The Shelby Report’s Editor-in-Chief Lorrie Griffith sat down with National Grocers Association (NGA) President and CEO Peter Larkin at the NGA Show in Las Vegas in earlier this month, which turned out to be the show’s seventh consecutive year of record-breaking attendance—more than 3,400—including a record level of retailer and wholesaler participants. The Expo floor […]
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The Opportunity For Fresh Prepared
by Anne-Marie Roerink/Principal, 210 Analytics Prior to the recession, a popular expression was “time-starved consumers.” But the economic downturn and its aftermath had shoppers shifting their attention from convenience to a host of money-saving measures. Many retailers shifted their advertising and merchandising focus to the needs of the penny-pinching consumer in response. Now, the ever-improving […]
Luby’s Cafeteria Group Brings Fried Fish Entrée To H-E-B Freezers
As part of an exclusive partnership formed with H-E-B late last year, Luby’s says it is is “bringing one of its most iconic dishes off of the line” and into approximately 270 store locations around Texas—as the cafeteria group introduces its Fried Fish to freezer aisles across the state. “We’re excited to expand our offerings […]
New N.H. Greenhouse Yields Fresh, Sustainable Year‑Round Greens
Lēf Farms (lēf stands for Let’s Eat Fresh and is pronounced “leaf”) was formed in Loudon, New Hampshire, to transform the way New England retailers and foodservice operators get their greens. Company officials say the goal is to give customers “incredibly fresh,” tasty greens that are carefully grown nearby, “not clear across the country”—year-round. The […]
Modern Pod Co. Rolls Out Hummus Pods
The Modern Pod Co. has launched Hummus Pods, a new hummus “snacketizer.” Hummus Pods are hummus encased in a crispy, chewy multigrain shell. They are portable and made with natural, real ingredients, according to the company. The pods also are vegan and plant-based. A single serving of three pods is 160 calories. They are pre-baked, fresh […]
The Multicultural Influence Across Grocery’s Perimeter Categories
With the rapid growth of multicultural households in America and their unparalleled influence on the marketplace, there is a strong need for retailers to revise their in-store strategies to include a wider range of fresh food products and flavor profiles that cater to the multicultural consumer set. That’s according to Nielsen, which has released a […]
Asian Retailer One World Market Eyes Opportunities For Expansion
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer Ethnic retailing is a bright spot in the supermarket industry, and One World Market believes that the Asian demographic is emerging as one of the brightest. The Asian population in the U.S. has grown by 43 percent in the last decade, recently replacing Hispanics as the country’s largest immigrant group, the […]
Kroger Introduces Chef Junior Program At Select Georgia Stores
Kroger’s Atlanta Division has launched its Chef Junior program, aimed at developing the culinary talents of its youngest shoppers and hosted at more than 20 stores throughout Georgia. Each 20-minute workshop includes personal guidance from a Kroger chef as the children learn to create foods like cupcakes and personal fruit pizza. As part of every […]
Southeastern Grocers Streamlines Private Label Brands
The Bi-Lo, Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery banners, all owned by Southeastern Grocers (SEG), are merging their own brand products into a single, uniform brand featuring a new label. It allows SEG to provide more value, choice and differentiation to its customers, according to the Jacksonville, Florida-based company. SEG calls the move the company’s “largest-ever transformation of […]
Mondelēz International Launches One Of The First Sponsored SmartLabel Apps
Mondelēz International has launched one of the first sponsored SmartLabel apps, making in-store, on-the-spot access to detailed product information for many of its U.S. snacking products possible from smartphones. More than 1,100 products across the U.S. snack product portfolio—biscuits, crackers, cookies, chocolate, gum and candy—now are searchable through the new “SmartLabel Sponsored by Mondelēz International” […]
Costco Buyers Share Plans, Successes At FISMC Luncheon
Executives and associates from Costco Wholesale’s Los Angeles-area buying office were the guests of honor at the Food Industries Sales Managers’ Club of Los Angeles luncheon on Jan. 25. Sarah Wehling, VP/GM for the Los Angeles regional buying office, introduced four guest speakers for the event—buyers in different categories. Wehling herself oversees the buying of […]
First Trucks To Depart From Publix’s New Alabama Distribution Center On Feb. 22
Publix Super Markets will begin shipping grocery items from its new McCalla, Alabama, distribution center on Feb. 22, the same day the Jefferson County facility hosts its grand opening ceremony. It is Publix’s first distribution center in the Cotton State; the grocery chain currently operates seven DCs in Florida and one in Georgia. The first […]
Stop & Shop Unveils Plans For Supermarket In Mixed-Use Development
Stop & Shop has filed a letter of intent with the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) outlining plans for a new state-of-the-art supermarket at the site of its existing store at 60 Everett Street in Allston, Massachusetts, as part of a broader, new mixed-use residential community. Known as Allston Yards, the proposed project is fully […]
WinCo Foods Opens DC In Denton, Texas
WinCo Foods opened a new distribution center on Tuesday—an 800,000-s.f. facility in Denton, Texas. The $135 million DC is located at 300 S. Western Boulevard. Boise, Idaho-based WinCo opened its first Texas stores in 2014 and now operates nine units in the state. The new DC, which will support stores in Texas and Oklahoma, includes […]
Study: Gap Between Shoppers Using Social Media And Connecting With Their Supermarkets Remains Wide
The Retail Feedback Group (RFG) has released the “U.S. Supermarket Shopper Digital Update,” a new report focusing specifically on the digital aspects of shopper engagement with supermarkets. The report is an offshoot from RFG’s annual report of supermarket shopper satisfaction, the “U.S. Supermarket Experience Study.” Social media gap remains an opportunity While 87 percent of supermarket […]
Fareway Stores Promotes Eight
Fareway Stores on Tuesday announced eight promotions during the Boone,-Iowa-based company’s quarterly managers meeting. The company did not provide the employees’ previous roles. • SVP-procurement: Aaron J. Irlbeck • SVP-merchandising: Michael J. McCormick • VP-engineering: Matthew J. Sherwood • VP-direct store delivery: Thomas J. Laven • VP-warehouse and trucking operations: Wesley D. Bass • VP-produce […]
Rosie Will Serve As First Online Grocery Platform For Independents To Accept SNAP Payments
Participants in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will soon have a new, convenient way to shop and pay for their groceries. At The NGA Show, happening now in Las Vegas, Rosie announced that independent grocers using its e-commerce app can now offer customers the ability to shop online and pay for SNAP-eligible items at-store using […]
Ridley’s Family Markets Partners With Digital Foodie To Offer On-Demand Ordering
Jerome, Idaho-based Ridley’s Family Markets, which operates nearly three-dozen stores in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, has deployed Digital Foodie’s on-demand platform. The new service will include branded websites and mobile applications that provide personalized shopping experiences for customers across the retailer’s Mountain West footprint. Ridley’s also will put Digital Foodie’s picking and fulfillment tools […]
IGA Announces Its New Cause Marketing Partner
by Lorrie Griffith/editor-in-chief IGA USA revealed its new cause marketing partner at its 2017 Global Rally, Feb. 10-12 in Las Vegas. The new partner is Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, an organization that is summed up best by its tagline, according to President and CEO Marcia Lee Taylor: Where families find answers. The organization offers support […]
Unified Grocers Goes The Extra Miles For Retailers In Alaska And Guam
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer The grocery industry is a tough one to succeed in, particularly when your store is located thousands of miles away from your wholesaler. That’s the challenge faced by those retailers in Alaska and Guam, which are served by Unified Grocers out of Seattle and California. Grocers and consumers alike face their […]
