Like many grocers across the country, Wooster, Ohio-based Buehler’s Fresh Foods continues to work its way around supply chain hurdles. “I’ve never seen such a challenged supply chain. But I would tell you that in our company’s perspective, I applaud our merchants…they’re acting as advocates for the customer,” said Mike Davidson, president and CEO. Davidson […]
Category: Shelby Content
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Non-Food Side Of Fred Meyer Gives Company Edge In Marketplace
Like many of his colleagues, Brad Cope had not planned on a career in the grocery industry. “Not at all,” he said. Cope, manager of marketing and customer communications at Fred Meyer, started working for the company in high school. He continued doing so in his first year of college. The company offered him a good […]
Murray’s Market Offers Selection Beyond Its Size
Located near the middle of the Florida Keys, Murray’s Market is a small grocery store that carries a large variety of goods. Jay and Jeri Haggard bought Murray’s Market on Summerland Key from Ed and Lil Murray in 1991. Jeri Haggard passed away in 2000, and now the market is run by Jay, son Drew and […]
Providing Positive Environment Key To Fred Meyer’s Development
Sara Parker, director of human resources for Fred Meyer, was no stranger to the food business when she joined the company in 2002 from a general merchandise retailer in Portland, Oregon. “My dad worked for a food processing company when I was growing up, and he was a director of quality control, so I have […]
Fred Meyer Was Early Innovator Of ‘One-Stop Shop’ Business Concept
What started as a part-time job after school in 1992 has evolved into a fulfilling career for Todd Kammeyer, VP of merchandising at Fred Meyer. “I was 16 years old and started at Smith’s Food and Drug in South Ogden, Utah, where I grew up. The store was close to home and my high […]
Fred Meyer’s World-Class Service, Experience Build Loyalty
Dave Richard, VP of operations for Fred Meyer, began his food retail career nearly four decades ago. “I’ve been in the business my whole life,” he said. “I started as a bagger over 36 years ago. I have worked all over the West Coast, including Alaska and California.” Richard left Safeway and joined Cincinnati, Ohio-based […]
Fred Meyer’s ‘Friendly First’ Approach Engrained In Associates, Executives
Dennis Gibson had a choice to make. It was 1984 and Fred Meyer had just acquired Grand Central Stores, a grocery chain for which he was working in Utah. “One of my best decisions ever was staying with the company at that point because it’s just been an amazing journey,” said Gibson, who later became […]
Owner: Miller’s Fresh Foods Is ‘Not Going To Stand Still’
For Jeff Miller, owner of North Dakota-based Miller’s Fresh Foods, describing recent supply chain experiences as challenging would be an understatement. “Sales aren’t an issue,” he said. “Sales have been excellent. We can’t complain. But we’re battling supply issues…and that’s one of our biggest challenges is keeping our stores full.” However, Miller is finding ways […]
Fred Meyer Co. Celebrates A Century Of Service
Shelby Publishing EVP Bob Reeves recently visited Portland, Oregon, to catch up with the folks at Fred Meyer. The grocery retailer in the Pacific Northwest is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022, which is the focus of this special issue. Join us in the pages that follow as we learn how it pioneered the one-stop shop […]
Helping Independents Engage With Success, Manage Future
It would be too easy for NGA to spend the year of its 40th anniversary just looking back on its history. Sure, it’s important to remember where we’ve been, but history is meaningless without a future. That’s why NGA is pursuing key strategic initiatives in 2022 designed to give independent community grocers a competitive edge […]
Violette Says Different Perspectives Help ROFDA Members Learn
When the COVID-19 pandemic first began to unfold, Mike Violette saw the bi-weekly ROFDA conference calls as an invaluable resource for Associated Grocers of New England, of which he is president and CEO. “Each of us were able to bring something different to the table – the things that worked and those that didn’t […]
Food City Differentiates As Hispanic Grocer
Tom Duesman began operations at Food City in the Diamond Hill neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas in 2021. By then, the country was nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic. But every community still needs to eat, and he saw it as an opportunity when he acquired the store. This is the first grocery store […]
ROFDA Board Members Envision More Inclusivity, Involvement
Members of the board of directors for the Retailer Owned Food Distributors and Associates discussed the state of the industry and shared their thoughts on what may lie ahead during a panel discussion at the organization’s fall conference. Board member Michael Violette, president and CEO of AG New England, praised the value of ROFDA’s share […]
Ord Grocery Kart ‘Making It Work’ Through Pandemic Challenges
Ord is a small Nebraska town of about 2,000 people. Kiley White, owner/manager of Ord Grocery Kart, has been a part of the community for 26 years. Like many other independent grocers across the nation, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges to the local retailer but also offered a bit of a silver lining. “We’re […]
Smith Emphasizes Significance Of ROFDA’s Share Group Activities
To keep the future of ROFDA viable, David Smith, ROFDA board member and president of AWG, emphasized that a core value of the association is its share group activities. “It’s there that we find ways to tackle common problems that we have in our industry and our respective businesses, and we can learn from each […]
Isom IGA Is A Hometown Grocer, Through And Through
When Gwen Christon was introduced to grocery retail, she was just looking for a job in her hometown of Isom, Kentucky. “I didn’t envision ever being in the grocery business. I really just envisioned getting a job…and going to work,” she said with a laugh. After her entry position in stocking, Christon continued to move […]
Administrative And Operations Manager Held ROFDA Together
With the presidency of Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates vacant for the past two years, organization officials say Teresa Pope, administrative and operations manager, has been the “glue” that has held the organization together. Pope was part of the first executive staff that ROFDA hired in 1990. Through the three presidencies since then, she […]
South Dakota Retailers Association Celebrating Its 125th Anniversary
It’s difficult for Nathan Sanderson, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, to contain his enthusiasm when talking about 2022, which marks the group’s 125th anniversary. “We’re older than Ford Motor Company. We’re older than the World Series. We’re older than the National Park Service. So this is a really big milestone year for […]
Extending Relationships Has Helped ROFDA Remain Relevant
ROFDA board member Bob Obray’s fondest memories of the organization have always centered on building deeper relationships. “Across the industry, whether it’s with other cooperative members or vendors, service providers…it’s about relationships. And I think this kind of reinvention, revitalization, whatever you want to call it, ROFDA gives us an opportunity to expand and extend […]
North Dakota Grocers’ Group Expands Scholarship Program
The North Dakota Grocers Association has expanded its scholarship program for those involved in the industry, as well as people who are considering a career in it. John Dyste, president, mentioned three new scholarships that are available, one each for: high school seniors working at a local member grocery store; college students who return to […]
