FireLake Foods, headquartered in Shawnee, Oklahoma, is the largest grocery store in the U.S. that is owned by a Native American tribe, according to Richard Driskell, director of retail. Citizen Potawatomi Nation opened the 84,000-square-foot store in 2001 on tribal land in Shawnee. The tribe now owns three grocery stores, two convenience stores and four […]
Category: Shelby Originals
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
Help Consumers Better Understand Grocery Business, Full Impact Of Inflation
Independent grocers are more in tune than most businesses with the communities they serve. Grocers see folks every week – sometimes every day – to help them with their families’ needs. Grocers engage, communicate and commiserate, offering ideas and solutions amid challenging economic times. So, it may come as a surprise that, according to recent […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
Reality Of U.S. Economy – Inflation, Stagflation, Disinflation, Economic Pessimism
How’s that for a headline? Or better yet, how’s that for a description of the current economic situation in the U.S.? Confused? You are in good company. American consumers may not know one “-flation” phase from the next. But they don’t have to be economists to know that the economy seems to be a lot […]
Posted inFeature, Amazon Fresh, National, Shelby Signature Content, Snacks Brands, Whole Foods
Sales Of Confections Posting Increases Across Categories
Even with inflation and price increases, consumers still are focused on food and beverages, including confections. In an Aug. 23 webinar presented by Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, Dan Sadler, principle of client insights at market research firm Circana, took a deeper look into the confections industry. Looking at dollar sales percent change versus a […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Pennsylvania’s Election Battleground Status Will Capture Nation’s Attention In 2024
Assessing Pennsylvania’s status as a battleground state in the 2024 election, Alex Baloga didn’t mince words. “To say that it’s going to be a wild next year is probably putting it mildly,” said Baloga, who is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association. For the first time in 12 years, the Pennsylvania House […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Feature, National
Panel At IFPA Global Produce And Floral Show Addresses AI
“Technology does not scale linearly. It scales exponentially.” That comment from Patrick Vizzone, executive director of DiMuto, perhaps best sums up the CEO Panel on Oct. 19 at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show in Anaheim, California. The panel – Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president and CEO of SHRM; Elliott Grant, CEO of Mineral, […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, C-Store News, Feature, National
Tech, Foodservice Paramount At NACS Show
Over the past 20 years, convenience stores have become much more than a place to pick up drinks, snacks or a magazine. “But what does the next 20 years look like,” asked Jeff Lenard, VP of strategic industry initiatives for the National Association of Convenience Stores. The size of the industry itself attests to its […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Albertsons, Association News, West
Utah ‘Exceptional’ State For Independent Grocers
Utah was named the No. 1 state for economic outlook for the 16th year in a row by Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index. According to a statement from the office of Gov. Spencer Cox, this is attributed to “strategic policies, smart fiscal decisions and forward-thinking reserve funds, combined with the hard […]