The Kroger Co. has announced the retirement of Jay C and Ruler division President Paul Bowen after 46 years of service, effective June 21. His successor will be named at a later date. Bowen began his career with Jay C in 1971 as a produce department manager before taking a military leave of absence to serve […]
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 inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest
Independents Benefit From Michigan Good Food Fund Investments
Six food enterprises in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Southeast Michigan and the Upper Peninsula have received financing from the Michigan Good Food Fund, marking more than $10.5 million in investments since its launch two years ago. The $30 million fund was created to finance projects that increase healthy food access and spur economic opportunity in underserved […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Chicago’s Food Market La Chiquita Joins AWG
Alfredo Linares’ first major life change happened in 1964 when he and his family ventured from a small town in Mexico to Chicago, Illinois. He was 9 years old at the time, and it was a true culture shock. He was struck by the many different nationalities that live there, the cold and the snow. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest
Festival Foods To Purchase Two Pierce’s Marketplace Stores In Wisconsin
Festival Foods plans to purchase two Pierce’s Marketplace stores in Baraboo and Portage, Wisconsin, from Angie and Dave Pierce. The Pierce family operates a third Pierce’s Market in Muscoda. Festival Foods, which operates 26 other locations across the state, expects to begin operations June 20 under the Festival Foods banner. Mark Skogen, president and CEO […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest
GF Buche Co. Promotes McFayden To Operations Manager
Chris McFayden has been promoted to operations manager for GF Buche Co. He replaces Gregg Drees, who recently retired from the South Dakota grocery chain. McFayden started at the Gregory Buche Foods in 1996 as a carryout and quickly rose up the ranks to store supervisor. From there, he was promoted to store manager of the Gus […]
Posted inDeli News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, Perishables, Specialty
Hy-Vee Guarantees 100 Percent Of Its Sushi From Responsible Sources
Hy-Vee Inc. has successfully transitioned 100 percent of its sushi to responsible sources. The supermarket chain guarantees that all sushi prepared and sold in its 244 Midwestern stores, including Hy-Vee Market Grille restaurants, will now contain seafood that is caught in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. According to its recently updated Seafood Procurement Policy, Hy-Vee […]
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Drees Retires From GF Buche Co. After Nearly 36 Years
Gregg Drees has worked for three generations of Buches at South Dakota’s GF Buche Co., starting with Bob Sr., then with Robert and finishing with current president RF Buche (pronounced boo-ee). He has praise for all of them. “Bob Sr. had an uncharacteristic thirst for knowledge and understanding of computers when most people his age […]
Posted inStore News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest
Target To Test Next-Day Delivery Service In Minneapolis Area
Target plans to roll out a next-day delivery pilot in the Minneapolis area this summer. The program, called Target Restock, will allow shoppers to order household essentials—such as laundry detergent, paper towels, granola bars and coffee—and have them delivered the following day. Select team members at Target headquarters are now testing Target Restock, the company […]
Posted inGrocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, International Foods, Midwest, Perishables, Specialty, Wholesaler/Distributor News
AWG Ramps Up Kenosha D.C. With New Chicago Retailers On Board
Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (AWG) has begun serving additional Chicago-area supermarket retailers, the Kansas City, Kansas-based wholesaler said May 5. With the new Chicagoland business coming on board, AWG is ramping up full-scale deliveries out of its Kenosha, Wisconsin, division—acquired following its merger with Affiliated Foods Midwest (AFM) last October—which will be the main distribution center […]
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Martin’s Opens Its First Café At Indiana’s Elkhart General Hospital
South Bend, Indiana-based Martin’s Super Markets has opened its first Martin’s Café at Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart. The new café is located in the hospital’s first floor public area. Recent renovation at Elkhart General Hospital made the new café location possible. It is the first partnership venture between Martin’s and the hospital. Martin’s Café […]
Posted in, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Topco Promotes Hooks To EVP
