Houchens Food Group continued its Store Manager Appreciation Awards for the second year, culminating with the announcement of the 2025 HFG Store Manager of the Year. The company recently hosted 15 lunch banquets divided by region and banner. The events included individual recognition of store managers, as well as a selection of other awards. In […]
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 inCorporate Store News, Fresh Thyme, Midwest, News
Fresh Thyme Market Extends Health, Hunger Relief Partnerships Into 2026
Fresh Thyme Market is continuing its partnerships with Vitamin Angels and Feeding America in 2026 while extending its Price Lock initiative, the Downers Grove, Illinois-based grocer announced Feb. 13. The retailer marked a decade-long partnership with Vitamin Angels in 2025, helping provide essential vitamins and minerals to more than 7 million women and children in […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News
Mom’s Organic Market To Enter Chicago With Naperville, Mount Prospect Stores
Mom’s Organic Market will enter the Chicago market with stores in Naperville and Mount Prospect, Illinois, scheduled to open by the end of 2026, marking the organic grocer’s expansion into the Midwest. The Rockville, Maryland-based retailer will open a location at 1163 E. Ogden Ave. in Naperville this fall, with a Mount Prospect store to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Finance News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Independent Grocers Face Pricing Pressures, Rural Store Closures In ND
Independent grocers across North Dakota face mounting pressure from several directions, according to John “Jiggs” Dyste, president of the North Dakota Grocers Association. “Independent grocers are being squeezed by big-box stores and food manufacturers,” Dyste said. “Unfair pricing is the main problem driving consumers to big-box stores.” The challenges come as North Dakota’s economy undergoes […]
Posted inSupply Chain News, Finance News, Lipari Foods, Midwest, News
Lipari Foods Selects RELEX Solutions For Supply Chain Planning
Lipari Foods has selected RELEX Solutions to transform its supply chain planning and improve replenishment operations across its distribution center. The Midwest distributor will use RELEX’s artificial intelligencer-driven platform and Advanced Diagnostics to manage more than 23,000 SKUs across grocery, deli, bakery, natural and specialty categories. Lipari Foods supplies thousands of retailers with fresh, natural, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Health & Wellness, Meijer, Midwest, News
Meijer Offers GLP-1 Medications Through Savings Program
Meijer is making Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide) more affordable through NovoCare savings programs, offering the two lowest-dose injection pens for $199 per month for the first two months at its pharmacies. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer announced Feb. 10 that patients who haven’t used a coupon for these products previously can access the introductory pricing […]
Posted inExecutive News, Finance News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger Appoints Foran As CEO, Ends Interim Leadership
The Kroger Co. has appointed Greg Foran as CEO, effective immediately, ending Ron Sargent’s tenure as interim CEO that began in March 2025. Foran, who brings more than 40 years of experience leading large consumer businesses, will also join Kroger’s board of directors. The Cincinnati-based grocer made the announcement Feb. 9, following an extensive search […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, Natural Grocers, News
Natural Grocers Celebrates Iowa Day With Free Totes, Coupons
Natural Grocers will celebrate Iowa Day Feb. 8-10 at its six stores in the state with free reusable tote bags and $5-off coupons for {N}power members. The celebration honors Iowa Statehood Day and marks the Colorado-based company’s decade-long presence there. Natural Grocers expanded to Iowa in February 2016, opening a store in Clive, followed by […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, Natural Grocers, News
Natural Grocers Plans First Wisconsin Store In Lake Geneva
Natural Grocers plans to open its first store in Wisconsin this spring, located off North Edwards Boulevard in Lake Geneva. Lakewood, Colorado-based organic and natural grocery retailer will host a community meet-and-greet Feb. 17 and a two-day hiring event Feb. 18-19 at The Geneva Inn conference rooms, about 10 minutes from the new store location. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News, Schnucks
Schnucks Urban League Round Up Returns For Sixth Year
Schnuck Markets is offering customers the opportunity to round up their purchases at the register to support the Urban League through Feb. 17, marking the sixth consecutive year the St. Louis-based grocer has run the Black History Month campaign. One hundred percent of donations in Schnucks’ home area of St. Louis will support the Urban […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Fareway, Midwest, News
