Publix’s GreenWise Market, which focuses on natural, eco-friendly, local and organic products, has partnered with local hydroponics farmers Brick Street Farms to grow, harvest and pack fresh hydroponic lettuce inside a 40-foot container farm on-site at the Lakeland, Florida, GreenWise Market. The hydroponic container farm: Holds the equivalent of 2.5 to 3 acres of traditional farmland; […]
Category: Shelby Content
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Market Profile: AGRMA Says Success May Hinge On Online Experience
by John McCurry, contributing writer Charlie Spakes, executive director of the Arkansas Grocery and Retail Merchants Association, AGRMA, said the future success of independent grocers may depend largely on how quickly they can adapt to online ordering. “They probably would have liked more time to get ready and get adapted before this whole [COVID-19] crisis […]
Market Profile: Allen’s Foods Cultivates Camaraderie Within Caring Community
Bella Vista is a city of about 31,000 in the northwest corner of Arkansas, some seven miles south of the Missouri line. It lies in the middle of a resort area with a large number of retirees and also serves as a bedroom community to nearby Bentonville, home of Walmart’s headquarters. Serving the Bella Vista […]
Market Profile: Cash Saver Adds Fourth Store In Memphis Area
Shoppers tired of pandemic, but that ‘does not make it go away’ by John McCurry, contributing writer Rick James, owner and CEO of Castle Group, based in Memphis, operates four Cash Saver stores. That includes the recent acquisition of a store that closed in April due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The stores have performed well so […]
Market Profile: TGCSA-Backed Talent Exchange Connected Laid-Off Workers
by John McCurry, contributing writer With areas of the economy – notably hospitality – hit hard by the pandemic, the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association worked with the Tennessee Department of Tourism to connect laid-off hotel and laid-off restaurant workers with jobs in the grocery industry, which was scrambling to find workers. Rob Ikard, […]
Market Profile: Pandemic’s Efforts Stretch From Bay Area To Oregon Line
by Cynthia Weifenbach, contributing writer The grocery industry has been at the forefront of feeding Northern California communities and doing its best to provide safe environments throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, not unlike other areas of the country, there are differences even within the region, such as San Francisco Bay and Sacramento. “We have these patches,” […]
Soto: U.S. Hispanics Consider Internet Essential During Pandemic
by Terry Soto / CEO of About Marketing Solutions Inc. A recent Pew Center survey published in April 2020 finds that Hispanics are 28 percent more likely to say the internet has been essential during the pandemic (65 percent Hispanics vs. 50 percent White-Non-Hispanic). This is great news for retailers because as shoppers work to […]
HR & Benefits: Robust Training For Supervisors Crucial To Success
by Chris Cooley / co-founder, MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors Employee and compliance issues are common for grocers, therefore reducing risk and avoiding problems are major priorities. One way an employer can reduce liability risks is to ensure supervisors and workers have the knowledge and tools necessary to comply with all applicable employment-related laws. This […]
Assoc. Grocers CEO With Optimistic Outlook Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
by John McCurry / contributing writer Overall, grocers in Louisiana and Mississippi have handled the coronavirus pandemic well. That’s the assessment of Manard Lagasse, president and CEO of Baton Rouge-based Associated Grocers. Associated Grocers provides resources and support for more than 200 independent grocers in those states and Texas. “Obviously, there have been some issues […]
Family-Run Trucchi’s 92 Years Old And Thriving Despite Challenges
by John McCurry / contributing writer Jim Trucchi grew up in his family’s grocery business in Massachusetts. He’s now the CEO of Trucchi’s Supermarkets, a six-store chain, and thanks in part to the challenges of running a business during a pandemic, he’s never been busier. “I’m 67 and I’ve been doing this since I was […]
No Evil Foods, ANF Feed Growing Appetite For Plant-Based Products
by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer For Mike Wolianksy and Sadrah Schadel the journey to running No Evil Foods, a plant-based meat company in Asheville, North Carolina, began with the homesteading life in upstate New York. “We just were doing as much as we could from scratch because we wanted to try to know more […]
NORTHEAST: Lidl Sets Grand Opening Events For Second Wave Of Long Island Stores
Lidl will hold grand opening events for its newest stores in Long Island, New York – East Meadow on July 29 and in Patchogue on Aug. 5. Both ribbon-cuttings will start at 7:40 a.m. The new Lidl food markets, which are located at 1980 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow and 655 Montauk Highway in Patchogue, […]
Minnesota’s Cargill Makes Swift Move Into Plant-Based Protein
Midwest retailers expanding space to keep pace with shopper requests by John McCurry, contributing writer Consumption of plant-based protein products continues to surge across the U.S. This not only includes beef or chicken substitutes, but an array of products. The Plant Based Food Association and the Good Food Institute released a study earlier this year […]
Meat Alternatives, Beyond Meat And Impossible Foods Leading Nationally
by Cynthia Weifenbach, contributing writer Two of the biggest players in the burgeoning plant-based foods industry – Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods – call the West Coast home. Since January, Impossible Foods’ retail footprint has increased more than 30-fold, including 219 H-E-B and Central Market grocery stores across Texas and 1,700 stores owned by […]
SOUTHWEST: Central Market To Celebrate 25th Annual Hatch Chile Festival
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of its signature Hatch Chile Festival, Central Market in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, has expanded the annual event to three weeks, Aug. 5-25, featuring more than 400 Hatch-related products in every area of the store and roasting more peppers than anyone outside of Hatch, New Mexico. With more people cooking at […]
Big M Supermarket Setting Weekly Sales Records For Licari
by John McCurry, contributing writer Carmen Licari’s first taste of the grocery business came as a young kid, working in his parents’ store in New York. Now 71, Licari proudly proclaims he’s been in the business for 65 years. The owner of Big M Supermarket in Dolgeville, New York, he is a third-generation grocer. His […]
MIDWEST: BJ’s Wholesale Club To Open In Chesterfield, MI On July 31
BJ’s Wholesale Club say it will open its newest club, located in Chesterfield, Michigan, on Friday, July 31. “We’re excited to open our doors at the end of July and provide our community with the convenience and value of a BJ’s membership,” said Malika Harris, general manager of the new store. “The safety of our members, […]
SOUTHEAST: Learning Never Stops At Stokes: Family Grocer Navigates Supply Chain
by John McCurry, contributing writer “The supply chain is kind of broken at the moment,” said John Childers, owner of Stokes Supermarket. “The factories are having a tough time. There are certain categories that are coming back, but some are still limping along. We are still having trouble getting Clorox, Lysol, that type of product.” Counting […]
MIDWEST: Meijer Opens Five New Supercenters In The Midwest
Today, Meijer President and CEO Rick Keyes announced that the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based grocery chain opened five supercenters across the Midwest. Located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Sycamore, Illinois; Bad Axe, Michigan; and Brimfield and Lorain, Ohio, the 159,000-square-foot supercenters offer a modern shopping experience, providing customers multiple ways to shop. Meijer says it anticipates its various […]
Neiman Siblings Continue Family Tradition
Company is ‘hometown’ store in four locations by John McCurry, contributing writer Like many independent grocers, Bryan Neiman grew up in the business. His parents, Hal and Jean, opened their first store in Alpena, Michigan, in 1983. During subsequent years, Neiman’s Family Market added stores in Tawas, St. Clair and Clarkston, Michigan, for a total of […]
