by John McCurry, contributing writer Fairvalue has been the prominent independent grocer in Caldwell County, North Carolina, for more than 75 years. The company currently operates stores in Lenoir and Granite Falls. Shawn Yambor is the current owner, following in the footsteps of his father, who had a long career in the industry. Yambor’s parents purchased […]
Category: Shelby Originals
Posted inPiggly Wiggly, COVID News, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Originals, Southeast
Market Profile: Piggly Wiggly Keeping Pace With Pandemic Challenges, Changes
Manufacturers don’t ‘see this going away’ until late 2021 by John McCurry, contributing writer James Messer knows the grocery business. The Lenoir, North Carolina, native has spent the past 45 years in the industry. Now president of Piggly Wiggly North Carolina LLC, he oversees 38 stores in the eastern part of the state. Without doubt […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, National, Snacks Brands
National Confectioners Association Generating ‘Positive Brand Identity’
Downs-led organization touts Always A Treat campaign by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer The new focus of the National Confectioners Association is on four goals – advocacy communication, trends and disruptions, thought leadership and financial strength. According to John Downs, the NCA’s president and CEO, these aspects “matter the most to the confectionery industry.” And […]
Posted inPackaging News, Guest Contributors, Home Page Slider, Midwest, Shelby Originals
Sorensen: Take A Look At Closed Loop Recycling For Produce Packing And Shipping
by Cindy Sorensen/founder, The Grocery Group Consumers have a plethora of choices in the grocery store today. Manufacturers have responded to consumer research to ideate and develop products that will meet changing consumer tastes, trends and demands. Retailers, too, had to change their merchandising, assortment and pricing strategies to meet the demands of shoppers. The power […]
Posted inProduce News, Albertsons, Home Page Latest News, National, Online Grocery Technology, Shelby Originals
Vertical Farming Firms Expanding Distribution Across Country
Lettuce touted as hyperlocal, healthier This is the second article in a three-part series by The Shelby Report on the produce industry. by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Over the past decade or so, vertical farming has grown tremendously through research and development. And during COVID, it proved to be a safe and reliable solution for some […]
Posted inCOVID News, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, West
USC FIM Class Of 2020 Holds Virtual Graduation
Also honors top exec, departing professor From staff reports Only high-potential employees of proven ability from food industry companies are eligible for admission into the Food Industry Management Program at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. But the 2020 FIM Program was anything but typical. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, USC […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, West
Market Profile: Broulim’s Fresh Foods – ‘It’s Like A Family Working For This Company’
Employee-owned retailer features ‘grocerant’ concept by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Rigby, Idaho-based Broulim’s Fresh Foods has been in business for 98 years. The week after Labor Day was the company’s 98th anniversary. Scott Zahrn, sales and operations manager, has been with the independent retailer for about two decades. During that time, he said the […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, COVID News, Home Page Latest News, Northeast, Shelby Originals
Market Profile: Karns Foods Thrives On Meat Department, Which Has Grown
by John McCurry, contributing writer For the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania market, COVID-19 pandemic-buying really hit Karns Foods and other supermarkets on March 11. “That week was full force, and it has been since then,” said Andrea Karns, VP of sales and marketing and granddaughter of the chain’s founder. “As a community, it is still very much at […]
Posted inCOVID News, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Southwest, Supply Chain News
Market Profile: Leevers Supermarkets Embraces Hyper-Local Focus, New Format
by John McCurry, contributing writer Leevers Supermarkets, headquartered in the Denver suburb of Franktown, traces its roots to 1938 in North Dakota. Today, the company operates 18 stores along Colorado’s Front Range between Fort Collins and Pueblo. Most of the stores are under the Save-A-Lot banner. In addition, the company operates El Mercado de Colorado, […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Southeast, Whole Foods
Market Profile: Trucking, Technology Among Trends For Grocers Across Bluegrass State
by John McCurry, contributing writer Tod Griffin, executive director of the Kentucky Grocers & Convenience Store Association, is among industry observers who believe the pandemic has accelerated the trend toward online grocery shopping. Many stores had been sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see what some of the bigger players were going to do. “A […]
