Shelby Originals | In-Depth Food Industry Stories & Analysis
Posted inAssociation News, Feature, National

Food Retailers Pursuing Strategic Differentiation Strategies

Despite a challenging year marked by a persisting pandemic, historic inflation, supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages, the food industry is making significant investments to meet shoppers’ evolving tastes. That’s the assessment of FMI – The Food Industry Association’s annual comprehensive research report, The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2022. The survey found that food retailers […]

Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National

Communities Need Grocers – And We Sure Do Need Them

As NGA’s president and CEO, I’ve had the opportunity to travel the country to visit our members, tour their stores and learn firsthand about the challenges the grocers face in serving their communities. NGA makes a point of saying it’s an association of independent community grocers. We talk quite a lot about the independent part […]

Posted inWoman Executive of the Year, Southwest

Brookshire Grocery Co. Recognized For Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Brookshire Grocery Co. was a recipient of Shelby Publishing’s inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award in 2021 and has been honored again in 2022.  Two BGC leaders, Latasha Woodard, district VP – District 5, and Rubi Gonzalez, diversity, equity and inclusion manager, were also featured as 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Award winners in the June […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Northeast

Karns Foods Continues Making Difference In Its Communities

Family-owned and operated Karns Quality Foods has been serving central Pennsylvania for more than 60 years. David Karns opened the first Karns Foods store in 1959, “welcoming customers as individuals with individual needs,” said Scott Karns, president and CEO of the company. The retailer continues to provide fresh, affordable, local and quality items in 10 […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast

Outlook In Pennsylvania: Prices Up, Supply Steadying

While Pennsylvania retailers continue to face challenges such as inflation and labor issues, the overall economy in the state is seeing some improvements, according to Alex Baloga, president and CEO, Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association. “There certainly are signs that are positive,” he said. “…Our overall tax receipts came in considerably higher this fiscal year than […]

Posted inCenter Store, Feature, International Foods, Northeast, Snacks Brands

Olive Importer DeLallo Also Has Authentic Italian Foods, Cookies

When George and Madeline DeLallo came from Italy to the U.S. in 1950, they settled in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. When they couldn’t find the Italian food they were used to eating, they started importing it themselves. After selling door to door, they bought a little gas station in Jeannette and converted it […]

Posted inAldi, Dairy News, Feature, Snacks Brands, Southeast

Bodacious Food Succeeds With Mama Geraldine’s Cheese Straws

While working in the radio business during the mid-1990s, Cathy Cunningham made a discovery one night. The cheese bites on which she had been snacking were nowhere near as good as those of her mother, Geraldine Cunningham. “I knew my mama’s cheese straws were better than those things,” said Cunningham during an interview with The […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, West

Peterson’s Fresh Market Rooted In Riverton Community

Peterson’s Fresh Market in Riverton, Utah, has a long history of serving its community. Louis “Lute” Peterson and his youngest son, Bruce, founded the business in 1938, when they rented space in a local building.  When a local landmark church, “The Old Dome Church,” was torn down in 1940, Lute Peterson bought some of the […]

Posted inBashas', Anniversary Issues, Food Industry Hall of Fame, West

Nonprofits Benefit From Bashas’ Generosity, Support

Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine, a community partner with Bashas’ for more than 40 years, was quick to congratulate the company on its 90th anniversary. Co-CEOs Mary Mitchell and Christina Spicer said the Girl Scout mission is to build young women of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better […]

Posted inBashas', Anniversary Issues, Food Industry Hall of Fame, West

Bashas’ Diné Markets Providing Fresh Food To Native Americans

Eddie Basha Jr. opened the first Bashas’ Diné Markets in the Navajo Nation in 1981. Currently, Bashas’ has nine stores to serve the Navajo people. More than 40 years ago, the Navajo Nation put out a request for proposals to all the grocers. His father was the only one who answered, Trey Basha said. At […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Southeast

Naifeh’s Cash Saver Only Independent Grocer Left In Town

In the small western Tennessee town of Covington sits a landmark that has been part of the community for 112 years – the independent grocery store, Naifeh’s Cash Saver. Owner Judson William Oney Naifeh, is a fourth-generation grocer. His great-grandfather immigrated from Beirut, Lebanon, before starting a trading business under a different name. His grandfather […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, West

UFIA: Inflation In Intermountain West Among Highest In Country

While Utah’s economy remains strong, there are signs it may be slowing with rising interest rates and inflation, according to Dave Davis, president and chief legal officer for the Utah Food Industry Association.  The state’s unemployment rate of 2 percent is about 1.5 percent lower than the national average, but Davis said workforce continues to […]