Fresh-cut vegetable producer Apio Inc. has acquired GreenLine Foods Inc. from The Riverside Co., a global private equity firm. Perrysburg, Ohio-based GreenLine Foods is a leading processor and marketer of value-added, fresh-cut green beans in North America, according to Apio, which is based in Guadalupe, Calif. “U.S. consumer demand for the convenience of fresh-cut green […]
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, National, Southeast, Southwest
Former Fleming Chief Dies At 82
Elwyn Dean Werries, who spent nearly 40 years with grocery wholesaler Fleming Cos., died April 25 following a period of declining health. He was 82. Werries was born May 8, 1929, in Tescott, Kan. At the age of eight he began his business career at his Uncle Will’s grocery store in Tescott. He graduated high […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Midwest, New Products, Perishables, Suppliers
Differentiating The Dairy Case: Benelact Launching New Line
Benelact Dairy is introducing the world’s first all-natural, reduced cholesterol dairy foods. At the FMI 2012 show in Dallas, Texas, April 30-May 3, the company will launch a line of butter and several cheese varieties with one-third less cholesterol than traditional butter and cheese. Branded and private label products are available globally. Benelact Dairy foods […]
Posted inLipari Foods, Midwest
Lipari Foods Acquires Ohio-Based I&K Distributors
Michigan-based Lipari Foods has acquired its longtime competitor I&K Distributors of Delphos, Ohio. It is the first step toward Lipari’s goals to grow as a regional distributor and ultimately to become a national distributor with other locations, Thom Lipari, president and CEO, told The Shelby Report’s Geoff Welch at the company’s spring show on April […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Midwest, New Products
Four Loko Debuts Three New Flavors
Chicago-based Phusion Projects LCC has announced the arrival of its latest Four Loko XXX Limited Edition flavor—Strawberry Lemonade—and two new Four Loko flavors, Coco Loko and Peach. The three products will begin appearing on store shelves later this month. Strawberry Lemonade replaces the current Four Loko XXX Limited Edition flavor, Blueberry Lemonade. Four Loko’s XXX […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Midwest, National, West
Lagunitas To Build Brewery In Chicago, Go National
By next year, it should be easier to get a Lagunitas India pale ale in the Windy City, and other areas of the East and Midwest. The San Francisco Business Times reports that Lagunitas Brewing Co., a craft beer brewer based in Petaluma, Calif., plans to spend up to $18 million to build a second […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Kroger Completes Big Debt Deal
The Kroger Co. struggled to sell $850 million in a two-part debt deal Tuesday, Dow Jones Newswires reports. Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kroger sold $500 million of 10-year bonds and $350 million of 30-year bonds. The company had aimed to sell between $800 million and $1 billion, hoping for a yield of 5 percent on the 30-year […]
Posted in, Midwest, Perishables
Murtha Wins 2012 Hy-Vee Cake Decorator Challenge
Amy Murtha of Belton, in her first Hy-Vee cake challenge finals, took home first place and $1,000 with a whimsical depiction of a garden that combined color and originality with oversized lady bugs, smiling snails and overturned clay pots. “It was a real shocker because I really didn’t expect to win,” Murtha said. “Amy’s Enchanted […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Midwest
Schnucks Now Offering Schnupons
St. Louis-based Schnucks now offers “Schnupons,” which customers can sign up for by texting the word “Schnucks” to the number 223344. Customers then receive a text message with an introduction to the program. Once in, customers automatically receive Schnupons that are redeemable at all Schnucks, Logli and Hilander locations. Customers show their phones to the […]
Posted in, Midwest
April is Love Your Produce Manager Month at Schnucks
From April 8-May 5, all Schnucks, Logli and Hilander shoppers are invited to stop by their local produce department and vote for their favorite produce manager via a special text message poll. Shoppers are asked to send a text message with their store’s special keyword—found on in-store signage—to a designated number throughout the month. The […]
