Houston continues to be one of the most vibrant, growing areas of Texas. The Greater Houston Partnership in December released its forecast for job growth in the metro Houston area – 71,200 are projected to be added this year. If that pans out, Houston would finish the year with more than 3.5 million payroll jobs, […]
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 inSustainability News, Natural Grocers, News, Southwest
Natural Grocers Commemorates Earth Day With Deals, Sweepstakes
Lakewood, Colorado-based Natural Grocers is celebrating Earth Day with special savings, giveaways and educational efforts. Each year, the company showcases environmentally conscious products and practices and hosts a special fundraiser throughout April to bring awareness to the importance of a healthy planet. The company’s month-long Earth Day celebration culminates with three days of Earth Day […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Southwest
United Supermarkets Breaks Ground On New Store In Andrews, TX
Representatives of The United Family joined city officials and other community representatives April 17 to break ground on the first United Supermarkets grocery store and fuel station in Andrews, Texas, which is slated to open in 2026. Sidney Hopper, president of The United Family, commented on the new market and the company’s continued growth in West […]
Posted inMarket Profile, News, Southwest
Founder Of Houston’s Little Red Box Grocery Continues Food-Access Mission
Sam Newman was fresh out of a meeting with the Houston Downtown Management District when The Shelby Report of the Southwest caught up with him April 1. That meeting involved his mission to connect people and fresh food in areas where those connections currently aren’t being made. Newman’s mission started to take form after he […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southwest, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market Celebrates Supplier All-Stars
Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market has named the recipients of its annual Supplier All-Star Awards, recognizing 16 brands aligned with the grocer’s core values. This year’s recipients represent an array of emerging and established brands that have made a mark during their two to 30 years on the retailer’s shelves. They include Acme Smoked Fish […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, H-E-B, Southwest, Supply Chain News
H-E-B Truck Driver Marks 4M Miles Safely Driven On Texas Roads
H-E-B truck driver Homer Flores recently accomplished a new milestone – driving four million miles consecutively without a single accident or traffic incident. On April 14, he reached the mark after a delivery run from Kingsville to Corpus Christi, Texas. Upon arrival, his official tally was 4,000,007 consecutive miles. He was greeted by family, friends, […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, News, Southwest
Viva Fresh Concludes Sold-Out Anniversary Expo With Record Attendance
The 2025 Viva Fresh Expo marked its 10th anniversary April 11-13 with a sold-out show floor and 2,760 attendees, including 438 buyers, at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Houston. The show opened with a keynote speech from José Hernández, a former migrant farm worker who became a NASA astronaut. More than 100 people waited in […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southwest, Walmart
Sam’s Club Shares Vision, Growth Strategy
At Walmart Inc.’s 2025 Investment Community Meeting, Sam’s Club shared its long-term vision and growth strategy to redefine the club model. The $90 billion business, which began as an experiment over four decades ago, has plans to double membership and more than double sales and profit over the next eight to 10 years. Sam’s Club […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, News, Southwest, Walmart
Walmart Highlights Business Strategy Focused On Driving Growth
Walmart hosted its Investment Community meeting April 9, with leadership highlighting the strength of the company’s business operations and strategy. Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Walmart Inc., expressed confidence in the company’s ability to navigate against a more fluid backdrop, given improved business flexibility and profit diversification. He emphasized the retailer’s resilience, having successfully managed […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Southwest
El Rio Grande Latin Market Improves Pricing, Promotions Strategy With RELEX
El Rio Grande Latin Market, a grocery chain specializing in Latin American products with locations across Texas, has selected RELEX Solutions to advance its pricing and promotions optimization strategy. By moving away from manual processes to an AI-powered solution, El Rio Grande aims to offer more competitive prices, increase promotional effectiveness and improve the overall […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Natural Grocers, News, Private Label Brands, Southwest
