California’s Vallarta Supermarkets will present a check to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) at 11 a.m. Pacific time today at the Vallarta store at 4831 Butler Ave. in Fresno. Each year, the Vallarta chain dedicates one full month to allow customers and visitors to make donations to the MDA; cashiers invite customers to donate at […]
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.
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, West, Whole Foods
Pear Bureau Northwest Reveals Display Contest Winners
Portland, Ore.-based Pear Bureau Northwest has revealed the 40 winners of its inaugural “Pear Up with USA Pears” display contest. The contest invited all retailers from across the U.S. and Canada to build an eye-catching display that features Green Anjou, Red Anjou and Bosc pears at minimum, with inclusion of other varieties of USA Pears […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Visionary Leadership Plays Big Part In Superior Grocers’ Success
Superior Grocers had a big night in early May, as the Southern California grocery chain was the featured retailer at an Illuminators networking dinner in Fullerton. It was an important evening for the grocer, marking the first time it had presented its company to CPG companies. Mimi Song, Superior’s chair and CEO, credits her chain’s […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Store News, West
Stater Bros. Plans New SoCal Stores In Covina, Menifee Communities
Plans are under way to open two new state-of-the-art “Blue Ribbon” Stater Bros. Supermarkets in the communities of Covina (Los Angeles County) and Menifee (Riverside County). These new supermarkets will create more than 250 new store-level jobs and approximately 300 local construction jobs, according to the San Bernardino, Calif.-based grocer. “These two stores are a […]
Posted in, West
Shipping Of Washington State Apricots Beginning Soon
Domex Superfresh Growers of Yakima, Wash., says it is looking forward to a “sweet” Washington State apricot crop this season. The industry is estimating approximately 5,200 tons, which is about a 9 percent increase over what was shipped last season. Weather this growing season for apricots has been excellent and will provide above-average sizing and […]
Posted in, National, West
Memorial Service For Jax’s Bill MacAloney To Be Held Sunday
A memorial service for Mr. Bill MacAloney, who died May 21 following a battle with cancer, will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary’s Historic Mausoleum/Rose Window Chapel in Santa Ana. He will be cremated. Mr. MacAloney was the president and CEO of California’s Jax Markets. “…Bill was […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Store News, West
60K SoCal Grocery Workers Reach Tentative Agreement With UFCW
A tentative agreement has been reached between grocery workers in Southern California, represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442, and Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons. The agreement covers more than 60,000 grocery workers throughout the region. The agreement this week comes after a final marathon session […]
Posted in, Executive News, West
Sprouts Farmers Market Hires Nancy LaMons As Chief HR Officer
Sprouts Farmers Market has named Nancy LaMons its chief human resources officer. LaMons will be responsible for leading the Phoenix, Ariz.-based grocer’s human resources and organizational development efforts. LaMons brings to Sprouts a strong background in the retail, consumer packaged goods and restaurant sectors, most recently as chief people officer at the Fiesta Restaurant Group. […]
Posted in, National, West
Unified Grocers Hosting Annual Expo In Long Beach Next Month
Unified Grocers is hosting its largest-ever annual expo for the company’s members, customers and vendor community at the Long Beach Convention Center on June 18–19. Unified President and CEO Bob Ling recently celebrated his first anniversary leading the company. He and other members of the wholesaler’s senior team will be on hand. Unified says this […]
Posted in, Store News, West
Stater Bros. To Participate In Moment Of Remembrance On Memorial Day
On Memorial Day next week, all 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets will participate in the “National Moment of Remembrance.” At 3 p.m. Monday, May 26, every Stater Bros. store manager will make an announcement asking all the customers and employees who are inside the supermarket at that time to pause for 60 seconds to honor those Americans […]
Posted in, Store News, West
Stater Bros.’ 2Q Sales Increase
Stater Bros.’ consolidated sales in the 13 weeks ended March 30 were $963.8 million, up $1.9 million or 0.2 percent from the 13 weeks ended March 31, 2013, which saw consolidated sales of $961.9 million. The San Bernardino, Calif.-based company’s sales for the 26 weeks ended March 30 were $1.95 billion, up $17.2 million or […]
Posted in, National, West
Unified’s Sales, Earnings Improve
Unified Grocers this week announced improved sales and earnings for the 26 and 13 weeks ended March 29, the company’s second quarter of fiscal 2014. For the 26-week period, the Los Angeles-based distributor reported gross billings of $1.898 billion, compared to gross billings of $1.838 billion for the 26 weeks ended March 30, 2013, a […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, West
Kroger’s First Fleet Of Liquid Natural Gas Trucks In Oregon Making Debut
The Kroger Co. will be the first in Oregon to deploy a fleet of heavy-duty trucks that run on Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). The 40 trucks will replace 40 diesel trucks currently in use and are expected to start making store deliveries in the Portland metropolitan area by the end of this year. The use […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Stater Bros. And LifeStream Partner For May Blood Drive
Stater Bros. is partnering with LifeStream Blood Bank in an ongoing effort to boost local, life-saving blood reserves. Each month, Stater Bros. hosts blood drives at selected supermarkets. This month, blood drives will be held at the following Stater Bros. Supermarket locations: • 2-7 p.m. May 9, 2995 Iowa Ave., Riverside; • 11 a.m.-4 p.m. […]
Posted in, Store News, West
WinCo Foods Opening Distribution Center In Phoenix, Ariz., On May 14
WinCo Foods will begin shipping from its newest distribution center at 7502 W. Durango St. in Phoenix, Ariz., on Wednesday, May 14. The center, which includes more than 900,000 s.f. of warehouse space under one roof, will initially service 19 WinCo Foods stores located in Arizona, Southern Nevada and Southern California. The facility will open […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
New Seasons Expands Local Food Entrepreneurs Program
Portland, Ore.-based New Seasons Market has expanded Local Finds, its program that encourages small local crafters, food artisans and growers to partner with the grocer to bring their products to market. Through the Local Finds program, vendors get tailored help with everything from packaging to FDA approvals and product marketing. The program builds on New […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Natural Grocers Debuts Clackamas, Ore., Store
Natural Grocers opened its seventh Oregon store Tuesday in Clackamas. The store is located at 11424 SE 82nd Ave. “Oregonians are very attuned to healthy living, and Natural Grocers is honored to expand its nutritional offerings with this store opening in Clackamas,” said Kemper Isely, co-president of Colorado-based Natural Grocers. Isely says Natural Grocers changes […]
Posted inWoman Executive of the Year, Albertsons, National, Shelby Content, Shelby Honorees, Shelby Signature Content, West, Women In The News
Woman Executive Of The Year 2014: Unified Grocers’ Sue Klug
Sue Klug is perhaps the best-known woman in the West Coast food industry. The 54-year-old Unified Grocers executive started in the business at Vons as Susan Lawmaster in her early 20s. She went on to work at Lucky Stores before joining Catalina Marketing and later Albertsons/Supervalu. Prior to coming on board with Unified in late […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Report: Mi Pueblo Says It Might Have To Liquidate
Mi Pueblo has limited options to re-emerge from bankruptcy protection and faces the possibility of having to liquidate its 21 stores and abandon its 3,260 employees, the company says. The San Jose Mercury News reports that, in documents filed in federal bankruptcy court in San Jose last week, attorneys for Mi Pueblo asked Judge Arthur […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Store News, West
Klug Becomes WAFC’s First Woman President, Group Elects Other Board Members
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) elected its first woman president at its 93rd annual convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, last week. Sue Klug of Commerce, Calif.-based Unified Grocers is the group’s 2014-15 chairperson as well. The WAFC also elected its other officers and board members during the meeting, held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. […]