One of Scolari’s stores features strong gaming presence by John McCurry / contributing writer Jerry Scolari thinks increased grocery sales, propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue through the first part of 2021. He is co-owner of the two-store chain, Scolari’s Food and Drug, which he said has been up to the challenges presented […]
Category: Shelby Content
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Posted inROFDA Reports, Home Page Slider, National, Shelby Originals
Labor, Product Shortages And Uncertainty Among Top Concerns for ROFDA
Members also assess e-commerce, other trends likely to stick around by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer With 2021 in full swing, ROFDA Chairman David Bullard said the association’s membership has expressed three major concerns. “One is the labor problem. Finding enough quality workers with a good work ethic gets harder and harder to do. Labor challenges […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Originals
Independents Nationwide Eye Another Strong Year In 2021
IGA offers initiatives, help to keep pace with the trends by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Phil Blackburn owns four IGA grocery stores in eastern Washington, two of which are general market and the others Hispanic-oriented. In 2021, he expects another good year for independent grocers. “We’re still holding with a lot larger basket size, so […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Slider, National, Shelby Originals
NGA To Independent Supermarkets: Tell Your Story, Emphasize Local
Consumers likely will keep associating them with safety by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Greg Ferrara sees 2021 as “the year of opportunity for independents.” Because while 2020 brought disruption to businesses across the nation in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery came out stronger on the other side. “Our industry overall responded incredibly well, […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, National
Column: Taking A Peek Past Pandemic – Predictions For 2021, Beyond
by John Ross, president and CEO of IGA Your inboxes likely are filled with looks back at 2020 and reflections on all the craziness that ensued. Instead, I want to look forward to 2021 and the years ahead in our industry. Using insights from our stores in China, which has been dealing with the coronavirus […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Home Page Slider, National, Shelby Originals
Sorensen: Channel Competition Driving Growth of Wholesale Services
by Cindy Sorensen / founder, The Grocery Group Many of you can only imagine how much change occurs over the course of nearly 40 years in any given field. In 1983, I started my career in the grocery industry as a sales representative for Nestlé Foods. I was responsible for selling a portfolio of Nestlé products in […]
Posted inGelson's, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Food Industry Hall of Fame, Industry News, Shelby Content, Shelby Honorees, Shelby Signature Content, West, Woman Executive of the Year, Women In The News
Well-Deserved Honors For Gelson’s Executive
Donna Tyndall is a shoo-in for The Shelby Report of the West’s Woman Executive of the Year award as well as induction into the Food Industry Hall of Fame. Currently serving as SVP of store operations for Encino, California-based Gelson’s, Tyndall was the first woman in management for the upscale grocer. And she has taken […]
Posted inFood Industry Hall of Fame, Anniversary Issues, West
CEO Song Honored As Superior Grocers Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Inseparable – Mimi Song and Superior Grocers Superior Grocers is one of the largest independently owned chains of grocery stores in Southern California. From its first store in 1981 in Covina, the company has grown to 47 locations. Superior takes pride in having prospered in neighborhoods where others failed because of its commitment to – […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, Special Section, West
The Superior Foundation Focuses On Art Education For Children
Also supports various causes in community, offers scholarship opportunities to employees Interviews with members of the company’s leadership team were conducted by Shelby Publishing EVP Bob Reeves and compiled by Shelby’s Mary Margaret Stewart. Something near and dear to the hearts of Mimi and Marie Song is the Superior Foundation, which was founded 20 years ago as the […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, West
After Four Decades, Superior Shines As Example Of The American Dream
Immigrant-led company ‘ready to go forward faster’ Interviews with members of the company’s leadership team were conducted by Shelby Publishing EVP Bob Reeves and compiled by Shelby’s Mary Margaret Stewart. With 47 stores and plans for many more, Superior Grocers is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2021. And what’s kept the company successful is its core values – integrity, […]
