolous lawsuits’ across state Florida is on the cusp of a recession, according to University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith. In a recent article on the UCF Today website, Snaith said the impact shouldn’t be anything like what happened in 2020 or the housing collapse in the […]
Posted inAnniversary Issues, West
Tour Showcases Grocer’s Strengths – Selection, Quality, Price
Super King Markets is well known for its produce department, which features vast quantities of well-known and lesser-known items. But that is not all that the eight Southern California locations have to offer. For the company’s 30th anniversary, The Shelby Report of the West’s EVP Bob Reeves recently visited Super King Markets’ Anaheim store on […]
Posted inAnniversary Issues, West
Hands-On, Involved Approach Has Been Key To Owners’ Success
Sam Barrow, senior director of human resources, was recruited to join Super King Markets eight years ago. At the time, he served as human resources manager for a Japanese-based hospitality group in its Los Angeles office. Of his role with the grocer, Barrow said: “We try to support our employees and give them all the […]
Posted inLipari Foods, Feature, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Lipari Foods Celebrating 60th Anniversary In 2023
Show largest in company’s history Warren, Michigan-based Lipari Foods hosted its annual food show March 22, with more than 7,000 people attending. The Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, was filled with 752 booths and more than 800 brands. It was the largest show in the company’s history. The theme of the show, “Roll Out […]
Posted inAnniversary Issues, West
Managers: Family Pays Attention To Detail, Quality And Service
Raffi Karayan and Vahan Magtesian are both district managers for Super King Markets in Southern California. Karayan has been with the company for 15 years, Magtesian for 17 years. Both previously spent 20-plus years with Jon’s Markets. The two work together to make sure everything runs smoothly, from operations, employment and quality issues – “the […]
Posted inAnniversary Issues, West
Decision-Making Process Quick, Simple, ‘All About The Customer’
While Gabriel Mercado has been with Super King Markets for just seven months, he has been in the grocery business for the last 20 years. The VP of finance and accounting at Super King said he started his career at H-E-B in Texas, then in Mexico. While at H-E-B, he moved from accounting and finance […]
Posted inAnniversary Issues, Beverage News, Center Store, West
Large, Varied Liquor Selection Boosts Traffic With Popular Sales
Harry Cherkesyan has been with Super King Markets for 17 years. He is the director of center store, which includes liquor, dry groceries and mixed nuts. Cherkesyan worked for Jon’s Markets for 16 years before starting at Super King. He said he had decided it was time to see what else was out there. While […]
Posted inProduce News, Albertsons, Anniversary Issues, West
Produce Is Driver, ‘The Heart’ When It Comes To Stores
At Super King Markets, produce is king. Eddie Avila, director of produce, joined the company in 2017, with more than 30 years of industry experience. Avila, who had worked for Albertsons in Southern California for 32 years, said he didn’t realize what a produce buyer was until he got into the independent grocer arena. “When […]
Posted inAssociation News, Feature, West
WAFC Convention Setting Records For Attendance
The Shelby Report’s EVP Bob Reeves caught up with Joe Perez, headlite of the Illuminators, on May 7 during the Western Association of Food Chain’s Convention in Palm Desert, California. Perez said he is extremely excited, noting there is “a lot of high energy and momentum in the industry.” The convention began May 6 with […]
Posted inAnniversary Issues, West
Super King Matriarch Keeps Finances – And More – On Track
Although her official title with Super King Markets is CFO, Mary Fermanian has done a bit of everything since the company’s start. She and her husband, Peter, along with his brother, Vache, built the business from its original Anaheim location to eight stores in Los Angeles and Orange counties. She and Peter met through their […]
Posted inAnniversary Issues, West
Fermanian Family Marks Milestone, Focused On Future
The Fermanian family of Super King Markets in Southern California is living the American dream, finding success through much hard work and determination. This year, they are celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary. Of Armenian heritage, the family lived in Lebanon before moving to Abu Dhabi to escape the war. Peter Fermanian, his wife, Mary, and […]