Grocery Industry Insights, Special Issues & Expert Advice
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Southwest

South Texas Meat Markets Adjust To COVID-19 Pandemic

By John McCurry/contributing writer Even during a pandemic, holiday weekends in Texas are prime selling times for meat. Just ask Carter Ray, co-owner of Wiatrek’s Meat Market in Poth and San Antonio. “Usually holiday weekends bring about 30 percent more business,” Ray told The Shelby Report a few days before Memorial Day. “That, added to […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, Southwest

Oskar Blues Debuts Limited Release Barrel-Aged Series

Oskar Blues Brewery launched its BA20 Series of limited release barrel-aged beers in April with the first of four entries—All Monde—in four-packs of 12 oz.-cans. The company said the nationwide release follows years of experimentation with small-batch barrel-aged beers and the distribution of Bourbon Barrel Aged Ten FIDY Imperial Stout. To make All Monde, the […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Latest News, National

Cors: Incorporate Influencer Marketing Into Your Marketing Strategy

by Laiza Cors/guest columnist, co-founder and CEO of Embello When companies think about being on social media, they view it as a mandatory marketing activity with questionable results. Outside of fashion, many other industries struggle to find their place on social media and lack the knowledge of how to use it to connect with their […]

Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Grocery Store Equipment, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Slider, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology, Shelby Originals, Supply Chain News

Price Chopper Takes Nimble Approach While Awaiting ‘New Normal’ 

by John McCurry/contributing writer The ringing cash registers at Price Chopper’s 51 stores in the greater Kansas City region tell the tale of strong business. However, in the early weeks of the coronavirus era, there is much more to tell than increased sales. “If you look at so many changes happening in the country, the […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Southwest

Market Profile: Population Growth Causes Optimism In North Texas

by John McCurry/contributing writer In-migration to North Texas helps keep grocers happy and optimistic. Major corporate relocations to the region have brought an influx of new customers. Texas ranked second in the nation for relocation activity in 2018, according to the 2020 edition of the Texas Relocation Report released earlier this year by the Texas […]

Posted inYear In Review - 2020, Barons Market, Executive News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Shelby Originals, West

WEST: People To Watch: Dana Shemirani and Rachel Shemirani, Barons Market

The Shelby Report and The Grocery Group have partnered on this series, entitled 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 Dana Shemirani, VP-purchasing, and Rachel Shemirani, SVP, of Barons Market in Southern California.   Tell me […]

Posted inMidwest, Home Page Slider, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content

People To Watch: Katie Waeltz, Topco Associates

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 Katie Waeltz, VP of category management and insights for Topco Associates LLC.   Tell me a little bit […]

Posted inSouthwest, Albertsons, Association News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, International Foods, Market Profile, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content

Market Profile: Oil Industry Fueling Food Retail Growth In West Texas

by John McCurry/contributing writer Gary Huddleston, a former longtime Kroger executive now serving as grocery industry consultant for the Texas Retailers Association (TRA), describes the grocery business as being robust across most areas of Texas. “Western Texas is certainly unique. There are three or four metro areas, but the vast majority is rural. The four […]

Posted inSoutheast, Beverage News, Home Page Slider, Marketing News, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Suppliers

Cigar City Expands Reach, Sees More Room for Growth

Cigar City Brewing in Tampa has grown rapidly since it was founded 13 years ago, expanding from a small operation with sales in Florida to having distribution across the U.S. and internationally. The brewery was founded in 2007 by Tampa Bay native Joey Redner and brewed its first batch of beer, Maduro Brown Ale, in […]

Posted inSoutheast, Center Store, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Organic Natural, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Suppliers

White Leaf Provisions To Branch Out From Biodynamic Baby Food Roots

White Leaf Provisions, a Mount Pleasant, South Carolina-based company specializing in biodynamic food products, primarily for babies, has big plans for 2020, including introduction of new products and wider distribution. The company, founded in 2016 by Keith Rowe and his wife, Megan, is a small, family-run business that focuses on pure foods. The company’s niche […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Midwest, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content

