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 […]
Category: Shelby Originals
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
