Rothove promoted to VP and DM for Great Lakes Division Kansas City, Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers has announced a series of personnel moves in its Gulf Coast and Great Lakes divisions triggered by the retirement of longtime executive Jack Wall. Wall, VP and division manager for our Gulf Coast Division, retired in December. AWG tapped […]
Category: Midwest
The Shelby Report of the Midwest covers grocery retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Follow the latest store openings, remodels, leadership changes and market news from the region.
Posted inCenter Store, Albertsons, Home Page Slider, Midwest
SuckerPunch Gourmet Pickles Unveils New Logo And Packaging
SuckerPunch Gourmet, the maker of premium flavor-packed pickles crafted with a signature 11-spice blend, Bloody Mary mixes and pickle juice, unveils a logo and packaging refresh across its brand portfolio. Rolling out onto shelves in early 2021, the redesign was made to better represent SuckerPunch Gourmet’s brand identity and unique flavors, and reflect the whimsical, […]
Posted inProduce News, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Leonardo’s Produce Joins FreshEdge Family Of Companies
Leonardo’s Produce, a distributor of fresh produce and specialty products, has joined FreshEdge, a family of produce and specialty food companies backed by Rotunda Capital Partners. This action further diversifies the group’s combined customer base and increases its breadth and depth of service offerings in Michigan and Ohio. Leonardo’s joins a growing family that includes Piazza […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Polar King Names Giese As Customer Service Agent
Polar King International, a nationwide manufacturer of walk-in coolers, freezers and refrigerated trailers, has appointed Rachel Giese to the position of customer service agent. She will be based at the company’s headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana, according to Dave Schenkel, Polar King president. “Rachel has responsibilities for customer service, parts identification and technical support,” Schenkel […]
Posted inPackaging News, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Sustainable Food Packager PaperTech Acquired By May River Capital
PaperTech, a leading manufacturer of paperboard packaging products to the frozen food industry and foodservice markets, has been acquired by May River Capital, a Midwest-based private equity firm focused on helping high-caliber industrial businesses grow and prosper. Founded in 1999 by Larry Epstein and Al Fotheringham and based in Bingham Farms, Michigan, PaperTech has more than two decades of […]
Posted inLipari Foods, Home Page Slider, Midwest, Specialty
Lipari Foods Finalizes Acquisition Of Tut’s International
On Dec. 31, Lipari Foods, a specialty food distributor based in Warren, Michigan, closed on the acquisition of the Middle Eastern and Eastern European food business of Tut’s International that includes brands such as Dobrova, Shahia and Lebanon Valley. Tut’s International is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. This opportunity expands Lipari’s product breadth in its international […]
Posted inHome Page Slider, Center Store, Midwest
Pebbles Cereal Includes Fans In Celebration Of Its 50th Birthday
Inspired by the iconic TV show, “The Flintstones,” Pebbles Cereal became the first-ever brand created around a media character in 1971. To celebrate its 50th birthday in 2021, the cereal brand will surprise fans by giving them presents throughout the year. “Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles cereals have been bringing kids and kids-at-heart fun and happiness for […]
Posted inCenter Store, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Kellogg And Little Debbie Team Up To Make Oatmeal Cream Pie Cereal
A maker of breakfast cereals is teaming up with America’s No. 1 selling snack cake to transform the childhood treat into Kellogg’s Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies Cereal. Breakfast and creme pie fans alike can now experience the iconic treat at their breakfast table — just in time for the original Little Debbie snack cake’s 60th anniversary. Crispy […]
Posted inCenter Store, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Hormel Foods And Acclaimed Chefs Reveal Top Food Trends For 2021
Hormel Foods Corp., a global branded food company based in Austin, Minnesota, is helping culinary enthusiasts around the world welcome 2021 with a round-up of food trends to expect in the new year. “It’s no surprise that comfort food, sourdough bread and whipped coffee had big moments this past year, as people hunkered down and […]
Posted inCoborn's, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Midwest
Coborn’s Purchases $150,000 In Local Restaurant Gift Cards
Coborn’s purchased approximately $150,000 in gift cards to local restaurants across the four states it operates in. The grocery chain recently began distributing the cards to its employees as a small token of appreciation during the holiday season and as a way to support local restaurants. Each Coborn’s employee received a $15 gift card to […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, Midwest, Snacks Brands
