Shelby Originals | In-Depth Food Industry Stories & Analysis
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Natural And Organics On The Rise, Legislative ‘Red Tape’ On The Decline In Kentucky

by Alissa Marchat/staff writer From bourbon to fried chicken, Kentucky is known for a number of indulgences, but the Bluegrass State appears to be going “clean” and “green” when it comes to groceries. The state has seen a recent influx of players in the natural and organic grocery segment, including Lucky’s Market, Fresh Thyme Farmers […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Content, West, Wholesaler/Distributor News

Unified CEO On 3Q Results: On Track After Haggen’s Hit To Top Line

Unified Grocers suffered a blow during its fiscal third quarter due to the loss of business from Haggen’s Pacific Southwest stores but, according to the wholesaler’s leader, there also are reasons to be pleased with the results, which came out Monday. The “top line was hit a little bit, certainly…this was the quarter when Haggen […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News

Rouses’ Leader Preps For First Baton Rouge Store Opening As Rebuilding Of Flooded Unit Begins

Donny Rouse stays busy, but his schedule has been especially challenging over the last several days. The managing partner of Rouses Markets, the nearly 50-store chain based in Thibodaux, Louisiana, is getting renovations under way at the grocer’s Denham Springs unit, which was destroyed by the historic and deadly floods that inundated the southern portion of […]

Posted in, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, National, Perspectives, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content

Demographics Don’t Tell The Whole Story…But Store Managers Do

For years, grocery retailers followed a simple formula to identify their key customer. The target was a woman 19 to 49 years old. Why? Because this group most often was married, had children, were homemakers and did the majority of grocery shopping. Their shopping list was usually made up of recipes for family meals. As […]

Posted in, Feature, Home Page Latest News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National

Millennials: A Challenge, And Opportunity, For The Meat Industry

New research from Midan Marketing explores how Millennials’ meat consumption differs from that of Baby Boomers One of the largest generations in U.S. history is moving quickly into its prime spending years and forcing companies to re-evaluate the way they do business. Currently, the size of the U.S. Millennial market is 75.4 million, according to […]

Posted in, Anniversary Issues, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Store News, West

Stater Bros. Officially Marks 80th Anniversary On Wednesday

Stater Bros. Markets will officially celebrate a big anniversary on Aug. 17. It was on this day in 1936 that the first Stater Bros. market opened in Yucaipa, California. For 80 years, Stater Bros. has continued the heritage of its founders by providing its customers with the lowest possible prices, the best quality merchandise and friendliest […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, National, The Independent Perspective

Former House Speaker Boehner To Keynote 2017 NGA Show

Former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John Boehner will deliver the opening keynote address, sponsored by The Kraft Heinz Co., during the National Grocers Association’s (NGA) 2017 NGA Show, Feb. 12-15 at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. A former small businessman, Boehner served for nearly five years as […]

Posted in, Center Store, Feature, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content

Greeting Cards In The Grocery Cart?

by Sara Fernández Cendón/Creative Director-Cultural Identity, Hallmark Cards Special to The Shelby Report Why Hispanics are a natural fit for greetings within grocery retail If you cater to Hispanic customers, you already know the facts: Hispanics are frequent visitors to grocery stores and actually enjoy the experience; they favor fresh foods and home-cooked meals; and […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Shelby Content, Southeast, Store News, Wholesaler/Distributor News

Louisiana Leaders: Industry Can Help Those In Path Of Historic Floods

As is the norm when it comes to natural disasters, grocers and others in the industry are wondering what they can do to help those impacted by the historic flooding in Louisiana. “Over the last 10 days, heavy rains have been falling in South Louisiana but, over the last three to four days, extraordinary amounts […]

Posted in, Albertsons, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Store News, West

Grocery Outlet Execs Share ‘Secret Sauce’ Ingredients

Grocery Outlet opened a new location in Costa Mesa in December, adding to its 250-plus store count and venturing for the first time into Southern California. Executives from the company offered a peek behind the curtain into the operations of the chain during a recent Food Industries Sales Managers’ Club (FISMC) event honoring Grocery Outlet. The […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News

Bulk Nation President: How We Capture Millennial Shoppers

by Clay Donato/Bulk Nation Special to The Shelby Report The only thing constant in the grocery industry is change; opportunities and challenges will always be fast-moving targets. Capturing and keeping the Millennial market is important now and will continue to be into the future. So our industry should respond. In fact, an operator who is […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, National, The Independent Perspective

2016 Independent Grocers Financial Survey: Same-Store Sales Increase 2.1 Percent

FMS and the National Grocers Association (NGA) have released the results of the 2016 Independent Grocers Financial Survey, covering fiscal year 2015. This joint study polled independent supermarket operators in 38 states and four Canadian provinces on their financial performance and business strategies, and provides an in-depth look at the economic, political and competitive landscape […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Specialty, Wholesaler/Distributor News

KeHE Distributors Launches Care Trade With Companies That Do Good

During its show in Indianapolis in June, KeHE Distributors launched what it calls its “Care Trade” program. Scott Silverman, VP of growth solutions and own brands, made the announcement with a panel of speakers representing brands that are part of it. “I’ve known their brands as a consumer for quite a while, so we’re really […]

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National And Regional Retailers Thrive In Gulf Coast Market

by Alissa Marchat/staff writer Times are still tough and competition, as always, is a challenge for retailers in Louisiana and Mississippi, but that’s not stopping a number of national and regional chains from thriving in those states. From new locations to same-store growth, the outlook for many retailers is positive. Brandon Trosclair, GM and owner […]

Posted in, Center Store, Grocery News, Guest Contributors, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, National, Snacks Brands

Column: Getting A Boost From Nutrition Bars

by Naomi Sleeper Director of Business Development Imperial Distributors As the sun makes an appearance in the summer, so do we…on bike paths, hiking and running trails, waterfronts, sports fields; any outside venue, really. The seasonal upswing in outdoor activities, enhanced by a growing focus on wellness and active lifestyles, means a boost in the […]

Posted in, Albertsons, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, ROFDA Reports, Shelby Signature Content, West

Trading Company Stores President: Humor Is A Differentiator

Trading Company Stores President Paul Matejovsky had no intention of being in the grocery business. He grew up in Montana, spending “half my time on a saddle horse and the other half on a tractor. I was going to be a cowboy, baby.” He told those gathered for the ROFDA Spring Conference in Coeur d’Alene, […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast

Harry’s Farmers Market Founder Still Speeding Along In Life And Work

Harry Blazer opened his first Harry’s Farmers Market in Alpharetta, Georgia, in 1988. Blazer grew the business into three mega-stores and six Harry’s in a Hurry locations, generating revenues of $140 million and employing 1,200 people. Admitting later that the company expanded so fast it “ran out of runway,” Blazer sold to Whole Foods Market […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Southeast

2016 North Fla. Market Profile: SNAP Changes, Fierce Competition

by Kristen Cloud/staff writer The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps, in Florida has seen two big changes this year—one proving a positive for retailers; another impacting their bottom line, and not for the good. In January, the work requirements for food assistance for an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) […]

Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, National, Online Grocery Technology, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content

Column: Going Beyond Technology To Empower Organizations

by Brian Miller, Intesource, a PROACTIS company Special to The Shelby Report Technology has long been a valuable asset in sourcing projects. Sourcing technology can enable organizations to be more transparent, foster innovation, drive meaningful improvements in process efficiencies and effectively manage costs. But not all solutions can deliver the specific results you’re after, and […]