Michael Lambrecht has owned Jim’s IGA for just two years. But he has been a part of the Lacon, Illinois, community since the store’s inception. Jim’s opened in 1976, Lambrecht’s father and the store’s namesake, Jim, came down from Chicago to manage what used to be a A&P grocery store. “A&P decided to get out of […]
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, Anniversary Issues, Market Profile, West
Dehoff’s Markets Marks 50 Years Of Service To Redwood City, CA
Dehoff’s Markets celebrated its 50th anniversary on Oct. 15, with the store’s original location in Redwood City, California, still thriving under family ownership. However, the Dehoffs’ history of entrepreneurship in the Northern California community stretches much farther back than 1972. Emil Dehoff immigrated to the U.S. from Germany after serving in World War I. According […]
Posted inMarket Profile, West
Grant Street Grocery Offers Experience Of ‘Curated Shopping’
Grant Street Grocery in Casper, Wyoming, is 104 years old. But the historic business may not have made it to the century mark if not for the intervention of some residents in the city’s Big Tree neighborhood, where it is located. Lindsey Grant, who co-owns the specialty grocery store with her partner Susan Holmes, said […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor of the Year, Anniversary Issues, Southeast
‘It’s The People Of Kentucky Who Have Made Laurel What It Is’
Laurel Grocery Co. is a 100-year-old, family-owned and operated company. That family dynamic is extended to its employees, as well. Being considered family by an employer goes a long way in retention, as evidenced by the number of longtime workers at the wholesaler. That hasn’t gone unnoticed by Chairman and CEO Winston Griffin. “We have […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Home Page Latest News, West
Wyoming ‘In Pretty Good Shape’ For Businesses
Wyoming remains a “great, great state to be operating in and having businesses,” according to Grier Bailey, executive director of the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association & Convenience Store Association. The state, which hasn’t seen a large population growth since the last Census, has “an amazing regulatory environment, where taxes remain low and operational costs […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
Store Visits Help Federal Lawmakers Understand Grocers’ Needs
By the time most of you read this, the midterm elections will be over, most (if not all) races will be determined and the balance of power in Congress may be shifting. Regardless of the midterm results and how the partisan winds shift, those in the U.S. House and Senate need to be aware of […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor of the Year, Anniversary Issues, Laurel Grocery Co., Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Laurel Grocery, IGA Assist Independent Retailers
Laurel Grocery Co., The Shelby Report’s Wholesaler of the Year for its Midwest and Southeast regions, and the Independent Grocers Allliance have a decades-long history of partnership. The Kentucky-based wholesaler has been one of IGA’s nine licensed distributors since 1999. “What I love about Laurel is they are truly a family business that supports family […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast
Hurricane Ian Delivered A Soaking, But Grocers Largely Spared
One week after Hurricane Ian caused damage and flooding in coastal South Carolina and parts of North Carolina, grocery retailers have remained largely unaffected. The Carolinas Food Industry Council maintains a “seat at the table” in the emergency operation centers of both states, according to Lindsey Kueffner, its executive director. The council keeps its members […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor of the Year, Anniversary Issues, Laurel Grocery Co., Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Free Clinic Improves Health Of Laurel Grocery’s Workforce
Laurel Grocery Co. takes the health of its employees seriously. So much so that after several years of concerning results from screenings through the local hospital’s community health program, Laurel Chairman and CEO Winston Griffin and President David Pearson decided to take action. The result was Connected Care, an on-site health clinic for employees and […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor of the Year, Anniversary Issues, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Pride Comes From Way Laurel Grocery Is Run
Laurel Grocery Co. is laser-focused on customer service. That is one of the reasons Kip Faulhaber, president of Laurel Retail and SVP of marketing and merchandising at Laurel Grocery, has enjoyed his almost 10 years with the company. “The pride comes from the simplicity of the way the company is run,” he said. “There’s nothing […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor of the Year, Anniversary Issues, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Laurel’s Mission, Messaging Remain Rooted In ‘Think Retail’
