by Art Patch/a retired retail executive & regular columnist for The Shelby Report There is so much happening in retail businesses, it’s no wonder employees are concerned about their future. Most distressing is a recent industry study by Jones Lang LaSalle showing new store openings down 28.8 percent in 2017. Most of us follow the […]
Category: National
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National
Acosta: Mix Of National, Private Label Brands Key To Retailer Success
As the brick-and-mortar grocery industry faces increasing competition from all angles, an effective brand strategy can be the key to sustained success for retailers. Shoppers turn to different brands for different needs and seek a balance when it comes to retailers and brand offerings, according to Acosta—a full-service sales and marketing agency for the consumer packaged […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, Suppliers
Hallmark Expands Birthday Card Lineup, Partners With Online Influencers
Hallmark is kicking off the summer season with new introductions to the greeting card aisle. This year, the company says it is focusing on celebrating birthdays with brand new cards that “bring dazzling lights, fun sounds and loads of excitement.” Hallmark also is launching two all-new card lines and introducing to its retail partners—for the […]
Posted inSustainability News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Recommended Reading, Shelby Content
Recommended: Grocers Trying To Lessen Impact On The Environment
Specialty grocery stores such as Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market and Whole Foods Market have as part of their mission to minimize their impact on the environment and natural resources. “We are worried about the planet. We care about the generations to come, our children and grandchildren,” said Rick Hood, owner of Ellwood Thompson’s, which has […]
Posted inDairy News, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Frozen Food, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, New Products, Store News
Albertsons Cos. Launches ‘Top-Shelf’ Private Label Line
Albertsons Cos. is “expanding and elevating” its Own Brands portfolio with Signature Reserve, branded as a “top-shelf culinary presence.” “Signature Reserve inspires delicious discovery with extraordinary and expertly sourced flavors and ingredients,” said Geoff White, president of Albertsons Cos. Own Brands. “Shoppers are more educated and interested in culinary trends than ever before, and Signature […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Corporate Store News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Marketing News, National, Store News
Kroger Precision Marketing To Begin Offering Boosted Product Listing Ads
The Kroger Co., through Kroger Precision Marketing powered by 84.51°, will launch a self-service marketing platform, Boosted Products in Search, on June 4. Kroger intends for the platform to help brands reach digitally active shoppers with hyper-relevant products within search results across Kroger digital properties, and view performance in real-time. Brands will have the ability to promote their online […]
Posted inDairy News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content
Consumers’ Expectations In Dairy Products Changing
The list is long of what consumers are demanding from their dairy product favorites, including qualities like sugar reduction, value-added ingredients, portability and clean labels. The themes play out across dairy’s four leading categories: cultured products, cheese, milk and ice cream. According to the National Dairy Council (NDC), nutrition experts agree that it is best […]
Posted inDairy News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, New Products, Suppliers
Seasonal Peaches & Cream Halo Top Available Nationwide This Summer
Halo Top Creamery will debut its new seasonal flavor, Peaches & Cream, nationwide beginning in early June. The summer flavor will be available for a limited time. Fans will be able to get their hands on the new flavor, with 320 calories and 20g of protein per pint, in freezer aisles nationwide until the end […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Shelby Content, The Independent Perspective
Larkin: Digging Into The Data Points On Digital
by Peter Larkin/ president and CEO, National Grocers Association Special to The Shelby Report The growth of e-commerce is high on the radar of independent supermarket operators, and it’s important for them to understand the current online shopping preferences of consumers. Findings from the third annual National Grocery Shoppers Survey outline these preferences and identify key moves […]
Posted inGrocery News, National, Suppliers
Altria Group Restructures To Accelerate Tobacco Innovation
On May 22, Altria Group announced a new structure to maximize its core tobacco businesses while “realizing its aspiration to be the U.S. leader in authorized, non-combustible, reduced-risk products.” Key components of this new structure: Establishment of two divisions—core tobacco and innovative tobacco products. Creation of a chief growth officer function to accelerate speed to market […]
Posted inMarketing News, Beverage News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, New Products, Suppliers
Food Industry Veteran Susie Fogelson Launches F&Co Marketing Firm
Susie Fogelson, a food marketer and strategist, has launched F&Co, a boutique consultancy that delivers brand and content strategy, storytelling concepts and experiential recommendations to food and beverage companies. Fogelson is known for leading marketing and brand strategy at Food Network and the Cooking Channel for more than 15 years. Throughout her tenure at the […]
Posted inNational, C-Store News, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Store News
Love’s Fuel Customers Can Pay Via New GasBuddy App
More than 143 billion gallons of gasoline are purchased a year in the U.S.—99 percent by swiping a card at the pump or paying with cash. Boston-based GasBuddy is launching a smartphone app for motorists to pay with and save on every gallon of fuel. The first retailer to use this system is Love’s Travel Stops, an […]
Posted inSuppliers, Bakery News, Beverage News, Center Store, Dairy News, Deli News, Frozen Food, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Nonfood Items, Snacks Brands
BrandSpark Lists 2018’s Most Trusted Brands In The U.S.