Posted inCOVID News, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Southeast
Market Profile: Long’s Pic Pac Pleased To Serve Pineville
Owner: ‘We do things for people…we are full service’ by John McCurry, contributing writer With a population of less than 2,000, Pineville, Kentucky, is small. The nearest city of any significant size is Knoxville, Tennessee, some 70 miles south. The region is economically challenged due to the recent decline of the coal industry. The local hospital […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Originals
Supermarkets Welcome Recent Fix For ‘Retail Glitch’
This is the first article in a two-part series by The Shelby Report on fixing the “retail glitch.” by John McCurry, contributing writer Robert Rybick, CEO of Geissler’s Supermarkets, has been a proponent of remedying the “retail glitch” since it became apparent that a clerical error in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act inadvertently disrupted […]
Posted inCOVID News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Shelby Originals
Market Profile: Kansas, Missouri Markets Wondering What’s Next
by John McCurry, contributing writer Independent grocers in the southern half of the Midwest have faced COVID-19 pandemic challenges similar to their counterparts in other regions. They have endured many stressful months but also have thrived under challenging conditions. The Shelby Report recently spoke with three longtime grocers in Missouri and Kansas, as well as the […]
Posted inMarketing News, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Originals, Southeast
Profile: Meet Melissa Fulmore-Hardwick With Acosta
The Shelby Report and The Grocery Group together present this series, People to Watch, to focus on current and future leadership in the grocery industry. In this installment, The Grocery Group Founder and CEO Cindy Sorensen interviews Melissa Fulmore-Hardwick, VP of IT enterprise applications for Acosta. Tell me a little bit about you and what […]
Posted inYear In Review - 2020, COVID News, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, West
WEST: Market Profile: Harmons In Utah Always Puts Shoppers First
by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer After finishing college, Jordan Meister moved back in with his parents in Utah while he worked to pay off his student loans. “The day after I moved, my mom told me to go get a job,” Meister said. “So I went down to Harmons and got a job washing […]
Posted inShelby Originals, COVID News, Home Page Latest News, National
FMI Foundation Exec Sees U.S. Shifting Back To ‘Cooking Culture’
Webinar explored habits at home during pandemic by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer To David Fikes, executive director of the FMI Foundation, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a transformational effect on U.S. kitchens, with more people using their time to cook. “Some would say that it has reversed the trend of America from being an eating […]
Posted inCOVID News, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Northeast, Shelby Originals
Market Profile: Dave’s Fresh Marketplace Stays Nimble During Pandemic
by John McCurry, contributing writer Susan Budlong has worked at Dave’s Fresh Marketplace in Rhode Island for 24 years, currently serving as the independent grocery chain’s director of marketing and communications. Budlong also sits on the executive committee and the board of directors of the Rhode Island Food Dealers Association. She has a clear view […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Southeast
Profile: Meet Katie Hotze, Founder And CEO Of Grocery Shopii
The Shelby Report and The Grocery Group together present this series, People to Watch, to focus on current and future leadership in the grocery industry. In this installment, The Grocery Group Founder and CEO Cindy Sorenson interviews Katie Hotze, founder and CEO of Grocery Shopii. Tell me a little bit about you and what do […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, Southwest
Market Profile: AGRMA Says Success May Hinge On Online Experience
by John McCurry, contributing writer Charlie Spakes, executive director of the Arkansas Grocery and Retail Merchants Association, AGRMA, said the future success of independent grocers may depend largely on how quickly they can adapt to online ordering. “They probably would have liked more time to get ready and get adapted before this whole [COVID-19] crisis […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, Southwest
Market Profile: Allen’s Foods Cultivates Camaraderie Within Caring Community
Bella Vista is a city of about 31,000 in the northwest corner of Arkansas, some seven miles south of the Missouri line. It lies in the middle of a resort area with a large number of retirees and also serves as a bedroom community to nearby Bentonville, home of Walmart’s headquarters. Serving the Bella Vista […]