The Independent Oil Marketers of New England (IOMA) and the New England Convenience Store Association (NECSA) will merge Nov 1. to form a new organization: the New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association, or NECSEMA. According to NECSA Executive Director Steve Ryan, “With particular thanks to NECSA President Leo Vercollone and IOMA Chairman Jon […]
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
Research Finds Taste Shift And Cost Result In Restaurant Beverage Order Decline
Although consumers order a beverage 70 percent of the time when visiting restaurants and other food service outlets, beverage orders have declined 4 percent, or two billion servings, over a five-year period. Consumers changing tastes and cost consciousness are behind declines, finds a new NPD food service market research report. There are more growing beverages at […]
Posted in, Northeast
JOH Acquires H&H Specialty Food Associates
JOH, Billerica, Massachusetts, has acquired H&H Specialty Food Associates of Red Bank, New Jersey, a full-service specialty, ethnic and natural food broker. The addition of H&H will provide complimentary resources and broader support to JOH clients and customers in the specialty, ethnic and natural food categories in the metro New York/New Jersey and Mid-Atlantic markets, according […]
Posted in, Northeast
VERC, Sheetz And Flory’s Featured In NACS Ideas 2 Go, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… VERC Enterprises, Sheetz and Flory’s Convenience & Deli of New York were named to the NACS 2015 Ideas 2 Go, showcasing emerging concepts that redefine convenience. VERC tested a program to provide work to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that also significantly increased company culture. VERC expanded the program […]
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Boston Convention Bureau Hosts Restaurant Technology Panel, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau will host a Hospitality Exchange, a conversation about the current technology opportunities in the restaurant business, on Monday, Oct. 26, at the Marriott Copley Place, beginning at 3 p.m. Panelists include Christopher Coombs, chef-owner of Boston Urban Hospitality; Steve DiFillipo, CEO of Davios […]
Posted in, Northeast
Walmart Names Food Exec As Chief Merchandising Officer, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Walmart U.S. has appointed Steve Bratspies as its chief merchandising officer for U.S. stores, effective Oct. 19. Bratspies will oversee all merchandise categories across more than 4,500 stores in the U.S. business. Most recently, Bratspies served as EVP of food for Walmart U.S. where he overhauled the retailer’s grocery aisles […]
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Stop & Shop Begins Converting 25 Former A&P Stores In Greater New York
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. said Oct. 8 that it has begun converting 25 A&P stores it is acquiring. During this process, groups of up to five stores will temporarily close for approximately seven days and all of the conversions are expected to be completed by Nov. 13. The first wave of Stop & […]
Posted in, Northeast
Report: C-Stores Poised To Grow Better-For-You Sales
Convenience stores are poised to capitalize on the growing trend of shoppers seeking healthy, more convenient products, according to a new Hudson Institute report. “Consumers’ desire for convenience is a growing trend and a notable convenience store opportunity,” according to “Health & Wellness Trends and Strategies for the Convenience Store Sector,” a report commissioned by […]
Posted in, Northeast
Operators Come Out In Force Against Boston Alcohol Tax Plan
The Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA) recently joined with operators to testify against a city of Boston proposal that would add a 1 to 2 percent tax on all alcohol transactions within the city. The hearing was the second this year on the proposal. Boston City council members heard directly from both large and small operators about the […]
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A&P Bankruptcy Judge Asked To Reject Non-Union Bid, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… The U.S. bankruptcy judge overseeing the auction of the A&P stores has been asked by the union representing workers to determine if the acquisition of a Waldbaums by a non-union operator can be allowed. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 342 asked Judge Robert Drain to determine if the store in […]
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Restaurant Performance Index Declines In August, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) declined in August. The RPI—a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry—stood at 101.5 in August, down 1.2 percent from July and the lowest level in 11 months. Despite the decline, August represented the […]
Posted in, Northeast
IDFA Recognizes HP Hood With Sustainability Innovation Award, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… The International Dairy Foods Association honored HP Hood with the Sustainability Innovation Award for its partnership with CleanWorld, a local California technology company, during this year’s International Dairy Show. In January 2013, HP Hood began to divert product waste, approximately 35 tons per week, from its Sacramento aseptic and extended […]
Posted in, Northeast
Crossmark Names Kiley To Lead New England Office
Crossmark has named Ed Kiley to lead its New England office, effective Oct. 12. Kiley has 25 years of industry experience in the New England market. He began his career working with Nestle Foods and spent the first 10 years on the direct/manufacturer side, having also worked for Celestial Seasonings Inc. of Boulder, Colorado. During […]
Posted in, Northeast
Restaurants To Benefit With Latest Senate Healthcare Vote
Restaurants have scored a major victory as the U.S. Senate followed the House’s lead and passed the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act. The National Restaurant Association (NRA) advocated for the new legislation, which will preserve the ability of restaurants and other businesses with 50-100 employees to buy health insurance plans on the more affordable large-group […]
Posted in, Northeast
Cumberland Farms Leader Joins White House’s Worker Voice Summit
Ari Haseotes, president and CEO of Cumberland Farms, was selected by the Obama administration to represent the company at the White House Summit on Worker Voice this week. Haseotes participated in a panel discussion entitled “High Road Employer Strategies: Win/Win Solutions” as part of the day-long event Oct.7. According to Cecilia Munoz, assistant to President […]
Posted in, Northeast
Group Wants ‘Natural’ Definition To Go Beyond Organic Standards
Following a research study, which found that one in three shoppers do not make a clear distinction between organic and natural, the Organic & Natural Health Association will push for a new natural definition. The association released the results of a research study conducted as a first step in its initiative to set the standard for […]
Posted in, Northeast
Fourth Wegmans Bay State Store To Open Sunday, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… The fourth Wegmans store in Massachusetts, at 169 University Avenue (near I-95) in Westwood, is opening its doors to the public at 7 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. The 122,000-s.f. store is staffed by 550 employees and has an offering of 70,000 products. Much of the store is built with an open-market […]
Posted in, Northeast
Sysco To Supply Kroger Prepared Foods, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… National food service distributor Sysco will provide Kroger with sandwiches and salads for its delis. Sysco will supply 2,800 delis, six fresh kitchens and 800 convenience store locations… The Massachusetts Restaurant Association will host a free webinar on wealth management for business owners Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 10-10:45 a.m. For […]
Posted in, Northeast
FMI Comments On New ‘Chip’ In The Food Industry
With the payment card industry’s move to a “chip”-based payment card system beginning Oct. 1, “chips” take on a new meaning at many retail food stores. Food Marketing Institute (FMI) President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin has offered the following statement concerning migration to the “chip”-based payment card system. “Food retailers have been looking for new […]
Posted in, Northeast
Specialty Food Group Says More Sales Are Coming From Different Shoppers
Specialty food is drawing a new crowd this year. Men are stepping up purchases, less affluent shoppers are buying a wide variety of products like artisanal cheese and single-origin chocolate, and Millennials are showing their age at the store. These are some of the findings of new consumer research from the Specialty Food Association in […]