Grocery Industry Insights, Special Issues & Expert Advice
Posted inShelby Originals, C-Store News, Food Service News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Perishables, Shelby Signature Content, Southwest

Allsup’s Pushing Back Food Desert In Melrose, New Mexico

by John McCurry/contributing writer Melrose, New Mexico, is a town with a population of about 650 in the north central part of the state, about 30 miles from the Texas border. The town is in a rural area considered a food desert. Helping fill the gap is a new, larger Allsup’s convenience store, which offers […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Beverage News, Home Page Slider, Marketing News, National, Online Grocery Technology, Shelby Signature Content, Suppliers

Coca-Cola Showcases Innovation, Actionable Insights At NACS Show

by Treva Bennett/staff writer   The Coca-Cola Co. showcased a variety of innovation and actionable insights at the 2019 NACS Show, held in October at the World Congress Center in Atlanta. New products and new flavors will be introduced early this year, with a few released in late 2019. According to J.C. Harvey, director of […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, Marketing News, National, Shelby Signature Content, Snacks Brands, Suppliers

2020 Will Be A Year Of Innovation For Mars Wrigley Brands

Mars Wrigley showcased some of its innovations for a number of its iconic brands at the recent 2019 NACS Show in Atlanta. Shaf Lalani, VP of strategic demand leadership, said 2020 will be a big year for Mars Wrigley, with M&M’s Fudge Brownie being its largest launch. “You’re probably familiar with the caramel launch we […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Executive News, Home Page Slider, National, Shelby Signature Content

Johnston Retiring As Shelby Publishing’s Longtime President, Publisher

Shelby Publishing Co. President and Publisher C. Ronald “Ron” Johnston will close out his highly successful career at the Gainesville, Georgia-based company on Jan. 31, 2020. Johnston will have spent a total of 38 years with Shelby when he retires. He joined Shelby Publishing in 1977 as editor. Though he eventually moved to the advertising […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Guest Contributors, Home Page Slider, Merchandising News, Shelby Signature Content, Snacks Brands, Suppliers, West, Women In The News

People To Watch: Tiffany Crandell, Mars Wrigley Territory Sales Manager

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 Tiffany Crandell, territory sales manager, Mars Wrigley Confectionery.   Tell me a little bit about you […]

Posted inShelby Signature Content, Home Page Slider, National, Nonfood Items, Online Grocery Technology, Shelby Originals

Zynstra Has Technology To Relieve ‘Retail Edge’ Struggles

Zynstra showcased its edge virtualization technology in October at the NACS Show in Atlanta. In the previous 18 months, the U.K.-based company has been receiving a significant amount of interest from grocery and convenience/fuel retailers, according to Gavin Bisdee, VP of global marketing. Zynstra’s edge virtualization technology optimizes existing store technology and enables digital transformation. […]

Posted inMerchandising News, Corporate Store News, Executive News, Home Page Slider, Produce News, Shelby Originals, Southwest

Kroger’s Kelley: We Have Work To Do In Competitive Houston Market

Expect to see The Kroger Co. Houston Division team members take on more leadership roles outside the company. Other changes are coming, too, including more emphasis on diversified marketing and community engagement in the Houston area. Joe Kelley, who is president of the division, laid out some of the adjustments Kroger will make as he […]

Posted inInternational Foods, Deli News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Market Profile, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Online Grocery Technology, Produce News, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast

Hispanic Grocer Finds Success Across Different Cultures

by Treva Bennett/staff writer Born and raised in the grocery business, Omar Jorge has followed in his family’s footsteps and now is a partner in Compare Foods and chairman of Aurora Grocery Group. Compare Foods is a subsidiary of Aurora, which is an umbrella holding company. Each supermarket in the group is individually owned by […]

Posted inBeverage News, Center Store, Northeast, Shelby Originals, Suppliers, Women In The News

People To Watch: Welch’s Customer Team Leader Leslie Campbell

The Shelby Report and The Grocery Group have introduced a series entitled People to Watch that focuses on current and future leadership in the grocery industry. In this installment, The Grocery Group Founder and CEO Cindy Sorensen interviews Leslie Campbell, customer team leader, Welch’s. Tell me a little bit about you and what do you […]