Market Profile: KLN Family Brands Exemplifies Adage ‘Treat People Like Family’
Candy, snacks company has roots in pet food by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Perham, Minnesota-based KLN Family Brands, the parent company of Kenny’s Candy & Confections, produces various kinds of licorice and popcorn snacks, both branded and private label. These include Wiley Wallaby licorice and Sweet Chaos popcorn brands, which can be found nationwide in […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Midwest
Market Profile: Longtime Minnesota Grocers Enter 2021 On High Note
Mackenthun’s Fine Foods, Coborn’s show staying power by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Mackenthun’s Fine Foods was founded in Waconia, Minnesota, in 1917. Today, co-owners Jaime Mackenthun and Jessa Theis, brother and sister, are fifth-generation grocers of the family’s three stores in Waconia, Lonsdale and Montgomery. “It’s pretty exciting for our family to have been in business […]
Posted inMeijer, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Midwest
Christmas Decorating Leads Shopping Trends At Meijer
Heading into the last week of Christmas shopping, one of the surprise trends of the season continues as customers at Meijer stores across the Midwest fill their carts with holiday décor. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer says it has seen a significant increase in outdoor decorations compared to last year. Due to the pandemic, customers are […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Corporate Store News, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Kroger Shares Top 10 Foods Of The Year, 2021 Trend Predictions
The Kroger Co., America’s largest grocery retailer, has released the top 10 trending foods of 2020, as well as its food trend predictions for 2021. Based on year-over-year sales growth across Kroger’s business, including nearly 2,800 retail stores and pickup, delivery and ship, the trending foods and beverages of 2020 included: Zero-calorie soft drinks; Four-cheese […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Refrigerated Pickles Pioneer Claussen Celebrates 150 Years
Claussen, a maker of refrigerated pickles, celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2020. To commemorate the milestone anniversary, Claussen is looking back at some of the “best and briniest” facts from the brand’s history: In Chicago, Illinois, a vegetable farmer named Claus F. Claussen from Germany had a truckload of cucumbers he couldn’t sell. Rather than waste the vegetables, he turned them into […]
Posted inCenter Store, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Treehouse Foods Acquires Majority Of Ebro’s Riviana Foods
Oak Brook, Illinois-based TreeHouse Foods has completed the acquisition of the majority of Ebro’s Riviana Foods U.S.-branded pasta business for $242.5 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments based on inventory at closing. “I want to welcome our newest members of the pasta team to TreeHouse,” said Steve Oakland, CEO and president of TreeHouse Foods. “This acquisition represents […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Buehler’s Fresh Foods To Give Over $740,000 In Holiday Bonuses
Buehler’s Fresh Foods will be giving over $740,000 in holiday bonuses to all eligible hourly and salaried employees as a token of its appreciation for employees that continue to work hard amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. “Considered essential workers our employees continue to amaze and inspire as they show up every week, perform their jobs and […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Slider, Midwest
Fareway Stores To Purchase Shugar’s In Colfax, Iowa
Fareway Stores has agreed to purchase Shugar’s, a third-generation, family-owned grocery store founded in 1936 and located at 28 East Howard St. in Colfax, Iowa. Fareway and Shugar’s plan to finalize the purchase and transition near the end of the year. “We are excited to announce our plans to expand in the Central Iowa area,” […]
Posted inMeijer, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Midwest
Meijer Surprises Customers With Very Merry $1,000 Shopping Spree
While many holiday celebrations will look different this year, Meijer continues its Very Merry Meijer tradition of surprising a customer in each of its supercenters and stores across the Midwest with a $1,000 Meijer shopping spree. Given the difficulties of this year, the retailer decided to expand its tradition to surprise 1,300 additional customers with $100 gift cards. “We recognize that many […]
Posted inCenter Store, Home Page Slider, Midwest
J.M. Smucker Co. Completes Divestiture Of Crisco Business
The Orrville, Ohio-based J.M. Smucker Co. has announced the closing of the transaction to sell its Crisco oils and shortening business to B&G Foods Inc. for $550 million, subject to a working capital adjustment. The company previously announced the signing of a definitive agreement to divest its Crisco business on Oct. 26. The transaction encompasses oils and shortening products […]