Natural Grocers Adds 3 Varieties Of Peruvian Chips To Private Label Line
Natural Grocers has introduced three varieties of non-GMO Peruvian chips to its Natural Grocers’ Brand Product lineup. Peru, the birthplace of the potato, is not only the source of these chips but also a global leader in biodiversity preservation. The country has maintained a moratorium on GMOs since 2011, prohibiting their entry and production to protect biodiversity, family […]
Posted inSustainability News, H-E-B, Southwest
H-E-B Offers $140K In Grants To Plant Trees Across TX
For Earth Month in April, H-E-B is ramping up its efforts to plant more trees across Texas, awarding $5,000 grants to nonprofits, municipalities and civic organizations interested in planting native trees in publicly accessible areas. Those groups must apply by the May 30 deadline at ourtexasourfuture.com/trees-for-texans. Grant recipients will be notified in July. Launched fall […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Southwest
Woods Supermarket Expands To Johnstown, CO
Woods Supermarket held a ribbon cutting and grand-opening celebration March 19 for a store at 4330 Ledge Rock Drive in Johnstown, Colorado – the first out-of-state expansion for the 75-year-old family-owned Missouri business. “We are thrilled with the community support we have found in the vibrant Johnstown area and honored to be a part of the […]
Posted inSustainability News, Natural Grocers, News, Southwest
Natural Grocers Celebrates Annual Ladybug Love Campaign
In honor of Earth Month, Natural Grocers is partnering with Rodale Institute for its annual Ladybug Love campaign, encouraging communities to pledge to protect beneficial insects and further the organization’s mission to help farmers adopt regenerative organic agricultural methods. For more than 77 years, Rodale Institute has advanced organic agriculture through science, proving that “healthy […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Market Profile, News, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
Across Competitive DFW Metroplex, Kroger Focused On Customer Experience
In a recent interview with The Shelby Report of the Southwest, Rudy DiPietro, incoming president of Kroger’s Dallas Division, shared his insights on the shifting market dynamics and competitive landscape in North Texas. How does Kroger differentiate itself from its competitors in North Texas? There are many factors shoppers look for, including location, pricing, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, H-E-B, Southwest
Joe V’s Smart Shop Opens 12th Location, Second Store In Dallas
Continuing its expansion across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Joe V’s Smart Shop has opened a store at 7700 Samuell Blvd. in Dallas, the second location in the city and 12th in Texas. Part of the H-E-B family of brands, Joe V’s Smart Shop works to reduce costs throughout its operations and passes those savings on […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, News, Southwest
North Texas Retailers Keeping Pace With Population Influx
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex’s economic and demographic boom has cultivated a $20 billion grocery industry, prompting grocers to innovate and drawing new retailers to the area. However, it’s not merely growth; DFW is experiencing significant diversification. The influx of people from other states and countries brings a multitude of new tastes and expectations, creating an […]
Posted inExecutive News, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
DiPietro To Succeed Shoemaker As Kroger’s Dallas Division President
Kroger has announced that Rudy DiPietro will succeed Keith Shoemaker as president of its Dallas Division, effective March 29, following Shoemaker’s retirement after nearly 48 years with the company. Over the course of a 21-year career with Ahold Delhaize USA, DiPietro held a variety of leadership roles across many of the organization’s family of brands. […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, H-E-B, News, Southwest
H-E-B To Open New Location In Denton, TX
As H-E-B continues its expansion across North Texas, the retailer has shared plans to open its first store in Denton. The store will be built on a 20-plus-acre site at Interstate 35 West and Robson Ranch Road that is part of Hillwood’s Landmark development. While the purchase of the property is not yet finalized, construction […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Natural Grocers, Private Label Brands, Southwest
Natural Grocers Debuts Private-Label Organic Mussels
Natural Grocers is expanding its frozen seafood offerings with a new private label product – Natural Grocers Brand Organic Mussels. Sustainably rope-grown in Chile’s waters, the whole-shell mussels are fully cooked, containing protein and other nutrients. They are the latest addition to the Natural Grocers Brand Frozen Seafood line, joining wild-caught cod and shrimp selections. […]