As the Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, the organization is reflecting on its past and looking forward to the future. Jeff Pedersen, president and CEO, said ROFDA was established with the purpose of trying to enhance the success of independent retailers. Today, eight cooperative wholesalers comprise its […]
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Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Posted inAnniversary Issues, National
ROFDA Celebrates 60th Anniversary
In honor of the Retailer Owned Food Distributors and Associates’ 60th anniversary this year, The Shelby Report presents a special section commemorating the occasion. The organization is reflecting on its past and looking forward to the future, according to Jeff Pedersen, ROFDA’s president and CEO. Join us in the pages below as we celebrate and […]
Posted inFood Industry Hall of Fame, Northeast, Retailer of the Year
Popular President Says Brand Deserves Recognition, Not Him
Ira Kress, president of Landover, Maryland-based Giant Food, has been inducted into The Shelby Report’s Food Industry Hall of Fame. Kress began his grocery career at age 18 in 1984, working as a part-time cashier. Over the ensuing 38 years, he has served in a number of progressively responsible and cross-functional leadership roles at Giant […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Food Industry Hall of Fame, Home Page Latest News, Northeast
Giant Food Pharmacy Operations Led Way In Offering Vaccine
Giant Food administered its first COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 26, 2020. Leading up to and following that date, so many questions were up in the air for Paul Zvaleny, director of pharmacy operations, and his team. With about 1,600 staff members throughout the company, Zvaleny had to write the playbook after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
Show Is Opportunity To Work On Business
The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is one of the busiest times for grocers. The late fall and winter holidays bring a rush of shoppers eager to please family and friends at their seasonal gatherings. The traditional hectic holiday pace would be a whirlwind for grocers without the added pressures of inflation and supply […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Food Industry Hall of Fame, Northeast
Grocer At Forefront Of E-Commerce Evolution
Giant Food, its parent company Ahold Delhaize and their partner Peapod were ahead of the curve when it came to e-commerce. And what began as a call-in grocery delivery and pickup feature has blossomed into full portfolio of offerings. This is just one of many reasons the company is The Griffin Report of the Northeast’s […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Food Industry Hall of Fame, Northeast
Giant Food Is Title Sponsor Of Big Barbecue Event
For the seventh consecutive year, Maryland-based Giant Food was the title sponsor of the 30th annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle. After taking place virtually for the past two years, the event returned in-person June 25-26 in Washington, D.C., and benefited the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore. The two-day event along Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues, between […]
Posted inGiant Food, Food Industry Hall of Fame, Northeast, Retailer of the Year
Key To Its Core, Giant Food Covers Charity, Community And Care
Culture encompasses so much of a person’s identity. To some it signifies a sense of belonging, to others it is the expression of their past. For those at Giant Food, The Griffin Report of the Northeast’s Retailer of the Year, it means so much more. For many associates, the company’s culture extends beyond the boundaries […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Hy-Vee, Midwest
Sports Partnerships Help Showcase Burgeoning Brand
Competition is ingrained into human nature. Competition can be found between friends, rivals, businesses and communities. Hy-Vee, The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s Retailer of the Year, has a long history of supporting amazing competition in sports on a local, national and now international level. The most recent example of a sporting partnership was the Hy-Vee […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Food Industry Hall of Fame, Home Page Latest News, Northeast
Ira Kress Inducted Into Food Industry Hall Of Fame
Ira Kress, president of Giant Food, has been named into Shelby Publishing’s Food Industry Hall of Fame. In addition to this award, Giant Food has been named The Griffin Report of the Northeast’s 2022 Retailer of the Year. Join us in the pages that follow to learn about the company and why Kress has been […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Midwest
Health, Wellness ‘Major Component’ Of Hy-Vee’s Mission
West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee’s commitment to healthcare goes beyond the traditional pharmacy shelves. The company believes in a holistic approach for its customers. This approach includes not only the traditional pharmaceutical operation but also promoting and maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle. Hy-Vee, The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s Retailer of the Year, has […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Midwest
Hy-Vee Uses E-Commerce Evolution To Expand Its Reach
E-commerce has been an avenue for businesses to expand and showcase their wares. And the COVID-19 pandemic showed many large grocery retailers the need to enlarge their online offerings. Hy-Vee, The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s Retailer of the Year, has spent the last few years continuously expanding its e-commerce to not only innovate in […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Association Acts As Advocate, Problem Solver For Members
While the overall economy in Maryland is looking bright, grocers in the state continue to face challenges. “Our economy consistently outperforms the country as a whole, and last year we ranked as the most improved state for business under the leadership of Gov. Larry Hogan,” said Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Association, Maryland […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Midwest
Hy-Vee Ranks As One Of America’s Best Places To Work
All retailers know they would not exist – and certainly not prosper – without the people who work and shop in their stores. Hy-Vee, The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s Retailer of the Year, has many avenues to care about its employees and customers – from competitive wages and benefits to charitable contributions and a […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Hy-Vee Takes Lead On Innovation, Ventures Into New Spaces
Hy-Vee operates more than 550 retail locations, including retail, convenience, clinics and wine and spirits stores across eight Midwestern states, with plans to expand farther into and beyond the region. The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s Retailer of the Year, the West Des Moines, Iowa-based grocer announced in January that it would bring “a smile […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Midwest
Hy-Vee Named 2022 Midwest Retailer Of The Year
Hy-Vee has been named The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s 2022 Retailer of the Year. The retailer operates more than 550 retail locations, including retail, convenience, clinics and wine and spirits stores across eight Midwestern states, with plans to expand father into and beyond the region. Join us in the pages that follow as we […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Albertsons, Amazon Fresh, Association News, Guest Contributors, National, Whole Foods
When The Big Get Bigger: Reflecting On Albertsons-Kroger Merger
The biggest recent news in our industry was the announcement that Albertsons and Kroger plan to merge. This isn’t the first time that bigger players have decided to combine forces with an aim to create leverage and scale. Those terms are code for anticipated better pricing from suppliers, reducing costs in infrastructure, converting to common […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Feature, Southeast
Price Hikes, Product Shortages Have Cut Into Shopper Loyalty
Private label products have seen a major increase in popularity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Matt Reese, EVP of Nashville, Tennessee-based food brokerage the Reese Group Inc., sees the lingering effects in stores and customer purchasing habits. Manufacturers began having issues producing products, grocers had trouble keeping name-brand items on shelves and customers began […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
Charlottesville Independent Has Loyal Following In Heart Of UVA
Foods of All Nations has been in Charlottesville, Virginia, for more than 50 years. Located in the downtown area, it is next to the University of Virginia. President Geoffrey Garbaccio has been with the company about seven years. Garbaccio grew up in the food industry, working at his parents’ gourmet food store in New Jersey. […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
IRMA Full Speed Ahead Following Merger
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association and the Illinois Food Retailers Association merged at the end of September 2021. Since then, the IRMA has taken responsibility for all grocery members across the state, according to Rob Karr, president and CEO. The two organizations had an overlap of members. The IFRA represented a majority of the independents […]