by Alissa Marchat/staff writer Growing from its first humble location in a farmers market booth to a budding national—and maybe even international—brand, Ben’s Soft Pretzels is taking the next steps in its development by partnering with Meijer and Walmart to open in-store locations. Founded in Indiana in 2008 by Ben Miller, an Amish baker; Brian […]
Category: Shelby Content
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Third Time The Charm For Posey And The FIM Program
It took three tries for Patrick Posey to get into the USC FIM Program. And by the time he did, he had blazed a new trail. “For me, it wasn’t the school (that was difficult) as much as it was getting into the school because I actually applied for the program three times,” said Posey, […]
Restaurateur Danny Meyer: Foodservice Industry Must Find Balance Between Technology, Personal Connection
Restaurateur Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, founder of Shake Shack and one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2015, sat down for an interview with Food Marketing Institute President and CEO Leslie Sarasin at this year’s FMI Midwinter Executive Conference in Miami Beach. During their discussion of “The Future of […]
Festival Foods Debuts Smaller Format Store In Madison
Festival Foods opened a new store Friday in Madison, Wisconsin, and its 50,000-s.f. size makes it unique for the chain, said Mark Skogen, owner and CEO. “It is a departure from our normal format, a little bit smaller, and we have fresh product on one side of the store, dry product on the other, which […]
Expert: Preparing For The Proposed New Overtime Rule
by Chris Cooley/MyHRConcierge Special to The Shelby Report On March 15, the Department of Labor (DOL) sent the controversial overtime rule that drastically increases the salary threshold to be considered exempt from overtime to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is the final review stage in the process prior to the rule […]
What Will The Meat Case Look Like In 10 Years?
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Shoppers now see fewer meat cutters at service cases in grocery stores and more flavor sealed products in the self-serve case. That is a trend likely to continue. The question attendees at a workshop during the recent NGA Show had is what will the meat case look like in 10 years. […]
Ralph Ketner: Always An Idea Man
Ron Johnston, Shelby Publishing Co.’s president and publisher, sat down with Ralph Ketner, founder of Food Lion, on March 7 for a by-invitation interview in Ketner’s office at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, inside The Ralph W. Ketner School of Business, which Ketner endowed in 1989. Johnston interviewed Ketner 19 years ago, about six […]
Improving On-Shelf Availability: The Next Evolution Of Retailer-Supplier Collaboration
by Ted Moyer/Special to The Shelby Report Retailers are facing unprecedented pressure to increase sales, decrease costs and retain customers. And grocery retailers are no exception; the industry has reached new competitive heights thanks to the rise of omni-channel and new store formats. As a result, the battle for profits and shopper loyalty has never […]
California Assembly Votes To Raise Tobacco Age To 21
The California Assembly on Thursday voted to raise the age of sale for tobacco products to 21, add electronic cigarettes to state tobacco regulations and approve other measures to further reduce tobacco use. The state Senate previously approved similar measures and is expected to give final approval soon. By increasing the tobacco age to 21, […]
United’s Market Street Banner Growing Under Albertsons Umbrella
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor United Supermarkets adopted a strategic growth plan in 1998 that grew the company into what it is today. It was a milestone in the company’s timeline, as United Supermarkets opened its very first Market Street store in Wichita Falls. The Market Street banner is described as “where everyday meets gourmet” with […]
Leaders Of Lowe’s Markets, Coborn’s Honored With NGA Awards
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has recognized two industry leaders with its top awards during the 2016 NGA Show, which runs through March 2 in Las Vegas. The Thomas K. Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award was presented to Roger Lowe Sr., president/chairman of the board for Lowe’s Markets. Lowe began his career in the grocery industry […]
Most Stores Will Need To Add 54 Additional Items Under Proposed SNAP Rule That Aims To Increase Healthy Options
by Kristen Cloud/web editor In mid-February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed a rule designed to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants increased access to healthy foods by requiring stores that accept food stamps to stock a wider range of healthy options. The rule now is under a 60-day comment period, which ends […]
Expert: How Independents Can ‘Win’ With Technology
Ross Ely, president and CEO of ProLogic Retail Services (PLRS), a provider of loyalty and customer relationship marketing services for the grocery industry, attended this year’s FMI Midwinter Executive Conference, held recently in Miami Beach, Florida, and he came prepared to share his technology expertise with conference attendees. A growing concern for independent retailers is […]
Affiliated Foods Midwest’s Martin Arter Honored With NGA Spirit Of America Award
Martin Arter, president and CEO Affiliated Foods Midwest, has been recognized with the National Grocers Association (NGA) Spirit of America Award. The presentation was made at the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association’s (NGIA) annual legislative dinner on Jan. 28. The award, presented by NGA President and CEO Peter Larkin, is one of NGA’s top honors and recognizes […]
Shelby 2016 Market Profile: The Dakotas
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor North Dakota Sees A Bit Of A Slowdown In The Oil Fields In Texas they’re used to oil boom, oil bust, repeat. Folks in North Dakota’s Bakken shale region are getting used to it, too. “It’s not the first time we’ve been through this,” Tom Woodmansee, president of the North Dakota […]
Is Daikon Radish The New Cucumber?
by Karen Caplan/Special to The Shelby Report Each December, I get to visit New York City. It’s one of my favorite global destinations, and it is especially delightful during the holiday season. The weather is cold and brisk, the holiday lights are up, and everyone is in the spirit of the holidays. Several years ago […]
Wienerschnitzel Unveils Express Format
Wienerschnitzel, “Home of America’s Favorite Chili Dog,” exhibited at the NACS Show for the first time in 2015 to promote its new Express model. The concept is being tested at a Colorado convenience store and is performing significantly above expectations. The franchisee operating the test location, Tobey Williams, operations director of Rocky Mountain C-Stores, spoke […]
NGA Launches Enhanced Website
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has launched a new, redeveloped website to better serve its members and educate consumers about the independent supermarket industry. “In today’s information age, people are going online on a daily basis, seeking information on a variety of issues, and NGA wants our website to be a destination that provides timely […]
NMSU Researchers Work To Increase Produce Sales In Grocery Stores
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor New Mexico State University College of Business marketing professors Collin Payne and Mihai Niculescu have been looking for ways to encourage shoppers to spend more of their food dollars on fresh produce. They are co-directors of NMSU’s Consumer Behavior Laboratory, which is equipped with eye-tracking software, a virtual grocery store and […]
Supplier Spotlight: ‘Not The Wise Of Yesteryear’
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Jolie Weber has been leading Wise Foods since June, but the CPG veteran has been with the Atlanta-based company for nearly 12 years—holding executive leadership roles in areas ranging from marketing to finance. “I have always been in the consumer packaged goods industry,” Weber says. “My first job out of college […]