Fareway’s Toys For Tots Campaign Raises $288K
Fareway Meat & Grocery donated $288,869.96 to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation through customer round-up purchases between Nov. 24-Dec. 24. The total reflects an increase of more than $13,000 compared to the previous year’s campaign. The annual toy drive also collected 20,381 new toys across participating Fareway locations for distribution to children across Iowa. […]
Posted inExecutive News, Center Store, Midwest, News
Pearson To Join Post Consumer Brands As President, CEO
Greg Pearson will join Post Consumer Brands as president and CEO on April 1, succeeding Nicolas Catoggio, who assumed the role of Post Holdings’ EVP and COO in January. Pearson joins the Lakeville, Minnesota-based cereal company from Compana Pet Brands, a global pet care and nutrition company based in St. Louis, where he has served […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Frozen Food, Hy-Vee, Midwest, News
Hy-Vee Introduces Dietitian Dishes Frozen Meal Line
Hy-Vee has launched Dietitian Dishes, a line of frozen medically tailored meals developed by the West Des Moines, Iowa-based retailer’s registered dietitians to support heart- and diabetes-friendly diets. The frozen meals, available in Hy-Vee’s HealthMarket department and online, come in more than 15 varieties of nutrient-dense, single-serve options. Flavors include Egg Roll in a Bowl, […]
Posted inExecutive News, Center Store, Midwest, News
J.M. Smucker Appoints Williams As CMO
The J.M. Smucker Co. has elected Katie Williams as CMO, effective March 9, bringing more than 20 years of brand-building experience to the Orrville, Ohio-based food company. Williams most recently served as U.S. chief marketing officer for Haleon, a multinational consumer health company, where she led commercial and brand strategy for a portfolio that includes […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Fareway, Midwest, News
Fareway Donates 69K Pounds Of Ham To Iowa Food Banks
Fareway Stores has donated more than 69,000 pounds of ham – totaling 5,504 hams – to help feed those facing food insecurity. The donation will be distributed through three food bank partners. The Food Bank of Iowa will receive 60 percent, while Siouxland Food Bank and River Bend Food Bank each will receive 20 percent. […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Finance News, Lipari Foods, Midwest, News
Lipari Foods Debuts Evolved Strategy, Brand Refresh As ‘Global Food Experts’
Warren, Michigan-based Lipari Foods has launched an evolved customer-first strategy, refreshed master brand identity, owned brand refresh, new insights publication and expanded retail services designed to help retailers navigate today’s faster-moving food landscape. The company is positioning itself as “Global Food Experts,” offering a refined, connected approach to bringing global and specialty foods to retail […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Midwest, News
Walt Churchill’s Market Receives NGA’s Peter J. Larkin Award
The National Grocers Association (NGA) presented the Peter J. Larkin Award for Community Service to Ohio-based Walt Churchill’s Market during the opening session of The NGA Show in Las Vegas on Feb. 1. The award honors independent grocers that exemplify exceptional dedication to community engagement and service. For more than 100 years, Walt Churchill’s Market […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, Festival Foods, Midwest, News
Festival Foods’ Munns Retiring, Whitney Promoted To Chief Merchant
Festival Foods shared two personnel moves Jan. 30, including the upcoming retirement of Randy Munns, EVP and COO, and the promotion of Adam Whitney to chief merchant. Munns will retire Feb. 13 after a 40-year career in the grocery industry, including 35 years with the Wisconsin-based chain. Munns joined Festival in 1991 as a third-shift […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Midwest, News, The Kroger Co.
Kroger Expands Simple Truth Protein Line With 24 New Products
Kroger added 24 new Simple Truth Protein products to store shelves in January, expanding the line to more than 110 items as customers focus on wellness goals in the new year. The expanded line features protein-packed options designed to support nutrition goals, from establishing everyday habits to building strength. All products are free from unwanted […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest, News, UNFI
Minnesota Grocery Industry Faces Expansion, Closures, Federal Funding Uncertainty
Minnesota’s grocery industry navigated significant challenges and changes in 2025, with new leadership at major chains, a cyberattack disrupting operations, federal SNAP funding uncertainty threatening rural stores and continued pressure from state labor mandates. United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) appointed David Best as president and CEO of retail effective Aug. 17, leading the company’s two […]