Posted inSnacks Brands, Market Profile, Southeast

Ricky Joy Company Serves Up Drinks, Candies And Jellies

Colombian entrepreneur Julio Bayona wanted to create a product for kids of all ages and ethnicities. Coming from a background of focusing on Latino-centered retailed ventures, he founded Alpharetta, Georgia-based the Ricky Joy Company with that in mind.  “We had a dream to be mainstream,” Bayona said in a recent interview with The Shelby Report […]

Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National

Why Are Food Prices Still Rising? Look No Further Than Fertilizer

Fertilizer isn’t a glamorous topic. Far from it. But it’s a key player in the game of rising food costs. Plants need nitrogen, potassium and other nutrients to grow. Add more nutrients in the soil and plants grow bigger, vegetable and fruit yields skyrocket and, in turn, land becomes more productive and profitable. Reverse it […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Home Page Latest News, Midwest

Enforcement Of Robinson-Patman Act Is ‘Biggest Issue,’ Owner Says

Mike Planalp, owner of Blackford County Foods, in Fishers, Indiana, sees the biggest challenge to independent grocers and their growth is the federal government’s failure to enforce the Robinson-Patman Act of 1936. The act is an antitrust law that guarantees a competitive grocery marketplace. He operates six Save A Lot food stores in Indiana, a […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest

At Leppinks Food Centers, Each Store A ‘True Neighborhood Market’

Leppinks Food Centers is a fourth-generation, family-operated company headquartered in Belding, Michigan. The seven Leppink stores are owned and run by John Leppink, his brother-in-law, Rich Cole, and John’s cousin, Ransom Leppink. John Leppink, the majority owner, has four of the Leppinks locations but also six Save A Lot Food Stores and a True Value […]

Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, Northeast

Massachusetts Association Juggling Various Legislative Issues

Chris Flynn, president of the Massachusetts Food Association, said officials are dealing with various legislative issues, including the expansion of a bottle law, treatment of animals and credit cards. Lawmakers in late 2021 approved a 2016 voter-approved law tweaked by lawmakers that requires larger enclosures for egg-laying chickens, according to the Gloucester Daily Times. The […]