Celebrating 50 years of promoting, supporting and servicing the independent retail grocer with the Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates. Read from the leaders of ROFDA on what drives their entrepreneurial spirit and how they lead their organizations to success in the 2012 ROFDA Report. Open publication
Category: Shelby Content
Exclusive, in-depth stories from the Shelby team. Explore Food Industry features, market profiles, and unique perspectives from industry leaders.
Posted in, Feature, National
Diving Into Social Media Can Bring Up Valuable Info
Grocery is a hot topic on social media these days, with an estimated 10 million-plus industry-related digital conversations taking place each year. Grocery-related conversations on Yelp, for instance, grew by 25 percent in just one year’s time. And these conversations aren’t mere mentions. They are “rich, robust and informative” conversations, according to Black Pearl Intelligence, […]
Posted in, Feature, National
Social Media, Mobile Technology Increasingly Driving Shopper Behavior
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Kevin Kirsch, co-owner of Chevy Chase Supermarket in Chevy Chase, Md., understands the importance of technology and social media. In fact, he assumes the younger generation expects his 25,000-s.f. single-store operation to have a website, at the very least. “Then I assume that you figure stores should at least have a […]
Posted in, National, The Independent Perspective
Celebrating 30 Years Of Serving Independent Grocers
by Peter J. Larkin/president and CEO, NGA Special to The Shelby Report Three decades ago, a new organization was created to represent the independent sector of the supermarket industry. Today, the National Grocers Association (NGA) remains the only national trade association exclusively focused on representing the independent sector of the food industry. Over the past […]
Posted in, Guest Contributors, National
What If…The Holiday Sales Spirit Lived All Year?
You are just about to finish the most exciting sales season of the year. Starting in early October and running through New Year’s Day, seasonally merchandised supermarkets can expect a lift in transaction count and, more importantly, an increase in the average sale amount. Further, there is a spirit that prevails in most stores that […]
Posted in, National, The Independent Perspective
Grocers Take Notice: FDA Tobacco Compliance Checks Are On The Rise
by Peter J. Larkin/president and CEO, NGA Special to The Shelby Report The Tobacco Control Act, signed into law by President Obama in June of 2009, gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explicit power to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products. Since then, the retail industry has been subjected to new […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, The Independent Perspective
Ezekiel Bread Rolls Out Sprouted Flax Variety
Food for Life’s Ezekiel 4:9 bread is now available with sprouted flax. Like all Food for Life products, Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Flax Bread is 100 percent flourless and free of conditioners, additives, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. It also is made with filtered water and no added fat and is low-glycemic, diabetic-friendly, pH-balanced and kosher-certified. […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Northeast
New Jersey Struggles As Income Drops, Public Assistance Increases
[gn_note color=”#b1cbde”]The 2012 New Jersey Profile originally ran in the October 2012 edition of The Shelby Report of the Northeast.[/gn_note] by Kristen Cloud/staff writer New Jersey’s economy is struggling. Few would argue that. The Garden’s State’s unemployment rate hit a 35-year high of 9.9 percent in August, soaring over the national rate of 8.1 percent. […]
Posted in, Lipari Foods, Market Profile, Midwest
With Wisconsin In Political Spotlight, Grocers Ready For Home Stretch
[gn_note color=”#FFCC00″]The 2012 Wisconsin Profile originally ran in the October 2012 edition of The Shelby Report of the Midwest.[/gn_note] by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Wisconsin has been “under a tsunami of political activity,” says Brandon Scholz, president of the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA). Since the 2010 elections, four state senators and the lieutenant governor have faced […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Southwest
Tiered Offerings Keep Oklahoma Shoppers Happy
[gn_note color=”#ff3333″] The 2012 Oklahoma Market Profile originally ran in the October 2012 edition of The Shelby Report of the Southwest.[/gn_note] by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Hank Binkowski, CEO of Oklahoma City-based Buy for Less, has been in the food business all his life. His parents are Polish immigrants who came through Ellis Island, and they […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Northeast