Topco Associates’ Chris Hooks, SVP of center store, fresh and supply chain, has been promoted to EVP, expanding his responsibilities to include Topco’s marketing and national brands teams in addition to center store, fresh programs and supply chain. “Over the past three years, Chris has driven Topco’s strategic business objectives with his expertise, which extends […]
Posted inFood Service News, Deli News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest
Michigan’s Busch’s Fresh Food Market Debuts First In-Store Restaurant
Busch’s Fresh Food Market recently opened a new location in Canton Township, Michigan, that has the company’s first in-store restaurant. J.B.’s Smokehouse seats 170 people and serves St. Louis-style barbecue ribs, Texas-style beef brisket, North Carolina-style pulled pork, mac ‘n cheese, sweet potato coins and fried pickles, and has a full bar with 22 Michigan draft […]
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Central Grocers Selling Strack & Van Til, Closing Nine Ultra Foods Stores
Twenty-two Strack & Van Til stores will be sold and nine Ultra Foods locations closed. The Northwest Indiana Times reports that parent company Central Grocers, based in Joliet, Illinois, is working toward a sale. The plan is to sell the 22 stores as “going concerns,” Strack & Van Til President and CEO Jeff Strack said […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Deli News, Equipment & Technology, Food Service News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology, Organic Natural
Hy-Vee Restructure Focuses On IT, Healthful Foods And Restaurant Development
Hy-Vee says it has restructured several corporate departments to allow the supermarket chain to grow in three key areas—IT, HealthMarkets and restaurant development. In the upcoming weeks, the company reports that it will add nearly 70 new positions to its corporate staff. More than 50 new full-time positions will be IT based and work at […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Supply Chain News
Meijer Fleet Driver’s Career Spans More Than 5 Million Miles In 45 Years
When Paul Strodtbeck became a Meijer fleet driver in 1972, he joined a team of 34 drivers who made daily deliveries to the retailer’s 24 stores in Michigan. Gas cost 36 cents per gallon, and Strodtbeck drank “two gallons too much of coffee” while listening to “twangy” country music. Much has changed in the past […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Retail Management Certificate Program Now Offered At Two Colleges In Illinois
Two community colleges in Illinois, the College of Lake County and Moraine Valley Community College, recently accepted the Western Association of Food Chains’ (WAFC) invitation to become a participating partner in the Retail Management Certificate (RMC) program. RMC is a nationally recognized, accredited college program developed by retail industry experts and community college leaders to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest
Walt Churchill’s Market Marking 100th Anniversary As It Eyes Ohio Expansion
Walt Churchill’s Market (WCM) will celebrate 100 years of serving the Toledo, Ohio, community on Saturday, April 15. This year also may mark another milestone, as the two-store operator looks to perhaps open a third store and fill “a gourmet food niche once occupied by The Andersons,” according to The Toledo Blade. The Churchill family […]
Posted inStore News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Organic Natural
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market Confirms 18 New Stores
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market plans to open a number of new stores over the coming months. The Illinois-based chain currently operates more than 50 stores in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. Fresh Thyme will open stores on: • April 26 at 2130 E. Kimberly Road in Davenport, Iowa; • […]
Posted inDairy News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Midwest, Store News, Suppliers
Festival Foods Recognizes Business Partner Of The Year
Festival Foods annually recognizes a key business partner who had a significant impact on its ability to provide outstanding service to customers over the past year. The grocer’s 2016 Business Partner of the Year is dairy product supplier Kemps. Festival Foods says it and Kemps share the philosophy of providing quality products at an exceptional value […]
Posted inStore News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
First Day Of Business For Indianapolis-Area Meijer Supercenters Is May 2
Meijer stores in McCordsville and Franklin, Indiana, will open May 2. Maureen Mitchell, regional VP at Meijer, says company leadership and local dignitaries will dedicate the store’s first day of business with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Indianapolis-area supercenters are two of seven new stores the retailer is opening in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin this year. […]