Mark Collier of Collier’s Supermarkets in St. James, Minnesota, has been named chairman of the Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA). He takes over the position from Patrick Miner of Miner’s Inc. in Hermantown. Miner was honored for his two-year term as chair at the MGA’s recent convention in Brainerd, which was attended by more than 300 members […]
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.
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Wisconsin Lawmakers Will Again Take Up Minimum Markup Law
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest It is a fight that has gone on for two decades now, according to Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) President and CEO Brandon Scholz. The debate over whether to repeal the Unfair Sales Act is hotter in some years than others. This looks to be a hot one. Wisconsin’s Unfair Sales Act or […]
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Coborn’s Opens ‘Next-Generation’ Supermarket Focused On Fresh
Coborn’s Inc. recently opened a “next-generation” supermarket in Isanti, Minnesota. It is a first-of-its-kind store format with a significant focus on fresh selections and an updated modern industrial design. “We are a company that is constantly striving to appeal to the changing needs of our guests,” said Chris Coborn, chairman, president and CEO of Coborn’s […]
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SpartanNash Promotes Staples To President
Dave Staples, COO of SpartanNash, has added the role of president to his duties. Dennis Eidson, who held the president’s title, will continue to serve as the company’s chairman and CEO; the move enables Eidson to continue to focus on long-term strategic growth opportunities, according to the company. As president and COO, Staples will lead […]
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Chris’ Food Center Bagger Is Minnesota’s Best
Seth Allen of Chris’ Food Center in Sandstone, Minnesota, is the state’s best grocery bagger. He bested the competition during the Minnesota Grocers Association’s (MGA) 28th annual statewide Best Bagger Contest, held earlier this month at the Mall of America. Allen won $500 cash, a trophy and a trip to Las Vegas next year to […]
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Gordy’s ‘Meat Guy’ Completes Ultra-Marathon To Aid Grocer’s Food Bank Auction
Gordy’s Market held its 12th annual Feed My People live charity auction earlier this month, with all proceeds from the event going to the Feed My People Food Bank of Wisconsin. Feed My People is the only food bank in West Central Wisconsin, providing food to more than 125 hunger-relief organizations in 14 different counties. […]
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Dollar General Will Debut First North Dakota Stores Next Spring
Construction is under way on five new Dollar General stores in southeastern North Dakota, marking the chain’s entry into the state. The stores are expected to celebrate grand openings in spring 2017 and, when completed, will expand the company’s presence to 44 states across the country. “Expanding our footprint into North Dakota provides Dollar General […]
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SpartanNash Makes Fair Food Pledge To Support Fair Labor Practices For Farmworkers
SpartanNash has become the first food distributor in Michigan to sign Migrant Legal Aid’s Fair Food Pledge, affirming the company’s commitment to fair labor practices for the state’s more than 94,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. The Fair Food Pledge exemplifies SpartanNash’s commitment to corporate responsibility, including the fair treatment of farmworkers, according […]
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Hank Meijer Talks About Minding The Customer
Hank Meijer recently recounted some history and possibly recruited future employees at Western Michigan University during the annual Food Marketing Conference, where he spoke about “Minding Our Customers.” Retailing starts with a truism that Meijer said is as important today as it was when his grandfather opened a tiny grocery store in 1934 in Greenville. “Our […]
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Leppink’s Food Centers Recognized As Michigan’s 2016 Outstanding Retailer
Leppink’s Food Centers of West Michigan and the Grand Rapids-headquartered Star Truck Rentals are the 2016 Al Kessel Outstanding Achievement Award winners, the Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) said this week. “The awards honor former MGA Director Al Kessel, who passed away in 2012,” said MGA President and CEO Linda M. Gobler. “Al was the founder […]
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Feeding America Receives $100,000 Donation At Supervalu’s National Expo
Representatives for Feeding America were on hand Aug. 10 at Supervalu’s 2016 National Expo to accept a $100,000 donation in support of the organization’s mission to end hunger. The donation was made possible through the collective efforts of Supervalu and the independent grocery retailers and consumer packaged goods companies attending and exhibiting at this year’s […]
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KeHE Distributors Launches Care Trade With Companies That Do Good
During its show in Indianapolis in June, KeHE Distributors launched what it calls its “Care Trade” program. Scott Silverman, VP of growth solutions and own brands, made the announcement with a panel of speakers representing brands that are part of it. “I’ve known their brands as a consumer for quite a while, so we’re really […]
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Hy-Vee Promotes Two To EVP
Hy-Vee has promoted two senior leaders—Jeremy Gosch and Donna Tweeten—to EVP; they join only six others selected to help guide the regional supermarket chain based in West Des Moines, Iowa. Gosch, formerly SVP and chief merchandising officer, was named EVP of strategy and chief merchandising officer. Tweeten, formerly SVP and chief marketing officer, was promoted […]
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Festival Foods To Be Featured On ‘World’s Greatest’
Wisconsin grocery company Festival Foods will be featured in an upcoming episode of the “World’s Greatest!…” television series as the “World’s Greatest Grocery Store.” The show will feature comments from Festival Foods associates along with an interview with Mark Skogen, president and CEO. The episode starts with the history of Festival Foods and its roots […]
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Associated Wholesale Grocers And Affiliated Foods Midwest Consolidate
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) and Affiliated Foods Midwest (AFM) are combining the two cooperatives’ distribution businesses, the companies said today. “This exciting endeavor is exactly what we need to allow our retailers to compete, grow and be profitable,” said AFM President and CEO Martin Arter. “The synergies between our joint cooperatives will help our retailers […]
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Apple Co-op Releases SweeTango Crop Projections
Members of the Next Big Thing Growers’ Cooperative released estimates for the 2016 crop of SweeTango, the sweet, tangy, crunchy apple that was developed by the University of Minnesota to feature the best characteristics of the Honeycrisp and Zestar apple varieties. The projected crop yield is 450,000 standard 40-lb. boxes, which is an 18 percent […]
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Purina Farms Opens Interactive Better With Pets Exhibit
Why is life better when shared with a pet? Purina invites pet lovers to find out through a new exhibit, titled “Better with Pets” – Discover Life with Dogs and Cats, now open at the Purina Farms Visitor Center in Gray Summit, Missouri. A family-friendly attraction designed specifically for pet lovers, the “Better with Pets” […]
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Fareway Stores Support MDA With Annual Summer Promotion
All Fareway locations are raising funds this July to help free kids and adults from muscular dystrophy, ALS and related life-threatening diseases. From July 18 through July 23, Fareway will be asking customers to “round-up” to the next dollar on purchases, and donate the difference to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Fareway is also teaming […]
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Van Buskirk Leaving Supervalu July 16
Supervalu said in a July 11 U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that Mark L. Van Buskirk’s employment with the company will terminate effective July 16. Van Buskirk is EVP of merchandising, marketing, retail and pharmacy. Supervalu said it is evaluating succession plans for Van Buskirk’s roles and in the interim his functional areas […]
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Alaskan Brewing Co. Beers Debuting In Ohio
Craft beer pioneer Alaskan Brewing Co. is making its Ohio debut on July 15 at 5:30 p.m. at Jungle Jim’s International Market located at 5440 Dixie Highway in Fairfield. The launch expands statewide the week of July 18. Ohio represents the easternmost migration for the Juneau-based brewer, and its most recent geographical expansion since Michigan was added in […]