Posted in, Midwest, Organic Natural
Hy-Vee Celebrates Laugh Out Loud Day
Laughter is said to be the best medicine and April 2 was Iowa’s first-ever L-O-L Day, or Laugh Out Loud Day. It was part of Iowa’s effort to become the healthiest state in the nation, reports Radio Iowa. Iowans were encouraged to forward a joke, tell a funny story, even to bring a whoopie cushion […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Midwest, New Products
New Ultra 19th Hole Light Tea & Lemonade Hits Shelves
Just in time for summer, Michelob Ultra—the superior light beer—is introducing Ultra 19th Hole Light Tea & Lemonade, an iced tea and lemonade-flavored alcohol beverage inspired by the golf course classic. Available nationwide for a limited time, Ultra 19th Hole is a lighter alternative to traditional flavored malt beverages that is perfectly suited for an […]
Posted in, Midwest
Cornell’s SuperCenter Wins Grocer Award
On March 30, 2012, the Ohio Grocers Association presented its Pinnacle Award to Cornell’s SuperCenter of Shelby. The Pinnacle Award, based on operational excellence and significant contribution to Ohio’s food industry, is given annually to both a single-store operator and a multi-store operation. The Cornell family has served the Shelby area since 1932, when the […]
Posted in, Midwest, Perishables
Hy-Vee Reverses LFTB Decision
On March 22, Hy-Vee Inc. released a statement saying that it would no longer carry ground beef products containing lean finely textured beef (LFTB) because of “a loss of consumer confidence in the product.” But many customers told the West Des Moines-based company that they did want to be able to purchase the products, so […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Roundy’s Appoints Retail Veteran Josefowicz To Board
On March 29, Milwaukee-based Roundy’s Inc. announced the election of Gregory P. Josefowicz to its board of directors. Josefowicz brings to the board more than 30 years of executive leadership in the retail industry, including significant experience in food retail. As a former president and CEO for two large retail companies, and as an active […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Midwest
Meijer Moves Into Dairy Production With ‘Purple Cow Creamery’
Meijer, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer, has acquired the plant operations at Bareman’s Dairy, a family-owned company based in Holland, Mich. Meijer’s move into dairy production also will include a more than $8 million investment to expand the Bareman’s dairy plant in Holland. “This is an exciting day for our company,” said Co-Chairman and CEO […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Midwest, Southeast
Hormel Foods Donates Two Semi-Trailer Loads of Products
Hormel Foods Corp. donated 55,000 Hormel® Compleats® microwave meals and more than 11,000 cases of Hormel turkey pepperoni packs to Feeding America to aid in relief efforts for parts of Kentucky and southern Indiana following the recent tornadoes. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this unfortunate hardship,” said Julie H. Craven, VP of corporate […]
Posted in, Midwest, New Products
Best Chicago Meat Acquires Glenmark Brand, Introduces New Product Line
In December 2011, Best Chicago Meat Co. LLC acquired the Glenmark® brand on the occasion of the brand’s 40th anniversary. Originally owned by OSI, the Glenmark burger was first developed in the early 1970s. “The ownership of the brand makes our company the leading frozen burger producer in the Midwest, and we’re really proud of […]
Posted inMidwest, Beverage News
World Market to Open March 29 in Mount Prospect, Ill.
World Market will open its 13th Illinois location in Prospect on March 29. The specialty retailer’s new store is located in the Randhurst Village Shopping Center at 151 E. Euclid Ave., and will carry a unique and affordable selection of home furniture, home décor, fashion accessories and personal care products, as well as gourmet food […]
Posted in, Midwest
AWG Achieves Record Sales And Earnings
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) reported record net sales of $7.77 billion on a consolidated basis, and distributed a record $163.8 million in year-end patronage at its annual shareholders meeting on Sunday, March 18. AWG’s sales were up 7.2 percent, an increase of $520 million over the previous year. AWG’s year-end patronage rebate amounted to 2.71 […]