Coborn’s has hired Tom Williams as director of produce and floral merchandising, reporting to VP of Fresh Merchandising Emily Coborn. As director of produce and floral, Williams will develop and lead the implementation of produce and floral merchandising strategies for the company’s various retail divisions, including Coborn’s, Cash Wise, Marketplace Foods and CobornsDelivers. He will […]
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.
Iowa Town Seeking Grocer
In downtown Emmetsburg, Iowa, there is a building waiting for a grocer. Billie Jo Joyce, economic developer for the city, has raised $300,000 locally to purchase the building, but won’t take that step until the city finds a grocer that will go into it. She also purchased the fixtures inside the building, which currently is […]
ZeroWater ‘Filters For Flint’ Doubles Donations With Help From Target
On the coattails of a donation program for the residents of Flint, Michigan, Target has announced a donation of 5,000 ZeroWater filters, a figure that ZeroWater will match through its “Filters for Flint” program, bringing the total to 10,000 units being donated to the United Way of Genesee County. Target’s contribution more than doubles the total donations to date through […]
Affiliated Foods Midwest’s Martin Arter Honored With NGA Spirit Of America Award
Martin Arter, president and CEO Affiliated Foods Midwest, has been recognized with the National Grocers Association (NGA) Spirit of America Award. The presentation was made at the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association’s (NGIA) annual legislative dinner on Jan. 28. The award, presented by NGA President and CEO Peter Larkin, is one of NGA’s top honors and recognizes […]
Kroger Announces Rick Going’s Retirement, Names Two Division Presidents
The Kroger Co. today announced the retirement of Nashville Division President Rick Going and the promotion of Zane Day to succeed him. Day currently serves as VP of operations in the company’s Smith’s Division. Going joined Kroger in 1981 as a management trainee in the Cincinnati/Dayton Division. He advanced to serve in many leadership roles […]
Shelby 2016 Market Profile: The Dakotas
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor North Dakota Sees A Bit Of A Slowdown In The Oil Fields In Texas they’re used to oil boom, oil bust, repeat. Folks in North Dakota’s Bakken shale region are getting used to it, too. “It’s not the first time we’ve been through this,” Tom Woodmansee, president of the North Dakota […]
SpartanNash Water Drive Benefits Flint, Michigan, Residents
Now through Feb. 13, customers at all 91 Michigan D&W, Family Fare, VG’s, ValuLand and Forest Hills Foods stores and fuel centers will have the opportunity to make a cash register donation of $2.99 toward a 24-pack case of Spartan brand bottled water to benefit Flint, Michigan, residents. SpartanNash will apply 100 percent of the […]
Profit Up, But IDs, Retail, Indy Business Sales Drop In Supervalu’s 3Q
Supervalu on Jan. 13 reported third quarter fiscal 2016 net sales of $4.11 billion and net earnings from continuing operations of $35 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, which included $11 million in after-tax charges and costs related to asset impairments, the potential separation of Save-A-Lot and employee severance. When adjusted for these items, third […]
Indiana Industry Comes Together To Aid Flint, Michigan, Residents During Water Crisis
Teamsters Local 135 in Indianapolis, Indiana, led an effort Thursday to deliver a truckload of bottled water to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint to aid families impacted by the city’s toxic water emergency. The truck transported more than 1,000 cases of bottled water, donated by the union and Indiana Teamster employers, American Bottling, Coca-Cola Kokomo, Pepsi […]
Indiana-Based Marsh Closing One Store, Updating Others As Part Of Larger Remodel Effort
Although Marsh Supermarkets plans to close one of its stores in Bloomington, Indiana, the chain plans to remodel 30 of its existing stores this year. According to Inside Indiana Business, Marsh, based in Indianapolis, says the Bloomington closure is due to lease expiration and underperformance of the location. The employees of the store will be offered […]
Coborn’s Cake Decorator To Appear On Food Network’s ‘Cake Wars’
Cake decorator Amanda Hansen of the Coborn’s store in Sartell, Minnesota, will appear on Food Network’s “Cake Wars” at 9 p.m. (Eastern) today, Jan. 18. According to the Cake Wars website, the episode is described as a Dr. Suess theme: “Everyone from the Cat in the Hat to Thing 1 and Thing 2 are coming […]
Hy-Vee Promotes Marshall To COO, Names 2016 Board Of Directors
Hy-Vee EVP and Chief Retail Officer Jay Marshall has been promoted to COO of the West Des Moines, Iowa-based grocery company. He becomes only the fourth person in the grocer’s history to hold the title. Marshall will retain all responsibility for retail operations and store development and will assume responsibility for all merchandising areas in […]
NatureFresh Farms Breaks Ground For Phase II In Ohio
With the first crop of OhioRed tomatoes to be picked in late February, NatureFresh Farms says it has broken ground on Phase II of its Delta, Ohio, greenhouse facility. Like Phase I that was completed in late November 2015, Phase II will be 15.30 acres in size. It will be completed this summer. “The support […]
Indianapolis Among Few Markets Where New Folgers Product Available
New Folgers Perfect Measures coffee tabs are available in just three markets, and Indianapolis is one of them. Made of 100% pure ground coffee compressed into a tab that measures out a perfect scoop of coffee (one coffee tab equals 1 tbsp.-sized scoop), Folgers Perfect Measures coffee tabs take the guesswork out of brewing a […]
SpartanNash To Become Primary Wholesaler To Gordy’s Market
SpartanNash has signed a long-term contract to be the primary wholesaler to Gordy’s Market, the largest locally-owned and -operated grocer in the western Wisconsin area. SpartanNash will begin distributing private brand product to Gordy’s in mid-February and will be servicing the retailer as its primary distributor by May. Gordy’s will be serviced out of SpartanNash’s St. Cloud, […]
Fresh Thyme To Open First Nebraska Store Soon
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market plans to debut its first Nebraska store in Lincoln this spring. The Midwest grocer, headquartered in Illinois, will open the Lincoln store at 5220 O Street. Fresh Thyme focuses on value-priced fresh, healthy, natural and organic offerings. It features an extensive produce department with organic and local fruits and vegetables, a […]
Minnoco Retailers Raise $13,000 For Hope Chest
Minnoco fuel retailers in Minnesota raised $13,000 for Hope Chest for Breast Cancer through a six-week “Fueling the Fight Against Breast Cancer” campaign. For every gallon of unleaded plus gasoline (a blend containing 15 percent ethanol) sold, Minnoco stores, with support from an organization called Prime the Pump, donated $0.02 to Hope Chest for Breast […]
Booming Twin Cities Market Attracts New Players As Existing Operators Expand
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor There is a lot of water in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and there appears to be something in it. Minnesota, and specifically the Twin Cities, is drawing in grocery retailers and enticing existing operators to expand. “It’s an exciting time for Minnesotans because the choice in the marketplace really does […]
Fareway To Acquire Family Food Center In Anamosa, Iowa, And Build New Store In Peosta
Fareway Stores has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the former Family Food Center located at 402 E. Main Street in Anamosa, Iowa. The grocery chain also plans to build a new store in Peosta. Fareway says it currently is working with local officials on the details of the Family Food Center acquisition and […]
Meijer, Masterpiece Flower Co. Enjoy 50-Year Partnership In Michigan
Thanks to its longstanding partnership with a Michigan grower, Meijer is continuing its tradition of supplying each of its 223 stores across the Midwest with locally-grown poinsettias this holiday season—enough to fill about eight football fields. But the partnership with Masterpiece Flower Co. has also allowed the Byron Center, Mich.-based grower to expand its own […]
