by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Doug Rinehart, president and CEO of Dick’s Fresh Market, saw opportunity when the fourth generation of the family running a store on 9th Street in Menomonie, Wisconsin, decided to leave the grocery business. The store was founded 155 years ago, during the Civil War, and the same family had operated it […]
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 in, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology, Supply Chain News
County Market Expands Online Shopping In Illinois With Rosie
Niemann Foods Inc.-owned (NFI) County Market has expanded its partnership with Rosie, a provider of grocery e-commerce technology and services, to offer online grocery shopping at its two Quincy, Illinois, locations. County Market’s Click & Go service is expected to launch in Quincy this fall. The retailer also is adding delivery services to all e-commerce locations, […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Produce News, Suppliers
First Pick Marks The Start Of Michigan Blueberry Harvest Season
Blueberry harvest is officially underway with the annual “First Pick” in Grand Junction, Michigan. To kick-off the season, South Haven Mayor Bob Burr and Larry Ensfield, president/CEO of MBG Marketing, a grower-owned cooperative and a founding partner of Naturipe Farms, which manages the sales, marketing and distribution of the co-op’s blueberries, visited with Harris Blueberries LLC […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest
IFRA’s Two Cents ‘Admission’ To Highlight Food Retailers’ Thin Profit Margin
The Illinois Food Retailers Association (IFRA) will charge two cents to attend the educational seminars, expo and bagging competition at its upcoming annual IFRA-GMA (Grocery Merchandisers Association) Conference, which is set for Sept. 29 at the Drury Lane Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. The two-cent fee is a tangible representation of the small profit […]
Posted in, Dairy News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Perishables, Suppliers
Dutch Farms Donates 129,600 Eggs To Food Bank
On Tuesday, Dutch Farms Inc. donated a truckload of 10,800 dozen eggs to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. The eggs will be distributed through the food bank’s 120-plus partner food pantries, soup kitchens and other agencies and will provide 13,500 meals to individuals and families struggling with hunger in Lake and Porter counties. More […]
Posted in, Aldi, Grocery News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, Organic Natural
Aldi Launches New Free-From Meat Line
Aldi is expanding on its healthier initiatives by introducing a new “free-from” meat line. The launch comes on the heels of the Aldi Healthier Checklanes rollout and the decision to remove added MSG, partially hydrogenated oils and certified synthetic coloring from all Aldi-exclusive food products. “We believe every shopper should have access to food they feel […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Kroger Achieves 50th Quarter In A Row Of ID Sales Growth
For the first quarter of fiscal 2016, The Kroger Co.’s identical (ID) supermarket sales growth, without fuel, of 2.4 percent. That marks Kroger’s 50th consecutive quarter of positive identical supermarket sales growth, excluding fuel. Kroger also reported reported net earnings of $680 million, or $0.70 per diluted share vs. $619 million, or $0.62 per diluted […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Store News, Supply Chain News
SpartanNash Adds 50 Jobs As It Completes Gordy’s Market Transition
SpartanNash Co. has completed the transition of its newest independent customer, Gordy’s Market. The family-owned independent retailer operates 26 retail grocery stores in the central Wisconsin area, where the company has been headquartered for 50 years. “The process of bringing Gordy’s Market into the SpartanNash family was an exercise in teamwork and accountability, and we […]
Posted in, Center Store, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Snacks Brands, Suppliers
Wrigley Adds Skittles Line, Jobs To Factory In Illinois
On June 14, Wrigley’s Mars Inc. subsidiary opened a state-of-the-art addition to its Yorkville, Illinois, factory. The Yorkville expansion is the result of a $50 million investment by Mars that adds 145,000 s.f., a new Skittles line and 75 new jobs—a 25 percent increase in the workforce at the facility. “Mars has a long-standing history […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Perishables
Fareway Donates More Than 60K Dozen Eggs To Food Banks
Fareway donated a truckload of 21,600 dozen eggs to the Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines on June 8, followed by donations of 10,800 dozen eggs each to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo, Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha (Nebraska), Hawkeye Area Community Action Program Inc. (HACAP) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, […]
