Shelby Originals | In-Depth Food Industry Stories & Analysis
Posted inRecommended Reading, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Content, Southeast, Store News

Recommended: North Carolina Co-Op To Close In A Few Weeks

A community that desperately needed a grocery store will soon have to find another place to shop for food items. Renaissance Community Co-op announced Wednesday afternoon the store is closing due to lack of sales and not being able to keep up with their expenses. “We got some information from one of our lenders and […]

Posted inShelby Content, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Midwest, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content

Minnesota Nice Could Get Tested In St. Paul This January

by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest There is much that is new and unique in Minnesota right now. Let’s start with the Minnesota Grocers Association’s (MGA) new logo. It was refreshed in 2018 after almost 20 years to more accurately reflect the association’s mission. The logo now features a grocery cart as the foundation for the state, reflecting […]

Posted inShelby Content, Albertsons, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Southwest, Store News, Whole Foods

The Shelby Report Of The Southwest’s 2018 Year In Review

A super buy, first-ever closure and a great American is honored in Oklahoma There were some unexpected closures in 2018 brought to readers by Natural Grocers and Sam’s Club. Down in San Antonio, H-E-B has delved deep into high-tech with its acquisition of on-demand delivery service Favor and upcoming tech facility and innovation lab for […]

Posted inShelby Content, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News

Georgia’s Grocery Market Is ‘Extremely Competitive’

by Treva Bennett/staff writer As Georgia’s economy has improved over the past few years, competition in the grocery industry has grown. Kathy Kuzava, president of the Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA), said for the fifth year in a row Georgia has been named “No. 1 State for Business” by Site Selection, a leading economic development […]

Posted inPackaging News, California Perspective, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, West

California Perspective: Cups, Plates And Straws, Oh My

by Ronald K. Fong/president & CEO, California Grocers Association There is an expression—“get on the bus or get run over by the bus”—that rings true from time to time in politics. Every so often, when faced with huge policy shifts on the horizon, one is forced to make this very calculation. CGA did this a […]

Posted inGuest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Shelby Content

HR & Benefits News: Top 2 HR Compliance Questions From Independent Grocers

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Independent grocers are all too familiar with the challenges they face on a daily basis regarding the rapidly evolving supermarket industry, including competition from conventional grocery giants, changing technology, and managing cash flows amidst food deflation and increased labor […]

Posted inSoutheast, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Content, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content

The Shelby Report Of The Southeast’s 2018 Year In Review

The top 10 stories in the Southeast over the past year have largely been related to stores, whether it was competitive pressures causing stores to be sold or successful grocers expanding into new territories. 1. Southeastern Grocers files Chapter 11 The Jacksonville, Florida-based grocer that operates Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo, Harveys and Fresco y Mas stores filed a […]

Posted inShelby Content, From the Editor, National

The Shelby Report Will Have A New Look For The New Year

As the new year approaches and thoughts turn to resolutions and self-improvement, The Shelby Report would like to let you know about a few improvements we’re making to our products. Starting early in the new year, you’ll notice some changes to our website and e-newsletters. TheShelbyReport.com is getting a new look that we think will […]

Posted inRetailer of the Year, Independent Store News, Southeast

Rouses Is The Shelby Report Of The Southeast’s Retailer Of The Year

From the Editor Rouses respected by vendors, loved by customers—an ideal choice for our Retailer of the Year Award This section honoring Rouses Markets is the largest special section The Shelby Report has done in its 51-year history. These 100 pages are testament to the strength of Rouses’ relationship with its customers and vendors—as well […]

Posted inRetailer of the Year, Albertsons, Southwest

HAC Inc. Is The Shelby Report Of The Southwest’s Retailer Of The Year

Fresh executive team breathes new life into employee-owned Homeland Homeland is a banner of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based HAC Inc., which has been around for 102 years. Its mission is to operate the best grocery stores by providing exceptional customer service, clean and friendly stores, strong perishable departments, competitive prices, continuous involvement of technology to better […]

Posted inMidwest, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Content, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Store News

Hornbacher’s Continues To Grow In Fargo, North Dakota, Area

by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest Hornbacher’s soon will open its ninth store. It will be the chain’s eighth Fargo/Moorhead market location and the first in West Fargo, North Dakota. Three-quarters of the walls were up the last time Hornbacher’s President Matthew F. “Matt” Leiseth visited the site. The 65,000-s.f. store should open in the spring. “We are […]

