Amazon Fresh News & Innovations | The Shelby Report
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Albertsons, Amazon Fresh, Association News, Corporate Store News, National, Whole Foods

FTC Sues To Block Kroger, Albertsons Merger

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sued to block the proposed merger between The Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos., alleging that the deal is anticompetitive. The FTC charges that the proposed deal will eliminate competition between Kroger and Albertsons, leading to higher prices for groceries and other essential household items for millions of Americans. The […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods

January Online Grocery Sales Total $8.5B

The U.S. online grocery market finished January with $8.5 billion in total sales, up 1.8 percent compared to 2023, according to the recent Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey. Despite a jump in the number of households buying groceries online during the month, January’s overall sales growth was moderated year over year by a downward […]

Posted inAlbertsons, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, National, The Kroger Co., Whole Foods

Kroger Says It Will Lower Prices If Albertsons Merger OK’d

The Kroger Co. is sharing additional insights about how the company lowered prices via previous mergers and plans to do the same through its proposed deal with Albertsons Cos. “We believe the way to be America’s best grocer is to provide great value by consistently lowering prices and offering more choices. When we do this, […]

Posted inAssociation News, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods

FMI Welcomes New Members To Board Of Directors

FMI – The Food Industry Association has announced additions to its board of directors elected during the group’s January meeting. “The food industry is on the cusp of momentous change, with new technologies poised to alter the way food businesses operate,” said FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin. “FMI is proud to welcome these […]

Posted inH-E-B, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, Independent Store News, National, Whole Foods

H-E-B Holds Top Spot In Dunnhumby’s Annual Grocery Rankings

H-E-B has been named the top U.S. Grocery Retailer in the seventh annual dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index (RPI), a nationwide study that examines the U.S. grocery market. H-E-B is the first grocery retailer to be recognized three times as No. 1 in the RPI ranking, surpassing Amazon and Trader Joe’s which have ranked as top grocer twice. […]

Posted inCorporate Store News, Amazon Fresh, Northeast, Whole Foods

Whole Foods Market Preps Store In South Windsor, CT

Whole Foods Market will open a 43,406-square-foot store Jan. 17 in The Shops at 801 Evergreen Way in South Windsor, Connecticut, its fifth location in the greater Hartford area. The South Windsor store’s design includes tile textures and a neutral color palette, connecting to the surrounding natural landscape. Its product assortment includes more than 1,000 items […]

Posted inAssociation News, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods

What Instacart’s IPO Says About E-Commerce Growth, Retail Grocery

In late September, Instacart launched its initial public offering. The e-commerce company offers online ordering fulfillment, plus an online marketplace for retailers. (We have many IGA stores as Instacart partners.) Their IPO offers a lot of insights into the e-commerce market in the U.S., starting with its value. During COVID-19, when shoppers were forced out […]

Posted inAmazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, Independent Store News, Meijer, National, Whole Foods

Study: Amazon Leads Grocery Retailers In Personalization

A special edition of dunnhumby’s Retailer Preference Index, designed to determine which retailers in the $1 trillion U.S. grocery market best personalize the customer shopping experience, finds that Amazon leads the way, followed by H-E-B in second and then Kroger. According to the inaugural report for “Leadership in Personalization,” these three retailers are at the […]

Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Albertsons, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods

PLMA Names 2023 Salute To Excellence Award Winners

Sweet potato pancake mix from Giant Eagle, cauliflower-crust pizza from Albertsons and potstickers from Amazon are among PLMA’s 2023 Salute to Excellence award winners for store brand innovation.  These products join nearly 100 Salute to Excellence winners announced Nov. 12 at PLMA’s 2023 Private Label Trade Show in Chicago. Created in 1986, the annual awards […]

Posted inCorporate Store News, Amazon Fresh, Meijer, National, Whole Foods

Walmart Claims Top Spot On 2023 Kantar Benchmarking Report

Kantar has released its annual industry benchmarking report 2023 PoweRanking, which identifies retailers and manufacturers/suppliers that set the standard of performance, ranked by their trading partners. Walmart claimed the top spot for retailers for its 27th consecutive year, while PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, P&G, Nestle and General Mills round out the top five suppliers for 2023. “It is a […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods

