The Fresh Market has been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Retailers 2025, receiving the top spot in the Specialty/Natural/Ethnic Grocers category. The ranking was published in partnership with Statista Inc. “We are honored to be recognized as a top retailer in the grocery industry by Newsweek and Statista Inc.,” said The Fresh Market […]
Category: Southeast
The Shelby Report of the Southeast covers grocery retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Follow the latest store openings, remodels, leadership changes and market news from the region.
Posted inIndependent Store News, Food City, News, Southeast
Food City Prepares To Build New Store In Marion, VA
Company officials broke ground July 31 for a new 56,700-square-foot Food City on North Main Street in Marion, Virginia, that is expected to open next spring and will replace the current location in town. “We are very excited to be building a brand-new … store for the residents of Marion and Smyth County. Our company […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southeast, The Kroger Co.
The Kroger Co. Begins Flashfood Pilot In Richmond, VA
Flashfood has partnered with the Mid-Atlantic Division of The Kroger Co. to introduce its program at 16 stores in the Richmond, Virginia, area. Through the partnership, customers can buy fresh groceries in surplus or nearing their best-by date, including meat, dairy, produce and baked goods at larger discounts through the Flashfood app. Items are then […]
Posted inSustainability News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Commits To Multiyear Project For Coral Reef Restoration
Publix has donated $675,000 to further support coral reef restoration efforts at two national parks in its home state of Florida – Biscayne and Dry Tortugas – through the National Park Foundation (NPF). This was the first donation as part of the company’s $2 million multiyear commitment. Publix first supported coral restoration efforts with NPF […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Harris Teeter, News, Southeast
Harris Teeter Brings Back Annual Chef’s Best Fundraiser
Harris Teeter is bringing back its annual Chef’s Best fundraiser on Aug. 8, supporting Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina‘s mission to eliminate hunger throughout 24 counties across North and South Carolina. This year’s event will feature an evening of Spanish-inspired cuisine crafted by chef, author, media personality and Cúrate co-founder Katie Button. Featuring tapas, […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, KeHE Distributors, News, Southeast
KeHE Opens Distribution Center In Elkton, FL
KeHE Distributors has opened a new distribution center in Elkton, Florida. Although it is 3,850 steps from the previous location, the new building provides a 61 percent increase in space. It features 29,887 square feet of office space for employees and six temp zones, including 390,000 square feet of dry warehouse, 105,000 square feet of […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, News, Southeast
ECRS Adds Text-Em-All Capabilities To CATAPULT Software
At Ignite 2025, ECRS announced that it had begun a strategic partnership with Text-Em-All, a provider of mass messaging solutions. The collaboration designates Text-Em-All as the preferred SMS marketing provider integrated with the CATAPULT software suite, enabling independent retailers to engage customers more effectively and drive growth. With the integration, CATAPULT users can send SMS messages directly to their shoppers without time-consuming manual workarounds. Whether promoting a weekend […]
Posted inBeverage News, News, Southeast
The Coca-Cola Co. Highlights Growth, Future Plans In Annual Report
Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co. released its second quarter results July 22, highlighting its growth in the past quarter as well as plans for a new beverage option featuring U.S. cane sugar. “Amid a shifting external landscape in the second quarter, the ability of our system to stay both focused and flexible enabled us to stay […]
Posted inBakery News, News, Southeast
King’s Hawaiian Plans $54M Expansion In Oakwood, GA
Family-owned, Hawaii-inspired food company King’s Hawaiian said it will invest about $54 million to expand its facility in Oakwood, Georgia, creating more than 135 jobs. The expansion will add a new production line at the 150,000-square-foot plant in the Oakwood South Industrial Park. Start-up of the new line is expected in the second quarter of […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, News, Southeast
Alabama Grocer Receives NGA Spirit Of America Award
The National Grocers Association (NGA) recently presented Harold Garrett, president and general manager of Gateway Foods and longtime board member of the Alabama Grocers Association (AGA), with its Spirit of America Award. The presentation occurred during AGA’s annual convention July 13-16 in recognition of Garrett’s leadership and a career that reflects dedication to community, country […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast
Publix Celebrates 2 Store Openings In FL
Publix held celebrations for two Florida stores July 19 – a grand opening for a store at 12407 SW Community Blvd. in Port St. Lucie and a store reopening at 6030 14th St. W in Bradenton. To celebrate its 95th anniversary, Publix handed out commemorative reusable bags to the first 95 customers in line at […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southeast
The Fresh Market Donates $21.5K To Alzheimer’s Association
In collaboration with celebrity chef Carla Hall, The Fresh Market donated more than $21,500 to support the Alzheimer’s Association. The grocer pledged to donate 10 percent of the sales price of Carla Hall’s Sweet Heritage Butter Tarts to the Alzheimer’s Association. The campaign in June aimed to raise awareness and fund research toward a cure. […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Southeast
Duda Farm Fresh Foods Expands Georgia Sweet Corn Facility
Duda Farm Fresh Foods has added a cutting-edge, on-site fresh cut corn processing facility within its Georgia sweet corn operations. This investment marks a step in the company’s commitment to delivering fresher, more sustainable produce. The new facility mirrors the same technology and processes used across all of Duda’s corn processing locations in Florida, Michigan […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, News, Southeast
Bay Food Brokerage Expands Into New Headquarters In Tampa
Bay Food Brokerage, a Tampa, Florida-based retail food brokerage company serving the Southeast, has relocated to a new headquarters building in Tampa’s Westshore Business District that is double the size of its previous office on Memorial Highway. Bay Food Brokerage purchased the almost 12,000-square-foot office building at 5201 W Laurel St. for $4.3 million last […]
Posted inAssociation News, News, Southeast
AGA Presents Industry Awards At Annual Show
The Alabama Grocers Association (AGA) brought members from all aspects of the grocery industry together July 13-16 for its 35th annual show at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort in Destin, Florida. The show promotes the growth and success of the grocery industry in Alabama through advocacy, industry education, public relations and networking. The business […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, Rouses Market, Southeast
Fast-Growing Lafayette Leading Way As Rouses Expanding In Louisiana
For this month’s Market Profile, The Shelby Report of the Southeast visited with Donny Rouse, the third-generation CEO of Rouses Markets, to talk about the company’s newest location in Lafayette and its strategic expansion in its home state of Louisiana, where it has 53 stores. What can you tell us about your newest store […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Food City, News, Southeast
Food City Debuts Fourth Site In Huntsville, AL
Abingdon, Virginia-based Food City debuted a new 56,000-square-foot store July 9 at 10210 Memorial Pkwy. NE in Huntsville, Alabama. This is the fourth of six locations planned for the market, following the third that opened June 4 on Governors Drive. “Our first three Huntsville locations have been very well received, and we’re excited to open […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Feature, News, Southeast
At Community-Focused Hometown Food Center, ‘Fresh Is What We Do Best’
In the small Lower Alabama town of Headland, just nine miles north of Dothan – where several national grocery chains are located – one independent grocer continues to thrive by doing what the big-box stores can’t – connecting deeply with its community and focusing on fresh, local products. Hometown Food Center, owned by Jai Freeman […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, News, Southeast
Sedano’s Supermarkets Launches Digital Circular Platform With Ideal
Sedano’s Supermarkets has partnered with Ideal to offer a mobile-first, personalized digital circular and an expanded digital media reach. “With more of our customers on mobile than ever before, it was time to evolve,” said Ken Ninomiya, VP of e-commerce at Sedano’s. “The Ideal platform turns our weekly ad into a rich, interactive experience – featuring […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, News, Southeast, Sustainability News
SEPC Launches Sustainability Education Series
Beginning this fall, the Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) will roll out a series of sustainability-focused educational offerings that will continue through 2026. The aim is to provide organizations with resources and insights they need to implement sustainability initiatives in ways that best align with their priorities and capacity. Feedback obtained during SEPC’s webinar earlier this […]