Posted in, Dairy News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Organic Natural, Perishables, Suppliers
General Mills Partners With Cooperative To Increase Organic Dairy Supply
General Mills has formed a sourcing partnership with the largest organic cooperative in the U.S. that will help about 20 dairy farms add around 3,000 acres to organic dairy production over the next three years. The program with Wisconsin-based Organic Valley will drive more acres in the U.S. into the organic certification process and builds […]
Posted in, C-Store News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Store News
Casey’s Fiscal Year Ends Strong As Company Looks To Expand East And South
On June 6, Casey’s General Stores Inc. reported diluted earnings per share of $1.19 for the fourth quarter of fiscal year ended April 30 vs. $1.05 for the same period a year ago. For the year, diluted earnings per share grew 24 percent to $5.73 vs. $4.62 for the same period last year. “Fiscal 2016 […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest
Meijer Opens Supercenters In Wisconsin And Indiana
Meijer opened a new 192,000-s.f. supercenter in Sussex, Wisconsin, on June 7. The Sussex store is one of nine new Meijer supercenters to open this year, and part of an investment of more than $400 million in new and remodeled stores that will create 3,000 new jobs across the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer’s six-state foot […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, Perishables
Doc’s Food Stores Promotes ‘The Blend’ In Three Departments
Doc’s Food Stores, which operates as Country Mart, JB’s Market and Apple Market in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, has launched the Mushroom Council’s “Blend” in its deli, meat and produce departments at all of its stores. “The Blend” is mixing finely diced mushrooms into proteins such as beef, turkey, lamb or pork to make hamburgers, […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Meijer Opens Supercenter In Its Home State
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer opened a new 192,000-s.f. supercenter June 2 in the southern Michigan town of Sturgis. “Opening this store has been a long time coming, and we’re thrilled the day is finally here,” CEO Hank Meijer said. “Sturgis has never had a one-stop shopping destination like Meijer, so we’re proud to be the […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
First Gluten-Free Craft Beer Debuts At Six Texas Whole Foods Stores
Good Life Imports Inc. has partnered with Austin-based Whole Foods Market to bring the world’s first 100 percent barley malt gluten-free beer to Texans. Independent brewer Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas Oy’s (LWT) innovative Kukko Pils beer will be available in six Austin, Dallas and San Antonio stores. Additional rollout is expected in craft beer establishments and retail […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Supervalu Completes Amendment Of Senior Secured Term Loan Agreement
Supervalu has successfully completed the amendment of its existing $1.5 billion senior secured term loan agreement. In July, the company began exploring a potential separation of its Save-A-Lot segment, and as part of that process it had begun preparations to allow for a possible spin-off of Save-A-Lot into a stand-alone, publicly traded company. This amendment permits […]
Posted in, Coborn's, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology, Suppliers
Coborn’s And Foodtown Deploy Birdzi’s Shopper Engagement Platform
Minnesota-based Coborn’s and New Jersey-based Foodtown, have selected the Birdzi (sounds like bird’s eye) platform to provide personalized digital savings for their shoppers and increase customer engagement. The independent chains selected Birdzi for its ability to create personalized offers and drive loyalty at home, in store and on the go. The Birdzi platform allows retailers to […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Organic Natural
Earth Fare Opens Fourth Ohio Store
Earth Fare opened its fourth Ohio location yesterday in The Venue at Belden, located at 3939 Everhard Road in North Canton. Every item in the new 24,000-s.f. store is free of artificial fats, trans-fats, colors, preservatives and sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup, as well as bleached or bromated flour. Its meat, seafood and poultry […]
Posted in, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest
Founder’s Grandson Takes Helm Of Strack & Van Til
The board of directors of Midwest grocery operator Strack & Van Til has announced the appointment of Jeff Strack as president and CEO. Strack replaces Kenneth Diehl, who has stepped down to return home in the Western U.S. Diehl had led the company since October 2014. The change is effective immediately. Strack, the grandson of the […]