Functionality, sustainability and influenced foods are among the top seven macro trends that experts with KeHE Distributors have identified in the food and beverage industry for 2024. “Natural and organic, specialty and fresh products remain relevant as consumers have become more environmentally aware and health-conscious,” said Westly Weaver, director of customer insights and growth solutions. […]
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 inCenter Store, Midwest
AWG Brands Freshens Oral Care Category Assortment
AWG Brands, the private brands of Kansas City, Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers, is expanding its oral care offerings to help member retailers capitalize on the $10.6 billion category. The AWG Brands assortment revitalization comes as a component of AWG’s strategic review of all categories in collaboration with key vendor partners. This work includes opportunity alignment […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
SpartanNash Continues Board Refreshment With New Director
SpartanNash has appointed DexKo Global President and CEO Fred Bentley as an independent director, the second to join its board this year following the August appointment of Kerrie MacPherson. SpartanNash refreshed its board in 2022 with the addition of three independent directors. The board now boasts 10 directors – six of whom have been appointed […]
Posted inHy-Vee, Independent Store News, Midwest
Hy-Vee Holding OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit
Hy-Vee Inc.’s OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit, a networking and showcase event set for Jan. 31, will provide an opportunity to advance local minority- and women-owned companies. The Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit, which will be held at the Scott Conference Center on the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Scott campus, will feature an expo offering resources, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Health & Wellness, Midwest
Hy-Vee To Host Senior Wellness Days Across Iowa
Hy-Vee is partnering with the Iowa Area Agencies on Aging to host a series of Senior Wellness Days at select Hy-Vee stores across Iowa over the next several weeks. Hy-Vee’s Senior Wellness Days are free to the public and will have services and resources available to assist older Iowans in managing their health. The full […]
Posted inCenter Store, Midwest
General Mills Acquires Fera Pets, Introduces Growth Fund
General Mills Inc. has acquired Fera Pets Inc., a vet-founded pet supplement company, bringing new health-focused offerings to General Mills’ pet portfolio. This represents General Mills’ first step into the pet supplement category and first acquisition by its new growth equity fund. As the pet food trend toward humanization continues, consumers are looking for healthful products […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest
Report Predicts Thanksgiving Celebrations To Use Whole Turkeys
As Thanksgiving approaches, Minneapolis-based Cargill’s U.S.-focused “Future of Turkey” study indicates a return to traditional Thanksgiving celebrations, with more than eight in 10 consumers who responded saying they plan to purchase a whole turkey this year. This marks a turnaround from previous years, when consumers often purchased individual turkey parts such as turkey breasts as […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest
Fareway, Iowa Farm Bureau Donate Protein To Food Banks
Fareway Stores Inc. and Iowa Farm Bureau have partnered to donate 57,863 pounds of ground protein to food banks across Iowa in the Meat the Need campaign. For every 10-pound tube of ground beef sold at Fareway from Oct. 30-Nov. 4, one pound of lean protein was donated to local food banks in partnership with […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest
Creekstone Farms Unveils Onsite Childcare Center
Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, a supplier of premium meats, celebrated the grand opening of Walnut Valley Learning Center, an onsite childcare facility beside the company’s headquarters in Arkansas City, Kansas, with a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 18. The 20,000-square-foot Creekstone Farms’ childcare center can accommodate more than 100 children in Cowley County, which faces a […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Midwest
AWG, Upside Plan Profit-Generation Opportunities
Upside has begun a new partnership with Kansas City, Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. that will further expand the technology company’s growing network of 100,000 retailers nationwide and open opportunities for profit generation for AWG members. “Grocers across the nation are actively seeking innovative avenues to boost profits while catering to the preferences of their customer […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest
Jerry’s Foods Reflects One Year After Destruction Of Hurricane Ian
One year removed from Hurricane Ian, Jerry’s Foods on Sanibel Island, Florida, is seeing its community slowly return to normal. “Each month that goes past, there are more businesses that are able to open,” said Rick Winningham, general manager. “And as the resorts start to come back…The vegetation that survived is coming back…I think the […]
Posted inKeHE Distributors, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
KeHE Increases Customer Satisfaction Through Pick-Rate Accuracy
KeHE Distributors has increased customer satisfaction through its pick-rate accuracy after implementing a series of innovations focused on elevating customer experiences. In recent years, supply chain delays, food shortages and rising costs have caused an ever-evolving distribution landscape that KeHE has learned to navigate. The company found this as the perfect opportunity to embrace new […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest
Meijer Team Gives Program Helps 1.7K Nonprofits In Three Years
The third annual Meijer Team Gives fall program empowers team members to grant $3 million in surprise donations to nearly 500 nonprofits within their communities. This announcement follows the retailer’s Meijer Team Gives spring program earlier this year, which resulted in $1.5 million to nearly 300 nonprofits. “Meijer Team Gives empowers our team members to choose nonprofits and […]
Posted inCenter Store, Merchandising News, Midwest
Buehler’s Fresh Foods Promotes Melillo To VP Of Merchandising
Christina Melillo, director of center store and packaged goods, has been promoted to VP of merchandising for Buehler’s Fresh Foods. In her new role at Buehler’s, Melillo will work with store operations to ensure the implementation of operational programs and innovative concepts. She will play a role in shaping and driving the strategic direction of the […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Midwest
AWG Brands Launches New-Look Consumer Websites
AWG Brands, the private brands of Kansas City, Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers, launched two revamped consumer-facing websites for the Always Save brand and Best Choice Family of Brands. The new-look sites aim to build brand awareness and loyalty, while driving consumers to AWG member retailers’ stores. ‟We redesigned the Always Save brand and Best Choice […]
Posted inFestival Foods, Center Store, Midwest
Festival Foods, WK Kellogg Co. Back Wisconsin Food Pantries
Festival Foods and WK Kellogg Co. are partnering in November to raise funds for more than 50 Wisconsin-based food pantries. When shoppers purchase selected WK Kellogg Co. products during November, it will donate up to 100,000 meals to Festival Foods’ Food for Neighbors program. Festival Foods began its Food for Neighbors program in 2004 to […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Midwest
Schnucks, Upside Unveil App To Boost Rewards Membership
In an effort to create additional savings for members of the Schnucks Rewards program, Schnuck Markets Inc. and Upside have launched a co-branded mobile app. The app pilot, which will be available in seven Evansville, Indiana-area stores, will enhance the experience for members and provide opportunities to connect with other local retailers that are also […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest
Six Meijer Employees Garner Highest Company Honors
Meijer has announced the six recipients of its 2023 Legacy Awards, the highest recognition an employee can receive from the grocer. They were recognized in two categories – the Fred Meijer Award and the President’s Award. Named for the retailer’s co-founder, the former goes to an employee who demonstrates humility, generosity and passion for serving […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Midwest, Online Grocery Technology
Kroger Accepting EBT Payments For SNAP Online Orders
The Kroger Co. now accepts EBT payment for digital pickup and delivery orders across its family of stores, expanding access to fresh, healthy food under the SNAP guidelines. “We believe everyone should have access to fresh, affordable and nutritious food,” said Rodney McMullen, chairman and CEO. “I am so proud of our passionate teams who […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Frozen Food, Midwest
AWG Brands Wins Golden Penguin Award At NFRA Conference
AWG Brands, the private label brands of Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc., was named a 2023 gold winner in the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association’s (NFRA) Golden Penguin Awards competition for Best Private Brand Campaign. During the NFRA Convention on Oct. 10 in San Diego, California, AWG Brands was awarded for having the best marketing […]