Posted inPackaging News, Grocery News, Guest Contributors, Industry News, Midwest, Produce News, Shelby Content

Bring The Farmers Market To Life In The Produce Department

by Claire Lentsch/a contributor to The Shelby Report Produce thrives when it is fresh, affordable, exciting and expresses vintage appeal. It is healthy, fast and filling, making it the ideal snack. Nobody has to question, “Is this good for me?” Consumers assume most items in the produce category will improve their health, and these natural […]

Posted inGrocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Recommended Reading, Shelby Content, Store News, West

Recommended: Save Mart Is Changing Its Look And Feel, But Not Its Valley Grown Pride

The fresh face leading Modesto-based grocery giant Save Mart wants to bring fresh ideas, a fresh look and fresh experience to the Central Valley. The Save Mart Companies CEO Nicole Pesco, whose grandfather Michael Piccinini and great-granduncle Nick Tocco started the venerable valley brand in 1952, is now almost two years into her tenure at […]

Posted inAlbertsons, Food Industry Hall of Fame, Home Page Latest News, Retailer of the Year, Shelby Originals, Store News, West

Albertsons Named West Retailer Of The Year; Miller Joins Hall Of Fame

Albertsons Cos. may not be the obvious choice for our 2018 West Retailer of the Year honor, as the Boise, Idaho-based grocer has been going through the painstaking integration process with Safeway for the past three and a half years, which has been “a distraction,” according to Chairman Robert G. “Bob” Miller. But that process […]

Posted inFood Service News, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Content

Discover Gold In ‘Customer Zones’: A Proven Strategy To Increase Foodservice Sales

by Howland Blackiston/principal, King-Casey My July article in The Shelby Report pointed out that grocery stores and supermarkets could learn a lot from QSRs and fast-casual restaurant competitors as they entered the “brave, new world of branded, proprietary food offerings.” Specifically, they needed to (1) develop a menu strategy; (2) commit to continuous innovation; and […]

Posted inShelby Content, Anniversary Issues, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Northeast, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Store News

Geissler’s Looks To The Future After 95 Years In Business

Bob Rybick, the new president and CEO of Geissler’s Supermarkets, believes one of its strengths after 95 years of service to its Connecticut and Massachusetts customers is the retailer’s connection and commitment to each of the seven communities it serves. Rybick leads the family’s fourth generation that owns and operates Geissler’s, and he is not […]

Posted inShelby Signature Content, Anniversary Issues, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Northeast, Shelby Content, Shelby Originals, Special Section, Store News

Longtime Geissler’s Leader Reflects On More Than 44 Years Of Service

Jim Nilsson Jr., longtime leader of Geissler’s Supermarkets in Connecticut and Massachusetts, quietly retired early in September. He is still working on a couple of projects at Geissler’s, such as e-commerce and installing new software for sales and purchasing. Nilsson’s duties as owner and CEO, however, are finishing up as he transitions into retirement and […]

Posted inShelby Content, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News

Lowes’ President Continues To Ask: How Can We Reinvent Ourselves?

Tim Lowe, president of North Carolina-based Lowes Foods, was a featured speaker at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) Leadership Forum in August in Colorado Springs. Lowe was among the speakers invited to share their strategies and collaboration opportunities. Lowe oversees a locally owned (by Alex Lee Inc.) and operated grocery company comprising nearly 100 full-service […]

Posted inShelby Content, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National

HR & Benefits News: Workplace Bullying And The Potential Costs

HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. Most of us experienced or witnessed bullying on the playground as kids, but many small and medium business owners are unaware of how prevalent bullying currently is in the workplace, and how corrosive it can be to the work […]

Posted inHome Page Latest News, Midwest, Recommended Reading, Shelby Content, Store News

Recommended: Supervalu To Close Remaining Shop ‘N Save Stores

Supervalu said Thursday it would close the remaining 16 Shop ‘n Save stores and one remaining fuel center by Monday, Nov. 19. The stores and fuel center are all located in the St. Louis area and in the Springfield, Illinois area. “The decision to close the remaining Shop ‘n Save stores was a difficult decision […]