Posted inFood Industry Hall of Fame, Albertsons, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, West
Superior Grocers’ Management Amazed By Leader’s Work Attitude, Energy
Admire humble approach, persistence and emphasis on teamwork throughout business Mimi Song, a Korean immigrant, founded Hispanic specialty grocery store Superior Grocers with her sister, Marie, in the early 1980s. Strong-willed and determined to achieve the American Dream, Song found great success. This year, the company is celebrating 40 years in the business – with no plans to slow […]
Posted inFood Industry Hall of Fame, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, West
Mimi Song Has Fashioned Successful Career In Grocery Industry
Superior’s CEO immigrated from South Korea with early designs on a different path Mimi Song, founder and CEO of Superior Grocers, has been selected for the Food Industry Hall of Fame. In recent interviews with Bob Reeves, EVP of Shelby Publishing, which were compiled by Shelby’s Mary Margaret Stewart, Song recalled her rise to CEO of a successful grocery chain. Mimi […]
Posted inShelby Content, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Originals
New Awards Program To Honor Diversity, Equity And Inclusion
Shelby seeks nominations for leading DEI companies Nominations are now open for Shelby Publishing’s new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion awards program, which will launch in 2021 to recognize the most iconic companies working to advance and uphold diversity, equity and inclusion in the U.S. grocery industry. Shelby will recognize and celebrate companies across all sectors […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, Northeast
Market Profile: Tweedie Family Transitioned From Trucking Into Groceries
Runs IGA stores in Mars Hill, Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Josh Tweedie worked through high school and college at one of the grocery stores he currently owns and operates in Maine. He then spent most of his early professional career with his father’s trucking business. “I worked in the […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Slider, Southeast, Whole Foods
Market Profile: COVID-19 Struck And So Did Fresh 3Bros Stroopwafels
Unsurprisingly, the biggest challenge for Fayetteville, Georgia-based 3Bros Stroopwafels was generating sales during a time of uncertainty – the COVID-19 outbreak. “In March, we had just finished building our commercial bakery in Fayetteville,” said Leslie Vliegen, who owns 3Bros with husband Guido. “We entered the market at a particularly difficult time. Fortunately, our stroopwafels are […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, Southeast, The Kroger Co.
Market Profile: Great American Cobbler Co. Helps Farmers Sell Crops
by Mary Margaret Stewart / staff writer The Great American Cobbler Co. – a majority woman-owned, family-owned, American-owned cobbler and pot pie business – is new to Homerville, Georgia. But it’s not new to the state – actually, far from it. Member/manager of GACC Russ Goodman is a seventh-generation South Georgia blueberry farmer. One of […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Home Page Slider, National
Will Growth Of E-Commerce Change In-Store Experience?
by Cindy Sorensen / founder, The Grocery Group Unless you were living under a rock in 2020, it was impossible to go an entire day without seeing an article or newsclip about the role of e-commerce in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic – and shoppers’ reluctance to fulfill their grocery needs through a brick-and-mortar […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, Southeast
Market Profile: KJ’s Markets Grows With Help Of State Group, Sister Store
by Mary Margaret Stewart / staff writer KJ’s Markets began in 2006. One location at a time, the grocer has built 18 stores in Georgia and South Carolina. Operating in two states, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been easier with the help of the Georgia Food Industry Association and the Carolinas Food Industry Council. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Southeast
Market Profile: Reynolds Foodliner Team ‘Wants To Get It Done’
Asked what he believes sets Reynolds Foodliner apart from its competitors, President Tom Coogle proclaimed it the “easiest question anyone has ever asked me.” “It is our people,” he continued. “We have got a team that wants to get it done. And I think the reason we built that is because we’re focused on bettering […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Albertsons, Home Page Slider, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
Market Profile: Restaurant Shutdowns Boosted NM’s Independent Grocers
by Mary Margaret Stewart/staff writer The first two to three months of the pandemic “went pretty crazy” in New Mexico’s grocery industry, said Breck Stewart, executive director of the New Mexico Grocers Association. A stressed supply chain and panic buying left shelves bare. That craziness, however, was good for the industry. “The grocery business has […]