Grocery News In Brief… The United Fresh Produce Association has chosen Big Y World Class Market Produce & Floral Sales Manager Jennifer Ratkiewicz as one of 25 winners in its 2016 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. Ratkiewicz has been with Big Y for 23 years. She started her career as a front-end service clerk and […]
Category: Northeast
The Shelby Report of the Northeast covers grocery retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Follow the latest store openings, remodels, leadership changes and market news from the region.
Posted in, Northeast
Pennsylvania Board Accepting Wine-Expanded Permits, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is accepting requests for various new licenses and permits authorized under a new law. Requests for wine-expanded permits, conversions of eating place licenses into restaurant licenses, casino liquor licenses and direct wine shipper licenses may now be submitted through PLCB+, a new online licensing […]
Posted in, Northeast
Group Praises Action On Blanket Music Licensing, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… The National Restaurant Association (NRA) praised the Department of Justice’s decision to uphold protections against anti-competitive music licensing practices: “We are also pleased that the Department of Justice has reaffirmed the concept of 100 percent or blanket licensing. Our members have been and continue to be sold blanket licenses, allowing them […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Northeast
Lidl Establishing Another Regional HQ/DC
Lidl, one of the world’s largest retailers that is preparing to open its first U.S. stores, plans to establish a new regional headquarters and distribution center in the Principio Business Park in Cecil County, Maryland, as part of its U.S. expansion. The company says it will invest $100 million in the project and create 100 […]
Posted in, Northeast
Boston City Council Reviews Mayor’s Restaurant Grading System
The Boston City Council is reviewing an ordinance filed by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh to establish a restaurant and food truck letter grading system to protect consumers and provide them with information about recent health inspections. If passed, the policy will allow inspectors to transmit violations noted into a numerical point system, which in turn will […]
Posted in, Northeast
VRGA Advises Members On Impact Of New GMO Labeling Law
The Vermont Retail Grocers Association (VRGA) is advising its members and suppliers that they can continue to label products that contain GMOs. President Obama recently signed into law a new federal bill governing GMO disclosure on food products, which preempts Vermont’s first-in-the-nation GMO labeling law. Erin Sigrist, VP at the VRGA, said there are a number of […]
Posted in, Northeast
Cott Corp. To Acquire S&D Coffee, And More…
Grocery News In Brief… Cott Corp. plans to acquire S&D Coffee, a premium coffee roaster and provider of customized coffee, tea and extract solutions to the foodservice, convenience, gas, hospitality and office segments in the U.S. Cott CEO Jerry Fowden said, “The S&D acquisition is another great step in our stated strategy to enhance our […]
Posted in, Northeast
Subway And U.S. Labor Department Reach Pact On Fair Wages, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… Subway and the U.S. Department of Labor have signed an agreement that boosts franchisees’ compliance with labor laws and ensures that workers get paid the wages to which they are legally entitled. David Weil, U.S. Labor Wage & Hour Division administrator, said the agreement builds upon the division’s ongoing work to […]
Posted in, Northeast
Walmart Buying Jet.com For $3 Billion, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Walmart will buy e-commerce company Jet.com for approximately $3 billion in cash, a portion of which will be paid over time. Additionally, $300 million of Walmart shares will be paid over time as part of the transaction. The acquisition will build on and complement the significant foundation already in place […]
Posted in, Deli News, Northeast
RFA Unites Suppliers To Aid Hunger Programs During National Deli Salad Month
The Refrigerated Foods Association (RFA) has reported a collective annual donation of $478,573 for food banks throughout North America, through in-kind food donations and direct monetary contributions. The special effort took place during National Deli Salad Month in July. The RFA is an organization of manufacturers and suppliers of prepared, refrigerated food products united by a […]
Posted in, Northeast
Second Bfresh Unit To Open In Brighton, Massachusetts
Bfresh, focused on affordable fresh foods, will open its doors at 470 Washington Street in Brighton, Massachusetts, on Aug. 19. This will mark the second bfresh store in the Greater Boston area. The inaugural bfresh store opened in nearby Allston in September 2015. Bfresh offers more natural and organic options than a typical market, vegan […]
Posted in, Northeast
Some New FDA Rules For Tobacco, E-Cigs Take Effect Aug. 8
The FDA’s final rule extending the agency’s regulatory authority to products such as e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah and pipe tobacco, certain dissolvables as well nicotine gels goes into effect Aug. 8. Some of the rule’s provisions that apply to retailers and manufacturers will take effect immediately on Aug. 8 while others will take effect later. Some information is […]
Posted in, Northeast
Greater Boston Food Bank Recognizes Stop & Shop, And More…
Grocery News In Brief… The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), the largest hunger relief organization in New England, has named Stop & Shop as the only corporation to enter its newly-created Cornerstone Circle, a level of giving that recognizes donors that contribute more than $500,000 annually. The supermarket company is GBFB’s top food donor, providing […]
Posted in, Northeast
Equal Pay Law Signed In Massachusetts, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this week signed a bipartisan pay equity bill, passed unanimously by both legislative branches, to ensure equal pay for comparable work for all Massachusetts workers. The law will go into effect on July 1, 2018, for Commonwealth employers and employees. The law will prevent pay […]
Posted in, Northeast
NACS Toolkit Aids Retailers’ Engagement With Community Groups, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has updated the “How Convenience Stores Work and Their Contributions to Communities” toolkit. The primer, first published in 2015, provides a starting point for retailers to define their businesses before community groups and addresses issues relating to jobs, property values, overnight hours, traffic and […]
Posted in, Northeast
Five Former Mars Locations To Open As Weis Markets This Week
Weis Markets of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, will open five converted Mars Super Markets as Weis stores on Aug. 4. More than 500 former Mars employees will join the Weis team. The acquired locations in Baltimore County, Maryland, include two stores in Dundalk and individual units in Essex, Arbutus and Carney. The converted stores will add more […]
Posted in, Northeast
Friendly’s Maguire Also To Lead Johnny Rockets
John Maguire, head of Friendly’s Restaurants, also will lead Johnny Rockets, an operator and franchisor of more than 350 Americana-themed restaurants in 28 countries, as president and CEO. Immediate plans are for Johnny Rockets and Friendly’s to continue to operate independently, while management collaborates on how best to capitalize on the synergy of the two […]
Posted in, Northeast
Bill Establishing National Standard For GMO Disclosure Signed Into Law
President Barack Obama has signed S. 764 into law, a bi-partisan, bi-cameral action that sets in place one national standard for GMO disclosure. According to industry food groups like the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), the bill brings consistency, certainty and an end to restrictions on interstate commerce facing retailers, manufacturers and […]
Posted in, Northeast
Sid Wainer & Son And James Beard Foundation To Host Celebrity Chef Dinner, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… On Aug. 20, a multi-course dinner will feature locally sourced produce from the Wainer Family Farm as well as local seafood from Marder Trawling Inc. and a local steer provided by Jordan Farm. The meal will be prepared by seven master celebrity chefs who have been selected by the James Beard Foundation […]
Posted in, Northeast
Dollar General Buys Walmart Express Stores, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Dollar General has picked up 41 Walmart Express locations across 11 states in the South and Midwest. According to the company, the locations will feature an updated layout with expanded offerings like fresh meat and produce. Dollar General also intends to operate the fueling stations in 37 of the former Walmart […]