UFood Grill of Boston, a franchisor of fast-casual restaurants offering a healthy options menu, has partnered with VetFran, a program that helps U.S. military veterans locate franchise opportunities and provides a path toward business ownership with training, mentoring and financial assistance. UFood Grill will offer veterans a 50 percent discount on its current franchise fee, reducing […]
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
Walmart Opens One Of Two E-Commerce Centers In Pennsylvania
Walmart has opened one of two Walmart e-commerce centers in the Lehigh Valley section of Pennsylvania. The center is dedicated to filling online orders as part of company’s growing e-commerce business. The new 1.2 million-s.f. facility in Bethlehem Center features state-of-the-art automation and warehousing systems and creates nearly 400 full-time jobs in the Lehigh Valley. […]
Posted in, Northeast
Mass. Bill Aims To Protect Existing Tobacco Sales, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… After last year’s failed attempt by the Westminster, Massachusetts, Board Of Health to ban the sale of tobacco products, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) reports that Massachusetts state lawmakers have begun drafting bills that would prevent local governments from enacting similar ordinances. A recent hearing of the state’s […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Northeast
KeHE Expands Partnership With Albertsons, And More…
New Channels New In Brief… KeHE Distributors has been selected by Albertsons Cos. Inc. as the primary distribution partner for natural and organic, specialty and fresh products to the grocer’s network of more than 2,200 stores in 33 states and the District of Columbia. Albertsons recently terminated a supply contract with United Natural Foods Inc. of […]
Posted in, Northeast
Grimmett Named President, COO Of Golub Corp.
The Golub Corp., parent company of Price Chopper Supermarkets, Market 32 and Market Bistro, has named Scott Grimmett president and COO. He is the first person who is not a Golub to hold the title. Grimmett continues to report to CEO Jerry Golub. Neil Golub remains executive chairman of the board. Grimmett joined Price Chopper as […]
Posted in, Northeast
N.Y.’s Proposed $15 Wage To Impact C-Store Workers
New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) President Jim Calvin was right on two predictions made about two weeks ago. He said the New York Wage Board was hurtling toward a $15 per hour recommendation and that it would involve convenience store workers. Calvin described the wage board’s definition of fast food establishments as “far-reaching,” […]
Posted in, Northeast
Trade Groups Unhappy With New York Wage Board Decision
The wage board appointed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to set a new minimum wage for the state’s fast food restaurants voted July 22 to recommend a $15 minimum wage for quick-service chains that have at least 30 locations nationally. The wage board’s recommendations kick off a 15-day comment period, after which the report […]
Posted in, Northeast
Shaw’s Introduces Two Organic And Natural Food Lines
Shaw’s has expanded its selection of organic and naturally sourced products with the lines of O Organics and Open Nature. O Organics is a line of goods that has earned the official USDA Organic Certified stamp of approval. Some of the O Organic products include organic milk, stone ground wheat crackers, eggs and lightly salted […]
Posted in, Northeast
Wawa Beer Sales Request On Hold Until August, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… Wawa has requested to sell beer at one of its Delaware County, Pennsylvania, locations, and the Concord Township Board of Supervisors says it will not make a decision on the chain’s request until early August. Wawa petitioned Concord in June, requesting to begin selling six-packs for carryout at its store […]
Posted in, Northeast
Hain Celestial Acquires Europe-Based Mona Group, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… The Hain Celestial Group of Lake Success, New York, an organic and natural products company with operations in North America, Europe and India, has purchased the Mona Group, a manufacturer of plant-based foods and beverages with facilities in Germany and Austria. Mona offers a range of organic and natural products […]
Posted in, Northeast
Chipotle Gives Away Free Food In Interactive Online Game
Through August, Chipotle is giving customers a chance to win a free meal by playing the fast-casual chain’s “Friend or Faux” online game. The interactive contest’s goal is to educate participants about the differences between Chipotle’s ingredients and those commonly used by fast food chains. “Friend or Faux” also is designed to reinforce Chipotle’s “Food […]
Posted in, Northeast
Organic & Natural Health Association Names New Leadership
Organic & Natural Health Association, which formed a year ago, has a new board of directors. “We recognize that we are advocating for the highest level of standards and transparency for the industry and that there are some who may not feel ready for this level of scrutiny,” said Karen Howard, CEO and executive director of […]
Posted in, Northeast
Groups Unite To Benefit No Kid Hungry Event In Worcester, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… To benefit the No Kid Hungry campaign, Worcester, Massachusetts, chefs and Wormtown Brewery are working with the Massachusetts Restaurant Association for a night of food and networking. The event, “Something’s Brewing In Worcester,” will be held Aug. 10 at the Hanover Theater in Worcester Center from 7-10 p.m…. The Union […]
Posted in, Northeast
NYACS Says Fast Food Wage Board Should Not Include C-Stores
The New York Association of Convenience Stores is speculating that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “Fast Food Wage Board” is heading toward a recommendation that fast-food workers be paid a minimum of $15 an hour—71 percent more than the existing statutory minimum wage of $8.75. According to Jim Calvin, NYACS president, food service-oriented convenience stores are […]
Posted in, Northeast
AccelFoods, UNFI Strengthen New Business Ties
AccelFoods, which partners with innovative new food and beverage companies coming to market, is expanding its relationship with natural, organic and specialty food distributor United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) of Providence, Rhode Island. This relationship provides AccelFoods and its portfolio companies a number of opportunities to be the first brands involved in several new UNFI […]
Posted in, Northeast
Big Y Produce, Floral Manager Chosen For United Fresh Award, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… United Fresh Foundation’s Center for Leadership Excellence has chosen Ron Tarini, produce and floral sales manager at the Big Y World Class Market in Branford, Connecticut, as one of five top grand prize winners of its 2015 awards. Tarini was honored among 25 outstanding produce managers representing 23 different supermarket chains, […]
Posted in, Northeast
QuickChek Launches Q Cafe At Balloon Festival, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… Whitehouse, New Jersey-based QuickChek has maximized its extensive involvement with the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning to build its brand and introduce new menu items. QuickChek is launching its new Q Café at the three-day festival, July 24-26. At the festival site—Solberg Airport in Readington, New Jersey—the café will offer […]
Posted in, Northeast
US Foods Names Guberman Chief Merchandising Officer, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… US Foods has named Steve Guberman chief merchandising officer, promoting him from his previous position of SVP of merchandising and marketing operations, which he had held since January 2012. Guberman, who has more than 30 years of industry experience, formerly was responsible for the deployment and adoption merchandising and marketing […]
Posted in, Northeast
Natural Products Expo East Expected To Set Attendance Record, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Natural Products Expo East 2015, the East Coast’s largest natural, organic and healthy products event, is poised to hit record numbers this year with more than 22,000 attendees and more than 1,800 exhibitors. According to show planners, 30 percent of the exhibitors are exhibiting for the first time and are […]
Posted in, Northeast
Pennsylvania Governor Rejects Privatized Liquor Sales Bill
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has rejected a legislative bill that would have allowed for the sale of state-owned liquor stores and privatized the state’s liquor system. Wolf says the bill falls short of “a responsible means to reform our state liquor system and maximize revenues to benefit our citizens.” “It makes bad business sense for the […]