“Happy Days” was the theme this year for the Lipari Food Show, held April 9 in Novi, Mich. To set the Happy Days mood, shiny, new-looking 1950s-era cars were rolled into the Suburban Collection Showplace. The theme appeared to energize people, said Don Symonds, director of events and trade relations at Lipari Foods. “Every year […]
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, Midwest, Store News
Mariano’s Debuts Its Largest Store In Chicago’s Ravenswood Neighborhood
Roundy’s opened Mariano’s Ravenswood, located at 1800 W. Lawrence Ave., on Tuesday. The 80,500-s.f. Chicago store is the largest to date for Mariano’s. “At our largest store yet, shoppers will have a chance to experience the full range of features that make Mariano’s shopping experience unlike anywhere else,” said Bob Mariano, chairman and CEO of […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Independent Store News, Midwest
Buehler’s Opens Liquor Agency Inside Of Ashland Supermarket
Buehler’s Fresh Foods in Ashland, Ohio, on Thursday opened Ashland Liquor Agency inside of the supermarket—completing the transfer and relocation agreement with Longbrake Carryout to purchase the Ashland Liquor Agency. “This is the first of future Ohio liquor agencies inside Buehler’s Fresh Foods locations, with Wooster Milltown slated to open in June of 2014,” said […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
C.H. Robinson Recognized For Workplace Giving Campaign
Once again identified as a leader in the local community, C.H. Robinson received the Community Impact Award in the Workplace Giving Campaign category from Minnesota Business magazine. The honor recognizes a successful volunteer or employee-giving campaign benefiting any nonprofit or other worthy organization. This is the second year in a row that Minnesota Business has recognized C.H. […]
Posted in, Midwest, Suppliers
Annie’s Completes Acquisition Of Snack Manufacturing Plant In Joplin, Mo.
Annie’s, a leading natural and organic food company, has completed the acquisition of Safeway’s snack manufacturing plant in Joplin, Mo., which has been Annie’s primary manufacturer of cookie and cracker products since the inception of its snacks business in 2002. Annie’s Baking, a subsidiary of Annie’s, acquired the plant for $6.0 million, plus the actual […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Wisconsin Claims Top Awards Total At World Cheese Contest
Wisconsin cheesemakers dominated the competition at the recent World Championship Cheese Contest, winning 106 awards—about 39 percent—of the total 273 awards given, including 38 Best of Class, 34 second place and 34 third place awards. Wisconsin’s accomplishment represented five times the number of awards as those won by the closest competitor, Switzerland with 21. Switzerland […]
Posted in, Midwest, Suppliers
Mars Chocolate Opens Production Facility In Topeka
Mars Chocolate North America officially opened the doors of a new, state-of-the-art facility in Topeka, Kan., on Thursday. The approximately 500,000-s.f. facility—the first new Mars Chocolate North America site built in the last 35 years—will help sustainably produce M&M’S and Snickers. “This new $270 million facility, which will bring 200 new jobs to Topeka, is […]
Posted in, Midwest, Store News
Meijer Adds Features To Digital Shopping Tool App
Meijer has added features to its mPerks program that allows customers to store digital receipts from purchases in a single place and details exactly how much they’ve saved by shopping at the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. With more than $100 million saved by mPerks subscribers since 2010, Meijer says it is among the first retailers […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
Russ’s Lincoln Wine & Food Experience Raises Record Amount
Supporters of the Lincoln Community Playhouse in Nebraska raised a record $43,550.56 at last month’s 2014 Lincoln Wine & Food Experience. The event, presented by Russ’s Market, has now raised more than $200,000 total for the playhouse in its six years of existence. Nearly 900 people attended this year’s event held at Embassy Suites. The […]
Posted in, Midwest
Flowers Licenses Rights To Wonder, Home Pride Breads To Aunt Millie’s In Parts Of MW
Flowers Foods has signed an agreement that gives Aunt Millie’s Bakeries of Fort Wayne, Ind., the exclusive license to produce and market Wonder and Home Pride breads in northwest Indiana; northern Illinois, including Chicago; and southern Wisconsin. Terms and conditions of the license agreement were not disclosed. With the agreement, Wonder and Home Pride breads […]
