Tailors his store around needs of St. Paul community Blake Schwartz, owner of Hometown Market in St. Paul, Nebraska, has been in the grocery business since he was old enough to work. He started as a bagger and rose to a department manager for a local grocer by age 21. He became co-owner of what […]
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 inDairy News, Executive News, Midwest
Hiland Dairy Foods Co. Names Incoming President, New SVP
Hiland Dairy has appointed Rick Beaman as its new president and named Shawn Pinon as SVP, effective April 1. With leadership experience at several top private and public dairy companies, Beaman joined Hiland Dairy in 2012 and was VP before being named president. He began his career with Borden Dairy in 1975. Beaman then joined […]
Posted inMarketing News, Midwest, Snacks Brands
Jackson’s Expands Sales, Marketing Team With New Hires
Muskego, Wisconsin-based Jackson’s has expanded its sales and marketing team by adding three industry leaders to drive distribution throughout the country. Andy Malloy has been named president of sales and marketing, while Dan Wilfand and Todd Tolis join as director of natural channel sales and director of alternative channel sales, respectively. In his new role, […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
SpartanNash Sends Supplies To California For Disaster Relief
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash donated 24 pallets of food products to victims of atmospheric rivers and flooding in Southern California. In partnership with the American Red Cross, products were distributed to California residents who are being forced into shelters because of flooding, power outages and landslides. The donation, valued at more than $46,000, includes various essentials, including ready-to-eat breakfast foods, sweet snacks […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest, Organic Natural
Maintaining Health Remains Top Of Mind For Many Consumers
Cost difference between organic, non-organic foods may be decreasing Organic, natural and health foods are on many shoppers’ grocery lists today. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, staying healthy has become a priority for many. “Throughout the pandemic, health has been top of mind and many consumers began to take a deeper interest in their health in a […]
Posted inFestival Foods, Corporate Store News, Midwest
Festival Foods Increases Employee Discount To 15 Percent
Green Bay, Wisconsin-based Festival Foods is increasing its employee discount to 15 percent. It is available to all workers, along with members of their immediate households. “We want to help our teammates stretch their dollars when it comes to buying the groceries they need to feed themselves and their families,” said Mark Skogen, president and […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Midwest
Schnucks Donates $120K During Register Round Up Campaign
As part of Black History Month in February, St. Louis, Missouri-based Schnuck Markets and its customers donated $120,000 through its “Round Up at the Register” to support the Urban League. Customers donated $112,766 and Schnucks provided an additional $7,234. The campaign ran Feb. 1-14. In 2022, the grocer donated $150,000 to the Urban League as part of […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest
Meijer Recognizes Seven Employees With Company Awards
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer has named the recipients of its 2022 Legacy Awards, recognizing seven people across the company for their impact on their teams, customers and communities. The company also announced recipients of its first Meijer Impact Award, which celebrates a team’s accomplishments and acts of service. “While a lot about retail has changed […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
AWG Reports Record Results At Annual Shareholders Meeting
Kansas City, Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. reported record consolidated company sales of $12.3 billion, an increase of 13.65 percent on a comparable basis over 2021, and distributed $273 million of year-end patronage, following its annual shareholders meeting held March 21. AWG’s cooperative net sales were $10.7 billion, up 10.08 percent. The total distribution of cooperative […]
Posted inCoborn's, Marketing News, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology
Coborn’s Adds EBT SNAP Benefits Through Instacart
St. Cloud, Minnesota-based Coborn’s Inc. will accept EBT SNAP payments online for same-day delivery through Instacart. With this program, EBT SNAP participants will now be able to use their benefits to access fresh food and pantry staples from Coborn’s, Cash Wise and Marketplace Foods when shopping via the Instacart website and mobile app. This launch […]
Posted inLipari Foods, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Lipari Foods Finalizes Acquisition Of Swiss-American Inc.
