Whole Foods Market will open a new 36,234-square-foot store June 25 at 300 S. 2nd Street in St. Charles, Illinois. The location’s product assortment will feature more than 650 products from the Midwest, sourced with the help of Margie Omastiak, forager for local and emerging brands at Whole Foods Market. Opening morning, customers will receive […]
Category: News
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, West
Kent’s Market Gives Groceries To Military Families
In honor of Armed Forces Day on May 17, Kent’s Market in Plain City, Utah, partnered with Operation Homefront for a large-scale grocery donation event where more than 400 military families received about $700 worth of groceries each, totaling nearly $300,000. “This was an event beyond all events. Every family walked away with a literal ‘haul’ […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Tops Friendly Markets
Tops To Reopen Renovated Location In Buffalo, NY
Tops Friendly Markets will hold a grand reopening June 3 for its 40,240-square-foot store at 425 Niagara St. in Buffalo, New York, that recently underwent a more than $1.3 million renovation. During the ribbon-cutting celebration, Tops and Store Manager Russ Granata will present donations to local community nonprofits supporting first responders, schools, food pantries and […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Planning Store In Panama City Beach, FL
Publix Super Markets is planning to build a new store at Watersound West Bay Center, located at the entrance to the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community in Panama City Beach, Florida. The 50,000-square-foot location, which includes a pharmacy, deli, bakery and adjacent liquor store, is anticipated to break ground later this year. “Publix at Watersound West […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Independent Store News, News, Northeast
Marty’s 1st Stop On Cusp Of Major Expansion In Danville, VT
Sometimes a career change comes when one sees the handwriting on the wall. For Marty Beattie, this happened in 1989. Vermont farms were going out of business, and he was working for a grain company. He had invested 15 years in that industry, but he knew he needed to pivot to something with a brighter […]
Posted inDeli News, News, Northeast
Mama’s Creations Serves Up New Deli Options For Grocers
East Rutherford, New Jersey-based Mama’s Creations is set to unveil an expanded lineup of products at the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) show in New Orleans, running June 1-3. The company aims to help grocers beef up their deli programs with high-quality, labor-saving options that span everything from behind-the-glass entrees to grab-and-go meals and […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, National, News
Wonderful Pistachios Launches Campaign In Advance Of Record Nut Season
Los Angeles-based Wonderful Pistachios has launched its new marketing campaign, “The Don’t Hold Back Snack.” Designed to drive demand in anticipation of a record-setting California pistachio harvest this fall, the campaign features the message: “Wonderful Pistachios is the craveable snack that’s too good to be ‘good’ for you.” Through five new advertising spots directed by […]
Expert Article
Navigating Bakery Trends
The Shelby Report recently chatted with Charlie Wood, VP of sales and marketing at Bake’n Joy Foods, to learn more about the trends and opportunities in the bakery category. What top factors are impacting the bakery category? Grocers, and the bakery industry at large, are facing a variety of challenges this year but two that […]
Posted inBakery News, National, News
Sara Lee Frozen Bakery Taps Into Mini Dessert Trend
Sara Lee Frozen Bakery is offering a new dessert trend – Cyrus O’Leary’s Mini Cheesecakes. The portioned desserts come in three flavors: original, featuring a graham crumb crust and crumbled graham topping; salted caramel truffle, topped with salted caramel and brownie pieces; and a strawberry-topped mini cheesecake made with real strawberries and a graham crumb […]
Posted inSustainability News, Beverage News, National, News
PepsiCo Refines Sustainability Goals With Updated Targets
PepsiCo has refined its long-term sustainability goals across critical areas including climate, packaging, agriculture and water. The updated targets, which build on about four years of efforts under the company’s “PepsiCo Positive” (pep+) business strategy, aim to create a more resilient business and drive scalable positive impact amidst evolving global realities. Since launching pep+ in […]
Posted inSustainability News, National, News
Mars, Berry Global Transition To Recycled Plastic Packaging