Amazon Fresh Offering Delivery Without Prime Membership

Previously available only to Prime members, Amazon is making grocery delivery and free pickup available to customers in all U.S. cities and towns where Amazon Fresh is offered.  “All customers can order groceries online for delivery or pickup from Amazon Fresh across the U.S. – with Whole Foods Market coming soon – even if they […]

Posted inCenter Store, Amazon Fresh, Southeast, Whole Foods

Yo Mama’s Foods Adds Three Alfredo Sauces

Yo Mama’s Foods, an all-natural, handcrafted pasta sauce company based in Clearwater, Florida, is launching new alfredo sauces in three flavors – Classic, Spicy and Garlic. Yo Mama’s Foods makes sauces that recreate the homemade, authentic tastes that would take hours over a stove to prepare. The shelf-stable alfredos have no added gums or fillers.   […]

Posted inFeature, Amazon Fresh, National, Shelby Signature Content, Snacks Brands, Whole Foods

Sales Of Confections Posting Increases Across Categories

Even with inflation and price increases, consumers still are focused on food and beverages, including confections. In an Aug. 23 webinar presented by Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, Dan Sadler, principle of client insights at market research firm Circana, took a deeper look into the confections industry. Looking at dollar sales percent change versus a […]

Posted inCenter Store, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods

Diamond Crystal Salt Co. Introduces Fine Kosher Baking Salt

Diamond Crystal Salt Co. has introduced Fine Kosher Baking Salt, designed specifically for baking. The Minneapolis-based company said the salt’s finer-cut crystals dissolve, mix and blend faster and more evenly into batters and doughs than table salt. Using Cargill’s proprietary Alberger refinement process, the baking salt delivers increased flavor and is free of additives. The […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods

September Online Grocery Sales Dip Versus Last Year

The online grocery market in the U.S. declined 3.1 percent in September versus last year, ending the month with $7.5 billion in sales, according to the latest monthly Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey. Declines in frequency and spending per order contributed to the drop, while an expanded base of monthly users softened the slip […]

Posted inAssociation News, Amazon Fresh, Guest Contributors, National, Whole Foods

What Grocers Need To Know About Omnichannel For 2024

With year-over-year online channel sales up 17 percent and vastly outpacing in-store growth, understanding omnichannel shopper behavior is vital for retailers of all sizes. As independent grocers, how can you better understand today’s omni shoppers? In a recent webinar hosted by the National Grocers Association, experts from Nielsen IQ offered valuable insights along with a […]

Posted inC-Store News, Amazon Fresh, Southeast, Whole Foods

Wawa Announces Expansion Into Kentucky

During a two-stop Community Partnership Day visit to Kentucky on Sept. 26, Wawa announced its plans to open about 40 stores across the commonwealth over the next eight to 10 years, with the first groundbreakings set for mid-2024.  To date, Wawa has more than 15 sites under contract across Boone, Bullitt, Fayette, Hardin, Jefferson, Jessamine, […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods

Online Grocery Sales Climb To $9.3B In August

As many households engaged in back-to-school activities, online grocery sales in the U.S. grew 8.7 percent compared to last year, tallying $9.3 billion in sales, according to the latest monthly Brick Meets Click/Mercatus grocery shopping survey. Household demand for pickup and ship-to-home was strong, while delivery experienced a slowdown in order volume and mass continued […]

Posted inExecutive News, Amazon Fresh, Merchandising News, Midwest, Whole Foods, Wholesaler/Distributor News

SpartanNash Elevates Morgan To EVP, CMO

Citing his leadership skills, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash has promoted Bennett Morgan to EVP and chief merchandising officer.  Morgan, who joined SpartanNash in January 2022 as SVP and chief merchandising officer, leads fresh, center store and pharmacy merchandising, pricing, promotions and category and master data management. “Bennett’s leadership has advanced our capabilities in merchandising and […]

Posted inAssociation News, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods

Independent Grocers Are Mighty Contenders In Evolving Grocery Landscape

by Christopher Greco / President and CEO, Storewise Recent narratives about the supermarket industry are painting an unnecessarily pessimistic picture of the future for supermarkets. The industry is changing, and smaller stores have seen a marginal dip in market share. But that’s only half of the story, and not the most exciting half. Instead of […]