United Supermarkets LLC is changing the name of its parent company as the result of a strategic branding initiative for the entire organization. Moving forward, United Supermarkets LLC will be known as The United Family, reflecting the company’s multiple store brands as well as its family history. As part of the branding initiative, The United […]
Category: Southwest
The Shelby Report of the Southwest covers grocery retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Follow the latest store openings, remodels, leadership changes and market news from the region.
Posted in, Southwest, Store News
Ribbon Cut On Remodeled Brookshire’s Store In Athens, Texas
Grand reopening celebrations were held Wednesday for the recently renovated Brookshire’s Food Store located at 807 E. Tyler St. in Athens, Texas. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held and featured Chamber of Commerce President Mark Rathe, Athens Mayor Jerry Don Vaught and Brookshire Grocery Co. President and CEO Rick Rayford. Brookshire’s Store Director Charles Beasley […]
Posted in, Executive News, Southwest
Natural Grocers Elects Cerkovnik To Board Of Directors
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc. has elected Edward Cerkovnik to be an independent member of the board of directors. As a Class III director, Cerkovnik will hold that position until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2015. Cerkovnik is an additional, not replacement, member of the board—bringing the total number of board members to […]
Posted in, Southwest, Store News
Market Street Offers Guests ‘Best Of Texas’ Throughout July
Market Street is inviting guests to discover flavors made or grown in Texas during its annual Best of Texas expo, taking place each weekend in July. The event will feature top products from the Lone Star State at all 11 Market Street locations in north and west Texas. Best of Texas guests will have the […]
Posted in, Southwest, Store News
New App Allows Homeland’s Customers To Pay With Smartphones
Homeland Stores has launched its new iPhone and Android mobile applications, which allow customers to use their smartphones to pay for groceries. Customers can download the Homeland SwiftScan app for free, sign up for mobile payments and start using their smartphones to grocery shop. Customers will be able to locate stores, see weekly specials, create […]
Posted in, Southwest, Store News
Kroger Southwest Division Appoints Parucki VP Of Merchandising
Ron Parucki, VP of operations for Kroger’s Southwest Division, will take on the new role of VP of merchandising for the the division, which operates 210 stores, 201 pharmacies and 113 fuel centers in Texas and Louisiana. Parucki replaces Jayne Homco, who recently was promoted to president of Kroger’s Michigan Division. Parucki’s replacement will be announced […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southwest
United Supermarkets Will Debut New Logo With Remodeled Store
United Supermarkets’ Snyder, Texas, location will soon have a fresh new look along with added services resulting from a store remodeling effort now under way. The project is set for completion in late July, according to Chris James, regional VP of United Supermarkets LLC. Shoppers will see several new product offerings, all resulting from their […]
Posted in, Southwest, Store News
Natural Grocers Opening Tulsa Store; Donating To Tornado, Fire Victims
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is opening its newest location in Tulsa, Okla., on Tuesday. The Tulsa store at 9137 E. 71st St. will be the company’s second in Oklahoma, joining a Norman store. Additionally, Natural Grocers is kicking off a campaign to help victims of the recent Oklahoma tornadoes and Colorado wildfires. Natural Grocers […]
Posted in, New Products, Southwest
Whataburger Adds Whatafries To Retail Line At H-E-B Stores
H-E-B and Whataburger have introduced Whatafries, a french fry that is cut from real potatoes and can be heated or eaten straight out of the bag. Whatafries were developed by the H-E-B product team in conjunction with Texas icon Whataburger to be sold exclusively at H-E-B. The product will make its way to H-E-B snack […]
Posted in, Southwest, Store News
WinCo Foods To Add 400 Jobs With DFW Stores
WinCo Foods is expecting to add about 400 jobs in North Texas when it opens its first two Texas supermarkets within a year and a half, the Dallas Business Journal reports. The Idaho-based grocer currently is planning how it will recruit employees and expects to begin the hiring process about two months before the stores […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
Affiliated Foods Puts The Spotlight On Foodservice Division
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Affiliated Foods in Amarillo, Texas, would like to see its shareholders—grocery retailers—purchase products for their in-store bakeries/delis and sit-down restaurants from the cooperative. Grocers own the cooperative, so they would in effect be buying from themselves, just as they do when they buy for their retail stores. The cooperative owns a […]
Posted in, National, Southwest, Supply Chain News
United Brings Distribution Ops In House By Acquiring Llano Logistics
United Supermarkets has acquired Llano Logistics Inc., which has operated United’s two distribution centers in Lubbock and Roanoke since their opening. The deal closed May 31 and means Llano, which had been owned by Exel Inc., a subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL, is now owned by United, and the approximately 300 Llano employees are now […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
Grocers Supply Planning Distribution Hub In South Dallas
Houston-based Grocers Supply Co. plans to build a $50 million regional distribution hub in South Dallas. The Dallas Business Journal reports that the new facility could employ as many as 350 workers by the end of 2015. Grocers Supply, which supplies independent grocery chains that include Carnival, Harlan’s, Piggly Wiggly and Fiesta among many others, […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
Louisiana Companies Donate Food, Supplies To Oklahoma Tornado Victims
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said Friday that Louisiana companies are donating a significant amount of food and supplies to a food bank in Moore, Okla., following the devastating tornado there. “It is a humbling experience when you need help,” said Strain.”What makes this country great is the generosity that […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southwest
Brookshire’s Completes Kaye’s Remodels In Louisiana Towns
Brookshire Grocery Co. held grand openings for three Louisiana stores earlier this month. Though the former Kaye’s Food Market stores have been operating since Brookshire purchased them last November, now they have been refreshed and christened by Brookshire. The first, a Super 1 Foods banner store, had its grand reopening in Winnsboro on May 1 […]
Posted in, Southwest, Store News
Kroger Ratifies Agreement With UFCW 455
The Kroger Co. associates working at Kroger stores in the Houston area have ratified a new labor agreement with United Food and Commerical Workers (UFCW) Local 455. “We are pleased to reach an agreement that is good for our associates. It provides a solid compensation package of wages and benefits, including affordable healthcare and pension […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southwest
Brookshire’s Benefit Golf Tournament Raises $400K For Charities
For 25 years, the Brookshire’s Benefit Golf Tournament has united company leaders, vendor- partners and business associates to help raise money for charities and programs benefiting children. This year’s tournament was held April 29 and raised $400,000 for more than 50 children’s charities, including March of Dimes, Children’s Miracle Network, Champions for Children, Boys and […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southwest
Reasor’s Celebrates 50 Years Of Its Mission To Be The Best
Larry Reasor began the Reasor’s legacy when he bought his first store in Tahlequah, Okla., on June 3, 1963 with two simple yet effective ideas in mind: put customers first and sell customers the items they want to buy. Fifty years later, Reasor’s namesake store has 17 full-service locations […]
Posted in, New Products, Southwest
Whataburger Enters Retail Market With Condiments At H-E-B
Whataburger is launching into retail sales by bottling its line of condiments—Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard. The products will be available exclusively at all Texas and Mexico H-E-B stores this summer. H-E-B also will add a new product based on Whataburger’s iconic brand called Whatafries. H-E-B will carry both of Whataburger’s ketchup varieties, […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
The Independent Impact On The Southwest
In the Southwest, independent grocers provide 149,488 direct jobs, along with $14.1 billion in direct wages. Southwest grocers do $23.2 billion in sales annually and pay approximately $3.9 billion in taxes. In terms of sales, Texas brings in the most with $11.5 billion each year, followed by Missouri ($3.1 billion) and Colorado ($2.1 billion). Arkansas […]