Posted inBeverage News, Bakery News, Dairy News, Guest Contributors, Marketing News, National, Packaging News, Shelby Originals, Sustainability News

Sorensen: Innovation In Thought Was Lacking This Year

by Cindy Sorensen/founder and CEO, The Grocery Group Each year as I prepare to write my dairy industry “year in review” column, I reflect on the newsworthy events that occurred in the industry in the previous 12 months. This reflection often includes a look back on the following: new product introductions; ingredient, product and package […]

Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, National, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Wholesaler/Distributor News

UPDATED: ROFDA To Join Forces With NGA Jan. 1

The Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) organization will merge under the National Grocers Association (NGA) umbrella, effective Jan. 1, 2020. The announcement was made this morning at the NGA and ROFDA co-located fall conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. ROFDA’s current share groups and buying programs will continue to operate under this new […]

Posted inNational, Home Page Slider, Private Label Brands, Shelby Originals, Snacks Brands, Wholesaler/Distributor News

The Private Label Path To The Shelf: UNFI’s Essential Everyday Chips

by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest Editor’s note: The Shelby Report staff toured the Supervalu private brands facility in 2018, just before United Natural Food Inc.’s (UNFI) acquisition of the company. The staff again visited with private brands associates at this year’s UNFI National Expo and found that some of the products that the Shelby team had sampled […]

Posted inCenter Store, Home Page Slider, National, Shelby Originals, Specialty, Suppliers, The Kroger Co.

‘Spice King’ Lorren’s Gourmet Spices Headed To 1,500 Walmarts

by Lorrie Griffith/editor in chief Keith Lorren remembers climbing up to get into the spice cabinet when he was just 3 years old. He needed the spices to add to water to make “soup.” His grandmother inspired him to want to make soup. She had watched her father, Gene Johnson, who operated a soul food […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Executive News, Independent Store News, Marketing News, Midwest, Shelby Signature Content

People To Watch: Nick Lenzi Of Busch’s Fresh Food Market

The Shelby Report and The Grocery Group have introduced a new series entitled People to Watch that focuses on current and future leadership in the grocery industry. In this installment, The Grocery Group Founder and CEO Cindy Sorensen interviews Nick Lenzi, SVP of sales and marketing for Busch’s Fresh Food Market, which is based in […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, Executive News, National, Shelby Signature Content, Whole Foods

Former Trader Joe’s President Shares Views On Today’s Grocery Business

Doug Rauch drew a crowd for his opening keynote address at ECRS’ Retail Success Conference—Ignite 19—held July 29-31 in Nashville, Tennessee. Rauch spent 31 years at Trader Joe’s, ultimately serving as national president of the California-based food retailer for a couple of years after serving as president of the company’s East division for more than […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Bakery News, Beverage News, Corporate Store News, Deli News, Grocery Store Equipment, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Merchandising News, Sustainability News, West

On Site: Vons Unveils Remodeled Store In Corona, California

The Shelby Report’s Bob Reeves, VP-West, attended the Aug. 21 grand reopening of the Vons store at 369 Magnolia Avenue in Corona, California, following an extensive remodel. Every department in the store, which first opened about 20 years ago, was included in the refresh, according to Store Manager Robert Pfeffer, who spoke with Reeves on […]

Posted inShelby Originals, Corporate Store News, Deli News, Midwest, Shelby Signature Content, Women In The News

People To Watch: Kroger’s Assistant Category Manager Marie Otto

The Shelby Report and The Grocery Group have introduced a new series entitled People to Watch that focuses on current and future leadership in the grocery industry. In this installment, The Grocery Group Founder and CEO Cindy Sorensen interviews Marie Otto, assistant category manager for deli occasions, Kroger. Sorensen’s questions are in bold.   Tell […]

Posted inMarket Profile, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Marketing News, Merchandising News, Perishables, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Southwest

Profile: Zapata Next On List For Border Town Markets, Then Remodeling

by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest Amando Pena Jr. got into the grocery business working for his father. He carries on the tradition now with his own family. If you ask what makes him most proud, he will tell you it is that he and his wife, Dalina, are able to work with their three children, Liana, Amando […]