by Jeff Colombini/chairman, Olive Oil Commission of California In case you haven’t heard, last week a lawsuit was filed against Dr. Oz by the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA). The lawsuit centers around a May 12 episode of “The Dr. Oz Show” and claims that Dr. Oz violated libel laws when he stated that […]
Category: West
The Shelby Report of the West covers grocery retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Follow the latest store openings, remodels, leadership changes and market news from the region.
Prototype ‘Amazon Go’ Store In Test Phase, Will Open To Public Next Year
Amazon is testing a new kind of a convenience store in Seattle, Washington, which has no POS, no cash, no clerks and no lines. At 1,800 s.f., Amazon Go is open to Amazon employees participating in a testing program and is expected to open to the public in early 2017. The retailer uses Just Walk […]
New University Of Idaho Arena Will Include Albertsons Name
Albertsons Cos. will have its name in lights on the University of Idaho campus with the commitment of $500,000 over the next 10 years to the new court-sports arena and naming rights to the scoreboard. The donation is a reflection of the longtime partnership between UI and Albertsons, according to the groups. “Albertsons and UI […]
Final Thoughts At Jack Brown’s Memorial Service Come From The Late Leader Himself
by Bob Reeves/VP-West Leave it to Jack H. Brown to get in the final word. Even at his own memorial service. At the longtime Stater Bros. leader’s celebration of life service, held Saturday at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, a recording from 2008 found in Mr. Brown’s office desk drawer following his death […]
Pesco Becomes CEO Of Save Mart
The Save Mart Cos.’ Nicole Piccinini Pesco has been promoted to CEO of the 206-store grocery chain. She most recently served as co-president and chief strategy and branding officer for the Modesto, California-based company. In July 2015, she led Save Mart’s launch of its first new concept store format in more than 20 years with the introduction […]
Bashas’ Celebrates 30 Years In Camp Verde, Arizona
Bashas’ Supermarkets is marking a milestone in its history this week as it celebrates 30 years as Camp Verde, Arizona’s, hometown grocer. The celebration will be a community affair as shoppers of the store at 650 Finnie Flat Road are treated to three days of activities that begin on the store’s official anniversary: today, Dec. […]
2016’s Top 10 Stories Of The West
2016’s Top 10 Stories New formats, new top executives and new store ownership were at the center of most of the biggest stories of the year in the West. A number of Kroger banners, in particular, saw leadership changes this year; Kroger also got in on the format experimentation with a rebranded store in Washington […]
Sanders To Resign From Sprouts Farmers Market Board
Doug Sanders will resign as executive chairman of the Sprouts Farmers Market board of directors. He will focus his efforts on his recent appointment as CEO of a technology company. The change will become effective at the board’s next scheduled meeting on Feb. 20. “Doug has been an integral part of Sprouts since our inception and […]
Raley’s Moves To Make All Check Stands ‘Better For You’
In an ongoing effort to enhance life with health and wellness, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores says it has implemented “Better for You” check stands throughout the chain. This includes removing all artificially sweetened sodas from the check stand cold cases, while also upgrading the selection of snacks and treats—enlarging offerings such as granola bars, […]
Stater Bros.’ Jack H. Brown Passes Away
Stater Bros. Markets’ longtime leader—Mr. Jack H. Brown—has died, the company announced today. He passed away at 10:45 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, surrounded by his family. He was 78. A native of San Bernardino, California, Mr. Brown began his supermarket career as a box boy at Berk’s Market Spot in San Bernardino at the age […]
California Fresh Market Opens Line-Free Grocery Store
Business partners Alfred Holzheu, Greg King and Sean Walwick have opened a California Fresh Market in a former Haggen/Albertsons store in San Luis Obispo, California, that allows shoppers to skip the checkout line by using an app on their smartphone. The store opened Nov. 9 at 767 Foothill Boulevard. To skip the line, shoppers download […]
KKR Invests In Two California Hispanic Grocers
Vendor memos from Mi Pueblo Food Center and Cardenas Markets dated Nov. 1 said that KKR, a global investment firm, has made investments in each company. Mi Pueblo operates in Northern California, Cardenas in Southern California. Both grocers say KKR is committed to their growth, saying the investment will be used for “creating new jobs […]
Safeway Opens New Store In San Jose
Safeway opened a new store in San Jose, California, at 1489 Bird Avenue in the Willow Glen Village Shopping Center, on Nov. 9. Robert Garza serves as the store director. The new store is the 13th Safeway location in San Jose and the fourth new store to open in the Bay Area this year. The grocer’s […]
Kogi Opens Inside El Segundo Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market has partnered with Los Angeles chef Roy Choi to open a Kogi location inside its El Segundo, California, store. It will debut Wednesday at 760 S. Sepulveda Boulevard in Plaza El Segundo. The opening coincides with the completion of a major remodel of the 66,500-s.f. store. Located within the prepared foods section, Kogi will offer a full […]
Fry’s Food Stores Ratifies Agreement With UFCW Local 99
The Kroger Co. says that associates working at the company’s Fry’s Foods division have ratified a new agreement with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99. The agreement covers more than 20,000 associates working at 122 stores throughout Arizona. “We are pleased to reach an agreement that is good for our associates. This new contract […]
Arizona Food Marketing Alliance Recognizes State’s Best At Awards Banquet
The Arizona Food Marketing Alliance (AFMA) hosted its annual Excellence in Leadership Awards Banquet on Oct. 28 at the Phoenix Downtown Sheraton. Nearly 800 industry professionals were in attendance. AFMA has hosted the event since 1965. This year’s ceremony honored Paul Rodriguez, VP of operations for the Arizona division of Circle K, as the Retailer […]
Raley’s New Market 5-ONE-5 Concept To Have Fresh, Healthful Focus
A new specialty grocery store concept from Raley’s Family of Fine Stores will focus on customers’ wellbeing. Market 5-ONE-5’s goal is to build awareness about where food comes from. It also embraces the notion that food affects health, according to the West Sacramento, California-based grocery chain. It is conceptualized from a farmer’s market with fresh products […]
Bashas’ Remodels Its First Native American Reservation Store
Bashas’ will debut its newly remodeled Diné Market in Chinle, Arizona, on Wednesday. The unit is the first store that Bashas’ opened on a Native American reservation. It also is the first Diné Market to receive a full remodel since 2008. The store is located at the corner of Highway 91 and Route 7. “The first […]
Washington Food Industry Association Names New Board Leaders
The Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA) has named two longtime leaders in the state’s grocery industry to lead the organization’s board of directors in 2017. Mike Erickson, chairman of Harbor Wholesale Foods in Lacey, will serve as the WFIA’s board chairman, succeeding Mike Trask of Stanlar Foods Inc. The association’s new first vice chair, Metropolitan […]
‘King’ Of The Supermarket Industry Dies
Mr. Byron Allumbaugh, who spent 39 years with Ralphs Grocery Co., including nearly 20 years as chairman and CEO before his retirement, died over the weekend from a massive heart attack. He was 84. He was “a great leader and mentor to many in our industry,” said Carole Christianson, COO of the Western Association of Food […]