Market Profile: Distribution A Challenge For Grocers In The Dakotas

by John McCurry/contributing writer While they are two different states, North Dakota and South Dakota share some challenges for their independent grocers. Distribution to retailers in rural areas and labor shortages are common problems for both North and South. Our market profile looks at the economies and state of the grocery industry in the Dakotas. […]

Posted inBravo Supermarkets, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, International Foods, Market Profile, Marketing News, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Whole Foods, Year In Review - 2020

SOUTHEAST: Market Profile: More Bravo Stores Planned For Florida’s Southern Half

by John McCurry/contributing writer Bravo Supermarkets has been growing fast in Florida ever since it expanded there about 16 years ago. The chain now has more than 50 multicultural stores in Florida and is looking to add more. Bravo is part of a “virtual” chain operated by New York-based Krasdale Foods and its marketing arm, […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Home Page Slider, Northeast, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content

Janssen’s Market Successfully Fills ‘Gourmet Convenience’ Niche

by John McCurry/contributing writer Janssen’s Market has been a fixture in the Greenville, Delaware, community for 68 years. Paula Janssen, the store’s current co-owner, is the granddaughter of its founder, Joseph Janssen Sr. Her parents—Joe Jr. and Eileen Janssen—are her co-owners. Since its founding in the fall of 1952, the store has focused on being […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Executive News, Home Page Slider, Merchandising News, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Women In The News

People To Watch: Lindsay Koch, Koch & Associates Inc.

The Shelby Report and The Grocery Group have partnered on this series, entitled 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 Lindsay Koch, president of Koch & Associates Inc.  in Atlanta. Tell me a little bit about […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Association News, Home Page Slider, Marketing News, Merchandising News, Produce News, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast

Sweet Grown Alabama Program Is Gaining Momentum

by Treva Bennett/web editor In an effort to support Alabama agriculture and clearly label local products, the Sweet Grown Alabama (SGA) program was launched in August 2019. Director Ellie Watson said SGA started accepting membership applications from growers in September and the program is “rolling right along.” Watson said SGA has more than 50 members […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Food Service News, Frozen Food, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Marketing News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, Suppliers

Paul Wahlberg On Hand For Hy-Vee Wahlburgers Opening

Hy-Vee Inc. opened its fifth Wahlburgers franchise location Jan. 24 in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. It is the second Wahlburgers location in Wisconsin. The 5,300-s.f. Wahlburgers is located at 322 North Broadway. Chef Paul Wahlberg, who founded the Wahlburgers restaurants along with his celebrity brothers Donnie and Mark Wahlberg, spoke to The Shelby Report’s VP […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Association News, Beverage News, Home Page Slider, Marketing News, Merchandising News, Shelby Signature Content, West

Master Sommelier Shares Tips At SoCal NEW Event

Editor’s note: Members of the Southern California chapter of the Network of Executive Women (NEW) got a wine appreciation lesson from Eddie Osterland, master sommelier. Osterland, author of the book “Power Entertaining,” spoke at the NEW event, held Nov. 7 at The Clubhouse at Anaheim Hills. Here is part one of Osterland’s presentation. In 1973, […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Equipment & Technology, Food Service News, Home Page Slider, Market Profile, Online Grocery Technology, Shelby Signature Content, Southwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News

High-Tech Facilities Gravitate Toward Land Of Enchantment

by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest It is no small thing when a company like Virgin Galactic relocates jobs to a state. But then, New Mexico went big when it invested more than $200 million in Spaceport America, an 18,000-acre FAA-licensed facility adjacent to the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range and about 45 miles north of Las […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest, Shelby Signature Content

Grocery Business Is In DNA Of Mackenthun’s Fine Foods Family

by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest August Mackenthun opened a little butcher shop in Plato around the turn of the last century. The exact year is not known, said Kim Mackenthun, who with his son, Jaime, and daughter, Jessa, owns the business today. “Jaime and Jessa’s great-great-grandfather started a little store 12 miles west of (Waconia) right about […]