Pennsylvania 2012 Profile: Proposed Cap on Sales Tax Vendor Allowance Dies in State House
[gn_note color=”#b1cbde”]The 2012 Pennsylvania Profile originally ran in the September 2012 edition of The Shelby Report of the Northeast.[/gn_note] by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Retailers in Pennsylvania earlier this year dodged what could have had a “catastrophic” impact on their businesses, according to Randy St. John, senior VP of association services for the Pennsylvania Food Merchants […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Market Profile, West
‘Getting Better’: Spirits Up Among Utah Retailers
[gn_note color=”#66cc66″] The 2012 Utah Profile originally ran in the September 2012 edition of The Shelby Report of the West. [/gn_note] by Kristen Cloud/staff writer It’s little wonder Utah recently was ranked the most liveable U.S. state of the future, based on a survey of its citizens and community leaders. With The Beehive State’s unemployment […]
Posted in, Feature, National
Consultant Describes What A Top Grocery Retailer Looks Like
What makes a supermarket the best? The Shelby Report asked Brian Numainville, a principal with The Retail Feedback Group, for his thoughts. Numainville spent more than 18 years at Nash Finch, most recently as senior director of research and public relations. In May, Numainville was named a principal at The Retail Feedback Group (www.retailfeedback.com), a […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Feature, National, Whole Foods
Coalitions, Cooperation, Congress Are Key in Battle Against ORC
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Shoplifting and Organized Retail Crime (ORC) are two very different crimes. A person may steal bread to feed a hungry family. A coordinated group steals items that can be turned into cash that typically funds other criminal activity. If there has been an increase in ORC arrests, it is because retailers […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Northeast
Rhode Island Retailers Continue to Successfully Battle Flat Economy
[gn_note color=”#b1cbde”]The 2012 Rhode Island Profile originally ran in the August 2012 edition of The Shelby Report of the Northeast. The profile will be published on theshelbyreport.com one month after it has run in print.[/gn_note] by Kristen Cloud/staff writer The Rhode Island economy continues to suffer. With unemployment still hovering around 11 percent, the Ocean State’s […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Midwest
Kansas, Missouri Grocers Hang Tough, Wait for November
[gn_note color=”#FFCC00″]The 2012 Kansas, Missouri Profile originally ran in the July 2012 edition of The Shelby Report of the Midwest. The profile will be published on theshelbyreport.com one month after it has run in print.[/gn_note] by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Missouri grocers, especially the independents, are hanging on through what many of them see as an […]
Posted in, Feature, Marketing News, National
Use ‘Barriers To Exit’ For More Sales From Customers
by Rick Rusch, Thought-Tech Special to The Shelby Report Grocers, like all merchants, are prone to a fairly simple view of marketing. Many grocers see their marketing as the basic activities designed to draw people to their store. But is that really the purpose of marketing? If so, then measuring the success of your marketing […]
Posted in, Feature, National
Organized Retail Crime Cutting into Grocers’ Profits
by Ashley Bates/staff writer Organized retail crime (ORC) involves a criminal network made up of many people who steal large quantities of goods from retailers and later resell the products, and it is a growing problem for U.S. retailers, costing them $3.53 billion in 2010, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Thomas Martin is […]
Posted in, Shelby Content, Southeast
Winn-Dixie Launches Prescription Program Including $4/$10 Generics
Winn-Dixie has launched in all of its pharmacies a prescription-savings program that offers deep discounts on more than 400 generic medications and varied discounts on name-brand and other generic medication. “Not everyone has insurance or health benefits that adequately cover prescriptions,” said John Fegan, VP of pharmacy for Winn-Dixie. “This program makes it easier for […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Southwest
Chains Popular with Hispanic Shoppers Expand in El Paso
[gn_note color=”#ff3333″] The 2012 On the Border Market Profile originally ran in the July 2012 edition of The Shelby Report of the Southwest. The profile will be published on theshelbyreport.com one month after it has run in print.[/gn_note] by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor El Paso’s appeal to Hispanic grocery chains is self-evident. According to the U.S. […]