Mars has teamed up with Evansville, Indiana-based Berry Global Group to transition the pantry jars for M&M’s, Skittles and Starburst brands to 100 percent recycled plastic packaging, exclusive of jar lids. The pantry jars are widely recyclable and come in three sizes: 60-, 81- and 87-ounces. This move to 100 percent recycled plastic incorporates mechanically-processed […]
Posted inSustainability News, Center Store, News, Southwest
Deoleo Report Highlights Sustainability Progress
Deoleo, an olive oil producer and maker of brands such as Bertolli, has released its 2024 Sustainability Report, reinforcing its commitment to environmental, social and governance excellence across the global olive oil sector. Deoleo is the first company in the olive oil industry to publish a report aligned with the European Union’s new Corporate Sustainability […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southeast
Still Much Work To Do As Western NC Continues Helene Recovery
In the last weeks of April, roughly seven months after Hurricane Helene ripped through Western North Carolina, new federal and state grant programs were rolled out to help the area continue on the path toward recovery. On April 25, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southeast
New Potential Shoppers Continue To Pour Into North Carolina
North Carolina grocers have great incentive to keep their stores and product offerings at the top of their game – new customers coming into the state who have no pre-existing loyalty. Lindsey Kueffner, executive director of the Carolinas Food Industry Council, which covers both North Carolina and South Carolina, said that North Carolina’s population has […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, News, Southeast
ECRS Achieves New Milestone With CATAPULT Cognition
ECRS has reached a milestone with CATAPULT Cognition, its advanced business intelligence and AI solution, which is live at more than 600 independent retail store locations across 36 states, the Caribbean and Canada. Sixty-two percent of these stores are utilizing at least one of its AI features, including AI Demand Forecasting with DemandFill 3.0 and […]
Posted inAssociation News, Bakery News, Dairy News, Deli News, National, News
IDDBA What’s In Store Live Returns With Salumi’d, Cake’d, Insightful Workshops
The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) 2025 Show is set to take place June 1-3 in New Orleans, promising a dynamic experience filled with trend insights, hands-on demonstrations and interactive education. A highlight of the annual event, What’s in Store Live, returns to the expo floor, offering attendees an immersive look at the latest […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Food City, News, Southeast
Food City Celebrates Store Opening In Chattanooga, TN
Food City has opened a 56,000-square-foot store on Lee Highway in Chattanooga, Tennessee, replacing a former location. “We appreciate the support the residents of Chattanooga and Hamilton County have shown our company, and we’re excited to provide our loyal customers with a much-needed new state-of-the-art Food City to better serve their needs,” said Steven C. […]
Posted inAssociation News, News, West
The Illuminators Share New Board Appointments For 2025-26
The Illuminators, an organization committed to fostering education, leadership and partnerships in the grocery industry, has appointed its 2025-26 officer team and first-year board members to its executive board. 2025-26 Officer Team Headlite/President: Lori Brown, director of sales northwest for Nucal Foods; Sidelite/VP: Thomas Huls, CEO for Heritage Harbor Sales and Marketing; Spotlite/Treasurer: Marla McIntosh, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Debuts New Supermarkets In NC
Publix Super Markets debuted two North Carolina stores in May – one in Charlotte and the other in Rolesville. The Rolesville location opened May 21, while the Charlotte store followed on May 28. The 46,791-square-foot stores marked their grand openings with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gave out commemorative reusable bags to the first 95 customers […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Dierberg’s, Midwest, News
Dierbergs Markets Breaks Ground For New Store In University City, MO
Dierbergs Markets broke ground May 29 on its 28th store, which will be located at the Market at Olive Development in University City, Missouri. The new 75,000-square-foot location will anchor the broader redevelopment and also include two multi-tenant buildings, adding about 8,500 square feet of retail, restaurant and service space along Olive Boulevard. Construction of […]