Shelby Originals | In-Depth Food Industry Stories & Analysis
Posted in, Independent Store News, Market Profile, West

’14 Wyo. Profile: For Independent Operators Jim & Carmen Diehl, Biz And Community Go Hand In Hand

Jim and Carmen Diehl are true independent supermarket operators, running three stores in the northeast corner of Wyoming and helping to keep their small towns viable. Jim and Carmen each have been in the industry for more than 30 years and own Diehl’s Supermarket in Moorcroft, Joe’s Food Center in Upton and Paradise Foods in […]

Posted in, California Perspective, Industry News, Store News, West

Calif. Governor Signs Landmark Carryout Bag Legislation

After years of work, California grocers scored a major victory Tuesday with Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature on Senate Bill 270—a measure that creates a consistent, statewide standard for regulation of carryout bags. More than 120 local jurisdictions have enacted their own regulatory schemes, many with slight variations. The patchwork has become confusing for grocery retailers […]

Posted in, California Perspective, Store News, West

CGA’s Fong Pleased With Strategic Conference 2014

Ron Fong, president and CEO of the California Grocers Association (CGA), spoke with The Shelby Report’s VP-West, Bob Reeves, during the CGA Strategic Conference Sept. 21-23. It was the conference’s third year in Palm Springs, and “I think it’s the best one this year,” Fong said. “A little over 850 attendees, which is better than […]

Posted inWoman Executive of the Year, Albertsons, National, Shelby Content, Shelby Honorees, Shelby Signature Content, West, Women In The News

Woman Executive Of The Year 2014: Unified Grocers’ Sue Klug

Sue Klug is perhaps the best-known woman in the West Coast food industry. The 54-year-old Unified Grocers executive started in the business at Vons as Susan Lawmaster in her early 20s. She went on to work at Lucky Stores before joining Catalina Marketing and later Albertsons/Supervalu. Prior to coming on board with Unified in late […]

Posted in, Market Profile, Southwest

Format Agility Helps Brookshire Brothers Meet Community Needs

Brookshire Brothers expanded its super­market count by five and convenience operations by six stores over the last year. Jerry Johnson, president and CEO, uses the word “vibrant” to describe the state of the Lufkin-based company, and 2014 looks promising as well. Projects include rebuilding an Apple Springs facility destroyed last year and incorporating a North […]

Posted in, National, The Independent Perspective

A Congressional Year In Review And A Look To Future Action

Similar to 2012, this past year’s themes encompassed those of partisan gridlock and legislative uncertainty, making it another challenging year for our industry. While the so-called “fiscal cliff” was averted in the very early hours of 2013, Americans experienced a partial government shutdown for the first time in more than a decade. Many issues, including […]

Posted in, California Perspective, Guest Contributors, West

A Light At The End Of The WIC Moratorium Tunnel?

by Ron Fong, CGA president/CEO For The Shelby Report California continues to suffer under an indefinite moratorium on new WIC vendor authorizations. The issue remains one of the most critical facing California’s retail grocers. The California Grocers Association (CGA) has taken a multi-pronged approach in an attempt to help the California WIC Department and the […]

Posted in, Independent Store News, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast

How AWG Formed The Consortium That Landed Belle Foods

by Kristen Cloud/staff writer How did Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) manage to put together the consortium that will buy 43 Belle Foods stores across three states? David Smith, SVP and Gulf Coast Division manager for AWG, says it’s due to the determination of the co-op’s members. Birmingham, Ala.-based Belle Foods filed for bankruptcy July 1. […]

Posted in, Southeast, The Independent Perspective

Southern Season Opens In Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

A Southern-style emporium featuring cooking classes, a specialty grocery store, a restaurant and more is now open for business in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Live 5 WCSC reports that Southern Season, located at 730 Coleman Blvd., is holding a grand opening celebration through Sept. 22. The festivities include live music, cooking demos, tastings and a “Southern […]