Posted in, Midwest
Dole, Meijer Partner To Donate Salad Bars To Five Midwest Schools
Committed to increasing healthier options for students, Dole Food Co. and Meijer have partnered to donate salad bars to public schools in Detroit, Mich., Cincinnati, Ohio, and South Bend, Ind. These self-serve produce bars’ array of fresh fruits and vegetables will boost the number of healthy choices available to students at breakfast and lunch. “Since […]
Posted in, Midwest, Suppliers
Ohio’s Velvet Ice Cream Turns 100 This Year
Ohio ice cream manufacturer Velvet Ice Cream will celebrate its 100th birthday on May 1. Velvet started hand crafting ice cream in Utica, Ohio, in 1914. It will mark the milestone birthday with a series of announcements, specials, events and activities, beginning with the May 1 opening of Velvet’s Ye Olde Mill to the public for […]
Posted inHy-Vee, Corporate Store News, Midwest
Hy-Vee Expands Health Focus With Kids Fit Initiative
Kids of all ages and skill levels will have additional opportunities to participate in events making up the new Hy-Vee Kids Fit program. The events will build on the kids triathlon offerings Hy-Vee has held in the past, but will expand to include one-mile fun run and 5K options to support wellness and fight childhood […]
Posted in, Midwest, Store News
Hy-Vee Plans To Enter Twin Cities Market
Hy-Vee is planning a major expansion of its Minnesota operations into the Twin Cities market. Hy-Vee has been a fixture in Minnesota communities since 1969 and currently has 17 employee-owned stores statewide with approximately 5,100 employees. “Our commitment to excellent customer service, health and wellness and culinary expertise is unlike anything in the market to […]
Posted in, Executive News, Midwest
Reynolds W. Cramer Named CEO At Fareway Stores
Reynolds W. Cramer has been named CEO of Boone, Iowa-based Fareway Stores Inc. He is just the fourth person to serve as CEO in the company’s 76-year history. Cramer was elected to the position by the Fareway board of directors Feb. 17. He succeeds Richard P. Beckwith, who has been CEO of the grocery store […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
Buehler’s Fresh Foods Names Director Of Communications
Deb Wilcox has been named director of communications at Buehler’s Fresh Foods in Wooster, Ohio. Wilcox started in Buehler’s advertising department in March 1983 working on ad layout and has served as director of marketing since 1991. As director of communications, Wilcox will be responsible for community, government and consumer relations, décor and branding of […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Minnesota Grocers Recognizes 2014 Legislator Of The Year
The Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) presented its 2014 MGA Legislator of the Year Award to Sen. Gary Dahms (R-Redwood Falls) at its annual legislative dinner in St. Paul on Jan. 28. Each year, the MGA acknowledges a lawmaker who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the retail food industry. This year’s honor went to Dahms for his work […]
Posted in, Midwest, Store News
Hy-Vee Introduces Responsible Choice Seafood Program
Starting today, Hy-Vee shoppers will see blue and green Responsible Choice logos on select products in the seafood case. The Responsible Choice education program is part of Hy-Vee’s Seafood Procurement Policy that provides customers high-quality seafood acquired through responsible methods and in accordance with the highest environmental standards in the food industry. “The Responsible Choice […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Midwest
Meijer Offers Kids A Chance At Co-Starring Role In New Commercial
Meijer is offering its younger customers a chance for a co-starring role in an upcoming television commercial at the cost of 1 cent. The commercial is scheduled to debut across the Midwest retailer’s five-state footprint in 2014; it will feature images of children riding its iconic penny horse, Sandy, over several generations. Meijer is asking […]
Posted in, Midwest, Suppliers
Waybright Hired As King Arthur Flour Regional Sales, Marketing Manager
King Arthur Flour has hired David Waybright as regional sales and marketing manager for the upper Midwest region. Waybright leaves a sales and marketing position at HJ Heinz he has held since 2004 to join America’s oldest flour company. “Joining King Arthur Flour is an opportunity to join a company that has been successful for over 200 […]