Blue Bell Creameries this week announced its pending return to several key markets—including Wilmington, North Carolina; Arizona; and Denver, Colorado. The news comes more than a year after the Brenham, Texas-based ice cream maker voluntarily recalled all of its products for their potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The company has gradually been expanding […]
Category: National
New ‘The Why? Behind The Buy’ Shows Grocery Shopper Behavior Influenced By Engagement With Food
Today’s shoppers are seeking positive culinary experiences, making deliberate decisions from the store to the stove, including wanting to feel good about the foods they eat, have pride in the brands they buy and share their cooking journeys online. Ahead of the new year, research released Tuesday in the 13th edition of The Why? Behind […]
Specialty Food Association Recognizes Six With Leadership Awards
The Specialty Food Association has revealed the six winners of its 2017 Leadership Awards, honoring industry frontrunners who have gone above and beyond in advancing food standards in society—and society itself—by creating social, economic and environmental impact through innovation and vision. Awards are given in three categories: Business Leadership, Citizenship, and Vision. The winners’ achievements […]
New Brand From Lehi Valley Targets Health-Conscious Millennial Consumers
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer Lehi Valley Trading Co., a producer and processor of nuts, dried fruit, candies and trail mixes, is rolling out Snackworthy, a new value brand of snacks targeted at Millennial consumers that the company touts as “free from 100-plus unworthy ingredients,” including no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and no antibiotics. Some products […]
2016 Craft Beer Year In Review
The Brewers Association—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers—is looking back on the defining beer moments of 2016. “In the face of numerous opportunities and challenges in 2016, small and independent craft brewers continue to thrive,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “This community should be very proud of what it has accomplished […]
Supervalu Completes Sale Of Save-A-Lot
Supervalu on Monday said that it has finalized the sale of its Save-A-Lot business to an affiliate of Onex Corp. for $1.365 billion in cash, subject to customary closing adjustments. With the sale of Save-A-Lot, Supervalu said it is now a more focused company. In connection with the closing of the sale, Supervalu and Save-A-Lot […]
Compliance, Enforcement Of Menu Labeling Rule Begins May 5
The Food and Drug Administration decided late last week that the compliance and enforcement deadline for the menu labeling rule is May 5, 2017. It changes the group’s earlier “clarification” that, although it would not enforce the menu labeling rule until May 5, retailers were still expected to be in compliance by Dec. 1. According […]
Forces Shaping Retail In 2017 Center Around Digital Landscape
Global consumer retail leader and private brand pioneer, Daymon, has released the four key areas that it says are essential for retailers and manufacturers to focus on in 2017. “There’s no denying that the fundamental rules of retail are being rewritten,” said Daymon CEO Jim Holbrook. “To stay relevant and successful next year, retailers and […]
General Mills Restructure To ‘Impact’ Hundreds Of Positions Worldwide
General Mills today announced a new global organizational structure that the Minneapolis-based company says will support growth and drive greater efficiency by streamlining the company’s leadership, maximizing global scale and increasing operational agility. The new structure is expected to impact approximately 400-600 positions worldwide, subject to consultation with employees and employee representatives in locations as required, […]
Snapstar Launches First Grocery Brand Rewards App
Snapstar, the first grocery brand loyalty app that allows customers to get rewarded by brands, has launched its beta product, available for Android. Snapstar allows users to take a photo of their grocery receipt and be rewarded with gift cards, giveaways and more when they purchase products from more than 30 major brands. Users take […]
Kroger’s 3Q Net Earnings Down Vs. A Year Ago
The Kroger Co. today reported net earnings of $391 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, and identical supermarket sales growth, without fuel, of 0.1 percent in the third quarter of 2016, which ended Nov. 5. Net earnings in the same period last year were $428 million, or $0.43 per diluted share. “I am proud of […]
What’s In Store 2017: Shopper Behavior Steers Retail Trends
Today’s retailers are focusing less on overall growth and more on shopper behavior, including developing smaller, more productive stores; digital retailing and online shopping; and more tailored assortment strategies by region and season. This is one of the findings in “What’s in Store 2017,” the latest edition of the annual trends publication from the International […]
New Research On Fresh Prepared/Deli In Grocery Explores Retailer Opportunities
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) released its inaugural analysis, the “Power of Fresh Prepared/Deli,” which explores fresh prepared and deli foods through the eyes of the consumer. Grounded in Nielsen data, the research outlines how the supermarket industry will continue to identify improved ways to track consumer dynamics, convenience and household trends that have had a profound […]
Boomers, Millennials Lead Spending In $30B Pet Industry
Nearly 80 million households in the U.S. own a pet, representing 60 percent of the entire population and a large portion of consumer spending, which is why Acosta—a leading full-service sales and marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry—has released new research focused on the growing industry. The Hot Topic Report, “The Pet Parenting Boom,” […]
Judge Temporarily Blocks Upcoming Overtime Rule
Texas federal District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III has preliminarily blocked the U.S. Labor Department’s new overtime rule, which was set to go into effect on Dec. 1. In a ruling Tuesday, Mazzant blocked the implementation or enforcement of the salary-related changes in the federal Fair Labor Standards Act’s “white collar” exemptions. He issued his […]
To Capture Holiday Profits, The Pennies Are In The Details
by Art Patch/Special to The Shelby Report As a college student, I had the good fortune to work for a manager who was willing to share with me what it took to run a grocery business. He let me know right away that no question was without merit. But before he began responding to my […]
To Be Successful, Foodservice Operations Need Flexibility
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer The competition grocery retailers face when entering the foodservice space is heating up, both with each other and with restaurants, which often have an edge when it comes to atmosphere and the ability to shift with trends. To meet rising consumer expectations for fresh, seasonal and memorable food experiences, retailers need […]
The 2016 ROFDA Report
Each year, The Shelby Report publishes a special section about Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates, better known as ROFDA. This special showcases the group’s work, its leadership and member-owners, as well as the independent grocery industry. The 2016 special appears below and also in the December print editions of The Shelby Report and The Griffin Report […]
Certified Angus Beef Brand Appoints Retail, Foodservice Staff Leads
The Certified Angus Beef brand has appointed four staff members to retail and foodservice leadership roles. David O’Diam has been named the director of retail, Sara Scott the director of broadline foodservice, Dana Bean the director of independent meat specialty and Diane DiDonato the executive account manager for contract sales. “By having specialized staff in these roles, […]
North American Meat Institute Urges Congress To Approve TPP
With the election over and Congress back in Washington, D.C., North American Meat Institute (NAMI) President and CEO Barry Carpenter is calling on Congress to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. “The time is now for Congress to act on the TPP, which is integral to the future growth of the U.S. meat and poultry […]