Warren, Michigan-based Lipari Foods has reached an agreement to acquire St. Louis, Missouri-based Swiss-American Inc., a specialty cheese solutions provider focused on retail deli. This opportunity will further enhance its manufacturing division’s capabilities through its subsidiary The Deli Source, with a specific focus on expanding cheese offerings. Founded in 1938 in St. Louis, Missouri, the Swiss-American […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Dierberg’s, Midwest
Dierbergs Markets To Open Store March 28 In Crestwood, MO
Dierbergs Markets will celebrate the opening of a new store March 28 in Crestwood, Missouri. Beginning at 8:15 a.m., the company will host a ceremony in front of the store to commemorate the opening of its 27th location. “The Dierbergs commitment to providing excellent customer service and an extensive selection of quality products will feel familiar […]
Posted inExecutive News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
SpartanNash Promotes McAlary From SVP To EVP
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash has announced the promotion of Ileana McAlary from SVP to EVP, chief legal officer and corporate secretary. McAlary was hired in November 2021 and oversees the company’s expanding legal, government affairs, compliance and aviation team. She also serves as corporate secretary of its board of directors and president of the SpartanNash Foundation. “Ileana and her team have […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
AWG Brands Celebrates Record Year
Annual sales achieve 17.9 percent increase AWG Brands, the private brand owned by Kansas City, Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers, delivered a 17.9 percent sales increase from the previous year. AWG Brands consists of four brands: Always Save, Best Choice, Clearly by Best Choice and Best Choice Superior Selections. According to the company, each brand holds a specific position in […]
Posted inKeHE Distributors, Midwest, Organic Natural, Wholesaler/Distributor News
KeHE Distributors, Rodale Institute Partner For Organic Farming
Naperville, Illinois-based KeHE Distributors has signed an exclusive partnership with Rodale Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding the regenerative organic agriculture movement through research, farmer training and education. The collaboration between KeHE and Rodale Institute will support the advancement of organic farming and regenerative practices and products in the food industry. These practices prioritize building soil health […]
Posted inHy-Vee, Independent Store News, Midwest
Hy-Vee To Host Quarterly Best Of Local Brands Summit May 10
West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee will host its next quarterly Best of Local Brands Summit in May to expand and enhance the product offerings at its more than 285 retail stores across eight Midwestern states. Since the Best of Local Brands summits began in early 2021, more than 125 new brands have been selected and are available […]
Posted inMeijer, Independent Store News, Midwest
Meijer Expands Flashfood Program To Include SNAP Benefits
In an effort to make fresh food more accessible, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer has expanded the Flashfood program, making it the first retailer nationwide to accept SNAP benefits through the app. Meijer launched Flashfood in November 2019 at a handful of its supercenters in metro Detroit. The service is used by more than 500,000 shoppers across all […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
Numbers Show – Stores In Small Towns ‘Have Gone Away’
Co-op program, locker system offer hope North Dakota has one of the smallest populations in the nation and most residents live in the state’s eastern half. Independent grocery stores, particularly on its western side, have been closing at an alarming rate, according to John Dyste, president of the North Dakota Grocers Association. “I’m old enough […]
Posted inCenter Store, Merchandising News, Midwest, New Products
Topco To Host Product Solutions Summit To Discover New Items
Elk Grove Village, Illinois-based Topco Associates will host the Topco Product Solutions Summit to diversify the cooperative’s supplier pool, discover new items and establish additional supplier partnerships to assist the organization with aggregation, innovation and knowledge management solutions that span its center store program. Topco is seeking suppliers to help expand its supplier partnership portfolio and […]
Posted inExceptional Independents, Midwest
Shelby Publishing Honors Midwest EIA Recipients
On the following pages, Shelby Publishing is proud to present its inaugural Exceptional Independents Awards. Nominations were open to independent retailers, wholesalers, technology and other service providers. “Independents are the backbone of our industry, and this new awards program is an opportunity to recognize them for their contributions,” said Stephanie Reid, Shelby president. “Independents are […]