After planning to pursue an engineering career, Kim Eskew saw the opportunities that grocery retail had to offer and turned an entry-level position into a lifelong career with Springdale, Arkansas-based Harps Food Stores. Now the company’s chairman and CEO, Eskew shared his thoughts on leadership, management and getting started in the industry with NGA’s Independent […]
Category: Bonus Content
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, West
Benedict Family Has Served Wyoming’s Bridger Valley For 80-plus Years
In the exhibit hall at an NGA Show in Las Vegas a few years ago, Jim Benedict saw a Southern Pride smoker and decided on the spot to buy one for his family’s store in Mountain View, Wyoming. Others were intrigued by it; he was not only intrigued by it but moved decisively to make […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Albertsons, Big Y Foods, Corporate Store News, Guest Contributors, Harris Teeter, Northeast, The Kroger Co.
Opportunity For Independent Grocers Abounds In Urban, Diverse Northeast
by Diana Leza Sheehan / founder and principal consultant, PDG Insights The grocery retail landscape in the Northeast United States is dynamic and multifaceted, characterized by a complex mix of regional players and national competitors. From the bustling urban centers of Boston, New York and Philadelphia to the quaint coastal towns of Maine and Maryland, the […]
Posted inFeature, Northeast
In Remembrance: The Griffin Report Co-Founder
Mary Rose McCarty Griffin, who founded The Griffin Report of the Northeast alongside her husband, the late John H. Griffin, died Oct. 14, 2024, at her home in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, at age 90. Born on Jan. 6, 1934, in Waltham, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Mary and Raymond McCarty. According to […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Executive News, Feature, National, Produce News
Kroger CEO McMullen Discusses Navigating Bifurcated Market, Future Of Food
The recent Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta, Georgia, provided a platform for industry leaders to discuss the evolving landscape of the grocery industry. In a candid conversation with moderator Patrick Vizzone, Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen shed light on the dynamics shaping consumer behavior and the company’s strategic response. McMullen highlighted the […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Small But Mighty Maryland Making Name For Itself In Supermarket Industry
As the new year approaches, several legislative proposals stand to impact Maryland residents and businesses. The Griffin Report recently visited with Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, to find out more about what’s in store for 2025. Locklair has spent nearly 20 years in state and local politics, advocating on the state budget, […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
Education Driving Excitement At 2025 NGA Show
Independent grocers are a dedicated bunch. For many, time away from the business is time wasted, and vacations are certainly not a high priority. NGA understands that your time is precious. That’s why The NGA Show is designed to help you make the most of your time, with an education-centric program built around what you […]
Posted inFeature, Southeast
DeCA Aims To Draw Shoppers, Ensure Offerings Meet Their Needs
The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is making significant strides to increase its customer base and enhance product offerings, according to Edward Walters III, executive director of sales, marketing and e-commerce. DeCA is working to attract more eligible shoppers to its commissaries. Walters emphasized the importance of reaching those who may not be aware of their […]