Junior Achievement recently teamed up with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash and FMI – The Food Industry Association to develop programs that inspire students to explore career paths in the food industry. To boost that effort, SpartanNash and its foundation have launched an in-store fundraiser to benefit the youth education nonprofit. Proceeds will help expand educational […]
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 inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
Workforce Top Issue Facing Employers In Iowa As Economy Improves
A second-quarter Economic Outlook Survey by the Iowa Business Council reports a “strong confidence” in the state’s economy. This represents an increase in optimism across all areas measured by the IBC compared to results from the previous quarter. The report measures member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months. The […]
Posted inDollar General, Corporate Store News, Midwest
Dollar General Opens Distribution Center In Blair, NE
Dollar General celebrated the grand opening of its distribution center in Blair, Nebraska, on Aug. 19 with employees, their families and elected officials. The grand opening ceremony included a donation to Washington County Food Pantry at Joseph’s Coat. The Dollar General Blair distribution center is the company’s first dual facility combining the efficiencies of traditional and […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest, West
SpartanNash Donates Food, Water For Maui Disaster Relief
Michigan-based SpartanNash has donated two truckloads of food and bottled water for wildfire disaster relief efforts in Maui, Hawaii. The company partnered with Convoy of Hope to ship products quickly and efficiently for disaster relief. In addition to its product donations, SpartanNash provided $25,000 in financial support to the Hawaii Community Foundation, in collaboration with the American Logistics Association. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Health & Wellness, Midwest
Hy-Vee Adds Independent Infusion Clinic In Chicago
Hy-Vee Inc. recently held a grand opening of a new Hy-Vee Health infusion clinic at 1 East Erie St., Suite 640 in Chicago. This is the second Hy-Vee Health infusion clinic to open and the first to open in the Chicago area. The infusion clinic is referral-based and will provide treatments for rheumatology, gastroenterology, pulmonary, neurology, […]
Posted inCoborn's, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Midwest
Coborn’s President, COO Meyer To Retire, Successor Named
St. Cloud, Minnesota-based Coborn’s Inc. President and COO Dave Meyer will retire, effective Dec. 31, the company has announced. David Best has been named Meyer’s successor, effective Aug. 21. He has joined the company as COO and as a member of the Coborn’s Inc. Board of Directors. Upon Meyer’s retirement at the end of the year, […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest
Smithfield, Kroger Donate 30K Pounds Of Food To Nonprofit
Smithfield Foods, in partnership with Kroger, donated 30,000 pounds of protein to Gleaners Food Bank to help fight hunger in central Indiana. The donation, which included Smithfield bacon and ham, will provide 120,000 servings to food insecure people in Gleaners’ 21-county service area. Aric Almirola, driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Corporate Store News, Midwest
Kroger Supports Wildfire Relief Efforts In Maui
The Kroger Co. will direct $100,000 in disaster relief for those affected by the wildfires in Hawaii. This support will include a $50,000 grant from The Kroger Co. Foundation and $50,000 in food donations to the Maui Food Bank, a Feeding America-affiliated food bank coordinating local relief efforts. “The devastation caused by the wildfires in […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest, Sustainability News
Vendor Deadline Nears For Meijer’s Sustainability Summit
In an effort to expand its sustainable product offerings in categories storewide, Meijer will hold its second annual virtual Sustainability Summit Oct. 11-13. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based company wants to engage suppliers in categories ranging from food/health/beauty and everyday essentials to pets, apparel and general merchandise. Meijer is targeting 38 different certifications on vendor products […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Midwest, Produce News, Southeast
Produce Partnership Growing To Serve More Kroger Stores
The Kroger Co. and 80 Acres Farms, a global vertical farming company, are expanding their partnership to serve about 1,000 of the grocer’s stores across the Midwest and Southeast. 80 Acres Farms has been a supplier to Kroger since 2019, beginning with a store in downtown Cincinnati and growing to more than 300 stores across […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Albertsons, Midwest
Hy-Vee, Uber Eats Partner For Grocery Delivery
In a move that will strengthen Uber Eats’ grocery selection in eight Midwest states, the company has announced a new partnership with Hy-Vee for on-demand and scheduled deliveries. More than 260 Hy-Vee grocery and liquor stores in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin will be available to shop through Uber and […]
Posted inKeHE Distributors, Affiliated Foods, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
KeHE Inks Partnership With Affiliated Foods Inc.
