Sometimes there are advantages to being small. Connecticut’s small geographic size, for instance, means there are not too many food deserts, according to Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association. Though there is some disagreement about what constitutes a food desert, it is basically a low-income geographic area where a significant number of people […]
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, Feature, Featured News, Marketing News, News, West
How Swensens Built A Social Media Sales Channel That Rivals Any App
Idaho independent’s “Social Deal” program turns Facebook comments into a weekly reservation system – no shopping app to download, no online checkout, no problem. When Swensen’s Markets posted a deal on 50-pound boxes of Idaho russet baking potatoes to its Facebook page in mid-February, the family-owned grocer likely expected a solid response. What it got […]
Posted inGelson's, Equipment & Technology, Featured News, News, Shelby Originals, Sustainability News, West
Gelson’s Opens Second ReCharge Micro-Market in Costa Mesa, CA
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Gelson’s Markets has opened its second ReCharge by Gelson’s micro-market, this time inside a new Rove fast-charging hub on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa, about a mile from the Pacific Coast and minutes from Interstate 405. The Shelby Report of the West was on hand April 8 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, National, News
Leadership Lessons For Grocery Industry From Lou Holtz
Leadership wisdom often comes from unexpected places. One of the most respected leadership voices in American sports is the late Lou Holtz, who we lost in March. The legendary college football coach was known for turning struggling programs into championship teams. While his career unfolded on football fields rather than grocery aisles, the leadership lessons […]
Posted inExecutive News, Anniversary Issues, Feature, Featured News, Midwest, News, Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
Stewardship And Growth: Former AWG CEO Smith Reflects On Leading Through Change
As Associated Wholesale Grocers celebrates its centennial, former CEO David Smith looks back on his tenure with the perspective of a steward who sought to leave the cooperative stronger than he found it. Smith joined AWG in August 2003 as director of real estate. He stepped into the CEO role at the end of 2015, […]
Posted inExecutive News, Featured News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Ohio Grocers Association’s Mullins Leaves Legacy Of Fighting The Impossible
Kristin Mullins started at the Ohio Grocers Association on April 4, 1990, as a receptionist. She is leaving as its president and CEO – and, by her own account, she’s ready. “A 36-year run – I think I’m ready for something, quite frankly, a little less demanding, a little less stressful,” she said with a […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, Finance News, National, News
Crossroads: How Cap Rates, Lease Terms Affect Grocery Store Property Value
In a previous column, we discussed building businesses to last and some of the factors that influence valuation. Today, we will take a closer look at one area that often creates confusion – the valuation of real estate in the grocery industry. Nerd alert: This one is a little more technical, but I believe it […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Featured News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Ohio Grocers Navigate Consolidation, Rising Costs, Changing Consumer
Ohio enters 2026 as one of the nation’s most economically competitive states, though a mix of national headwinds and shifting federal policy creates uncertainty in the year ahead. The state’s gross domestic product reached $979 billion in the third quarter of 2025 – the highest on record, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Feature, Featured News, Midwest
Lipari Foods Debuts Global Strategy At ‘Passport To Flavor’ Event
Lipari Foods marked its largest-ever trade show March 25 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, welcoming 11,000 retailers under the theme “Passport to Flavor” as the company unveiled a comprehensive rebrand centered on global foods. The event featured about 750 booths with 13,000 items on display, 1,300 of which were new to Lipari’s […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Feature, Finance News, West
Store Closings Part Of Grocery Outlet Turnaround
Grocery Outlet’s top executive was candid in his remarks to the investment community during the grocer’s earnings call March 4. Jason Potter, who took over as president and CEO of Emeryville, California-based Grocery Outlet in February 2025 after nearly five years as CEO of upscale retailer The Fresh Market, said, “I joined Grocery Outlet because […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Anniversary Issues, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Feature, Featured News, Finance News, Midwest, News, Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
AWG’s Cooperative Strength Positions Independent Grocers For Future
As Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, the cooperative is reflecting on a century defined by independent spirit, shared success and an unwavering commitment to its members – while keeping its focus firmly on what comes next. Founded in 1926 by a group of independent grocers who believed they were stronger […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, Featured News, National
National Rural Grocery Summit Focusing On Innovation
The National Rural Grocery Summit will be held May 5-7 in Fargo, North Dakota. The event was created by the Rural Grocery Initiative out of Kansas State University, with the first summit held in 2008 in Kansas. Since then, the summit has grown to attract rural grocers, community leaders, food suppliers, academic researchers, healthy food […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, National
Leadership, Math And Power Of Perspective
The leadership lesson this month is part math and part perspective lesson. It’s one of those ideas that, once we truly see it, permanently changes how we think about the grocery business. We may even look back later and realize it was one of those moments that quietly – but decisively – turned the tide […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, National, News
Crossroads: The 8 Sales-Building Touchstones
For the third article in our ongoing column dedicated to long-term success over the generations, we have invited keynote speaker and food industry expert Harold Lloyd to share his thoughts on some of the many ideas to help increase the top line of your ongoing business success and value. The most obvious influences on […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, Market Profile, News, Northeast
Redner’s Bringing ‘Fresh Market 2.0’ To Wilmington, Creating Foodservice Destination
Walk into most grocery stores and the experience is largely transactional: Grab a cart, work your way down the aisles and check out. Redner’s Markets wants to change that, and its newest store in Wilmington, Delaware, is the place where it’s making moves toward that next-generation grocery shopping experience. The Reading, Pennsylvania-based grocer broke ground […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, Market Profile, Midwest
Nebraska Grocers Grappling With General Sense Of Unease, Labor Costs
Ansley Fellers, executive director of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association, responded to questions from The Shelby Report of the Midwest about what’s happening in the state’s grocery industry. How would you characterize the overall health of the grocery industry in Nebraska right now, and what are the key factors driving performance in 2026? I […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, Finance News, Market Profile, News, Northeast
Shift In Spending Patterns Detected As DE Shoppers Navigate Economic Minefields
Julie Miro Wenger, executive director of the Delaware Food Industry Council, spoke with The Griffin Report about the busy year she and her members have had. Many challenges have arisen over the past 12-plus months, as a new administration has made some sweeping changes that affect the industry. But the state’s grocers, as is their […]
Expert Article
From Luck To Legacy: How Independent Grocers Are Finding Gold In Data
For the independent grocer, success is measured in generations. You aren’t just selling groceries; you are building a legacy. But in a landscape dominated by corporate giants, passing down a thriving business requires more than a well-stocked shelf. It requires trading “luck” for the leverage of actionable shopper data. Mapping the modern shopper journey The […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Feature, Featured News, News, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
The Present: Kroger Texas Division Understands What Shoppers Want
Texas has always been one of the most dynamic, competitive markets Kroger has competed in. To try and keep a competitive edge, the grocer focuses heavily on offering customers value and savings. Savings come in the form of extensive digital coupons, personalized offers, Fuel Rewards (including a variety of 4x gas points offers throughout the […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Feature, Featured News, News, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
The Past: 70 Years Strong, Kroger Texas Division Paves Path Of Progress
Kroger has a longstanding history and deep roots in Texas, dating back to 1955 when the Ohio-born grocer entered the Houston market with the purchase of grocery company Henke & Pillot, which had been in operation since 1872. Kroger kept the Henke & Pillot name on the stores for about 10 years, replacing it in […]