Laurel Grocery Co.’s philosophy is “Think Retail,” which channels the sentiment from a statement on the original order guides from 1922: “A successful business is a business that helps others succeed.” Laurel’s mission was to help smaller, privately-owned businesses thrive against chain grocery stores. A hundred years later, that mission continues today. And it’s among […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor of the Year, Anniversary Issues, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Laurel Grocery Marks Century Of Serving Independents
Laurel Grocery Co. is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022 and has been named The Shelby Report’s Wholesaler of the Year for its Midwest and Southeast regions. Winston Griffin, chairman and CEO of the London, Kentucky-based wholesaler – and G.W. Sr.’s grandson – shared some of the company’s history with The Shelby Report. “It all […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest
Father, Daughter Working Together To Expand Maurer’s Market
Jeff and Kristie Maurer, father and daughter, are independent grocers in Wisconsin. Dad owns Maurer’s Market in Wisconsin Dells, where his daughter is the store director. He also now is a minority owner in a store – Fresh Madison Market – he opened on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison. Kristie Maurer is planning […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor of the Year, Anniversary Issues, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Laurel Grocery Named Wholesaler Of The Year, Celebrates Anniversary
London, Kentucky-based Laurel Grocery has been named The Shelby Report of the Southeast and The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s 2022 Wholesaler of the Year. The wholesaler is also celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022. Join us in the pages that follow as we learn about its history and how it serves independent grocers today. To […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest
Wisconsin Grocers Association Preparing 2023 Legislative Agenda
Wisconsin is experiencing some of the same economic woes as other states across the country. “We have record high unemployment. We have members who continue to experience supply chain issues and getting products in inventory,” said Brandon Scholz, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association. “We still have high demand from consumers, but their […]
Posted inWoman Executive of the Year, Southwest
Jones Helped Shepherd In Change At Time It Was Needed
Asked to describe their colleague Rosemary Jones, her fellow executives at Brookshire Grocery Co. don’t hesitate, quick to offer terms such as “whirlwind,” “powerhouse of efficiency” and “tenacious leader.” But what is it really like working with Jones, who held many leadership positions before becoming BGC’s EVP, chief people officer/legal? The consensus: What gives Jones […]
Posted inAssociation News, Feature, West
Posey Ready To Guide Western Association Of Food Chains
Patrick “Pat” Posey took the helm of The Western Association of Food Chains as chief operating officer on Sept. 1, succeeding Carole Christianson, who retired but is staying on as an advisor. Scott Drew, 2022-23 WAFC president and chairman, made the leadership announcement last month, describing Posey was an “industry legend” who has “always made […]
Posted inPackaging News, Association News, Market Profile, Northeast
Food Council Seeking Shared Responsibility, Costs Of Recycling
The New Jersey Food Council is watching three proposed legislative changes. According to Linda Doherty, president and CEO, these include extended producer responsibility, liquor licensing reform and unemployment insurance. The EPR bill would require producers of packaging products sold in the state to implement stewardship plans. “Manufacturers are already working toward sustainable packaging and investing […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Southwest
Voters Will Consider If Grocery Stores In Colorado Can Sell Wine
The longstanding Rocky Mountain Food Industry Association is in the process of merging with the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association. Within the past two years, the organizations have been working to become one as Mary Lou Chapman, longtime president and CEO of RMFIA, moves closer to retirement, according to Grier Bailey, executive director of CWPMA. […]
Posted inWoman Executive of the Year, Southwest
BGC Chairman Offers High Praise For ‘Indispensable’ Honoree
Brad Brookshire, chairman and CEO of Brookshire Grocery Co., knew Rosemary Jones long before she came to work as the company’s EVP, chief people officer/legal. “She married Chip [Jones] and our families – the Jones and Brookshires – were close growing up in Tyler, Texas. Chip is younger than I am, but Chip’s parents and […]