Naperville, Illinois-based KeHE Distributors has announced it is the new primary distributor of natural, organic and specialty products for Affiliated Foods Inc. of Amarillo, Texas. AFI is a wholesale distribution cooperative in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska and Arkansas, serving more than 800 grocery and convenience stores and restaurants. As part of […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Midwest
Gary’s Foods Going Strong Under Second, Third Generations
Owner credits success to connection with ‘longtime, loyal customers’ Gary’s Foods in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a family-owned independent grocery store, operated today by the second and third generations. Denny Dietrich and son, Peter, run the store, which was started in 1971 by Denny’s father, Gary, and a partner, Dave Rank. The two had worked […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
UNFI Concludes 2023 Conventional Winter Show
United Natural Foods Inc. has concluded its 2023 UNFI Conventional Winter Show, held at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minnesota. UNFI’s Winter Show brought together more than 2,000 grocery retailers, providing them with access to the company’s network of suppliers and vendors. Following its Natural Holiday Show held June 7-8 at the Mohegan Sun Resort […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest
Save A Lot Sheds Remaining Corporate Stores
In the final chapter of a wholesale transformation that began in late 2020, Save A Lot has announced the relicensing of its remaining 18 company-operated stores in the St. Louis area. They are being acquired by Leevers Supermarkets Inc., a Save A Lot retail partner with 29 stores in markets including Denver and Philadelphia. Leevers […]
Posted inKeHE Distributors, C-Store News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
C-Store Foxtrot Selects KeHE As Primary Distributor For Natural, Organic Products
In a move that expands its business in the convenience store channel, Naperville, Illinois-based KeHE Distributors is partnering with Foxtrot, a corner store and café that has locations nationwide. “We are thrilled to be selected by Foxtrot as their primary distributor for natural, organic and specialty products,” said Kristen Christopher, VP of alternate channels. “Foxtrot […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
SpartanNash Celebrates Independent Grocers At Food Expo
SpartanNash celebrated its independent grocers during the 2023 Food Solutions Expo July 26-27 at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company presented 13 independent grocers with a 2023 Vision Award for year-over-year sales growth, growth in SpartanNash’s OwnBrands products and community engagement initiatives. “Our independent customers are integral to their local communities, […]
Posted inPlant-Based News, Midwest
Philadelphia Cream Cheese Releases New Plant-Based Product
Philadelphia Cream Cheese has expanded its first plant-based spread offering nationally with two additional flavors. As the original flavor outperforms the category, the brand will offer two new best-selling flavors as part of the nationwide launch: strawberry and chive and onion. “To be the first mainstream cream cheese brand launching a plant-based spread option with […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Midwest
Storewise Introduces PriceFind For Competitive Pricing Insights
Overland Park, Kansas-based Storewise has introduced PriceFind, a new competitive pricing tool delivering visibility to competitors’ pricing on hundreds of key value items. As a result of this new tool, independent grocers will know where their KVI prices stand amongst certain regional and national players local to them. Key benefits of the new PriceFind tool by […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Bakery News, Midwest
Bimbo Bakeries USA Minimizes Waste With Zebra Technologies
Pennsylvania-based Bimbo Bakeries USA is using antuit.ai – now part of Illinois-based Zebra Technologies – to transform its organization by improving order accuracy and team visibility. With the Zebra antuit.ai “Predictive Ordering for Direct Store Delivery” solution, Bimbo Bakeries USA has also minimized waste by reducing forecast errors up to 30 percent, as well as achieving […]