Market research firm BrandSpark International has announced the winners of its 2018 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards for CPG brands in the U.S. (See list below.) More than 15,000 household shoppers participated in the online survey and determined America’s most trusted brands in food & beverage, personal care & beauty, household & pets and over-the-counter health. Now […]
Posted inAssociation News, Deli News, Food Service News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, Store News
Giant Eagle’s Voni Woods Wins IFMA Silver Plate In Retail/Specialty
Giant Eagle’s Yvonne “Voni” Woods received a Silver Plate from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association on May 19 at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show in Chicago. Woods recently was named VP of customer experience for Giant Eagle, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based grocer that operates nearly 400 stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland. IFMA’s annual Gold […]
Posted inDairy News, Feature, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National, New Products, Perspectives
Milk Category Commoditization Is Not The Best Tactic
Author’s note: After a hiatus following brain surgery due to the discovery of a brain aneurysm, I have returned to my writing responsibilities with The Shelby Report and am now better than new. It’s great to be back! by Cindy Sorensen/ owner and CEO of The Grocery Group Today’s milk case is exploding with an abundance […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Grocery News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Suppliers
Mars Wrigley’s Front-End Plan Can Bring ‘Instant’ Double‑Digit Growth
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest & Southwest As food retailers know very well, the majority of consumers no longer eat three sit-down meals every day. They are snacking instead. It is no surprise, then, that the fastest-growing category in the check lane is snacks. Yet snacks only get about 8 percent of the space there, Rimsha Baig, […]
Posted inNational, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, Whole Foods
Experiential Retail, Food Halls Among Top Retail Shopping Center Trends
Phillips Edison & Co., a real estate firm with a national platform of grocery-anchored shopping centers, has released its industry insights on trending themes as part of the International Council of Shopping Center’s ReCon event in Las Vegas. The insights were produced by the company’s emerging trends team led by Mike Conway, VP of national […]
Posted inNational, Home Page Latest News
House Legislators Fail To Pass Farm Bill Over SNAP, Immigration Debate
The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass the $867 billion farm bill today. The vote was 198-213. According to multiple sources, the failure was due in part to Democrats’ opposition to work requirements for those participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). On the Republican side, the House Freedom Caucus wanted to include […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Whole Foods
Six Common Pain Points In Grocery And How To Cure Them
Sponsored content By ECRS / a retail automation solutions provider Chaos happens. No matter the size of your enterprise, no matter the skill of your staff members, nor the depth of your war chest—it won’t always be smooth sailing in your stores. Still, there’s no need to sink beneath a sea of troubles. Measures can […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Whole Foods
The Critical Components Of Perpetual Inventory
Sponsored content By ECRS / a retail automation solutions provider As with nearly all aspects of retail, today’s supply chain tasks are increasingly automated. Stores, warehouses and suppliers all exchange information through bidirectional communication—no human intervention necessary. The tools to accomplish this are known as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Computer-Assisted Ordering (CAO or “Automated […]