Representatives of the Northwest pear industry met last week in Portland to project the size of the 2013 fresh pear harvest. With reports of a crop of excellent quality from the Pacific Northwest growing regions of Wenatchee and Yakima, Washington and Mid-Columbia and Medford in Oregon, the total projection is showing approximately 19.8 million standard […]
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, Independent Store News, West
Pro’s Ranch Sets Up Informational Website About Its Chapter 11 Filing
Pro’s Ranch Markets, which voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Arizona earlier this week, has set up an informational website about the reorganization. The site URL is www.prosranchreorg.com. The Ontario, Calif.-based grocery chain with 11 stores in Arizona, Texas and Mexico made the filing Tuesday. “We made this important move to improve the overall […]
Posted in, National, West
Longtime Calif. Food Broker Cleland Passes Away At 73
Mr. Robert “Bruce” Cleland, 73, of Glendora, Calif., died May 20 at home with his loving family by his side. Mr. Cleland worked in the grocery industry for most of his life, first in his father’s store in Raton, N.M., then in California at Buy-Fair Markets. He began a more than 40-year career as a […]
Posted in, Executive News, West
Klug Joins Popchips’ Sales Team
Longtime Coca-Cola executive Todd Klug recently made the move to Popchips, where he joins the company’s national sales team with a focus on retail customers in the western U.S. Klug transitions to the snack company with more than 20 years in the beverage business within the Coca-Cola system. Popchips, which boasts an all-natural “never baked, […]
Posted in, National, West
Kroger Unveils Clean Energy Production System Powered By Food Waste
The Kroger Co. on Wednesday unveiled a clean energy production system that will convert food that cannot be sold or donated into clean energy to help power its Ralphs/Food 4 Less Compton distribution center. The anaerobic conversion system will process more than 55,000 tons of organic food waste into renewable energy annually and provide power […]
Posted in, Store News, West
Kroger, Banners Opening Clean Energy Production Facility In Compton
The Kroger Co., along with its Ralphs and Food 4 Less banners, will celebrate on Wednesday the opening of its clean energy production facility that will convert food that cannot be sold or donated into clean energy to help power its Compton, Calif., distribution center while reducing waste. A ceremony to mark the event will […]
Posted in, Store News, West
Sprouts Aims For $300M In IPO
Phoenix, Ariz.-based Sprouts Farmers Market is going public and hopes to raise $300 million in its initial public offering. The Phoenix Business Journal reports that the grocer, which focuses on natural and organic products, filed a Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last week that laid out its plan for an IPO […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, West
San Fran Sues Monster For Marketing To Kids Despite Alleged Health Risks
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera has filed a lawsuit against Monster Beverage Corp. for allegedly violating California law with its marketing of highly caffeinated energy drinks to children as young as 6 years old, despite scientific findings that such products may cause “significant morbidity in adolescents” from elevated blood pressure, brain seizures and severe […]
Posted in, California Perspective, West
Relationship Building Critical During Busy Legislative Sessions
by Ron Fong/CGA president and CEO Special to The Shelby Report The California Legislature is in full swing and despite talk of legislators taking it slow and not introducing a number of bills, this session is shaping up to be one of the busiest in quite some time. California Grocers Association (CGA) staff is sifting […]
Posted in, National, West
WAFC Names 2013-14 Board Leadership
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has named its 2013-2014 officers and board of directors, elected during last month’s 92nd Annual WAFC Convention in Palm Desert, Calif. The 2013-14 officers are: • President and chairman: Steve Junqueiro, Save Mart Supermarkets; • VP: Sue Klug, Unified Grocers; • Secretary: Rick Rayford, Brookshire Grocery Co.; • […]
Posted in, West
Edwards Adds CEO Title At Safeway
Robert L. Edwards will succeed Steve Burd as CEO when Burd retires on May 14 from Safeway Inc. in Pleasanton, Calif. Edwards, who is president, also will join the company’s board of directors at that time. Burd also holds the chairman’s title. T. Gary Rogers, currently lead independent director on the board, will become non-executive […]
Posted in, Suppliers, West
Inventure To Acquire Berry Processing Biz From Willamette Valley Fruit
Inventure Foods Inc., a leading specialty food marketer and manufacturer, has signed a non-binding letter of intent for the purchase of the berry processing business of Willamette Valley Fruit Co. LLC (WVFC), including building and ground leases. Terms were not disclosed, as the transaction remains subject to completion of due diligence, agreement on a definitive […]
Posted in, Organic Natural, West
Pastry Smart Introduces ‘Miettes de Pain’ Organic Brioche Bread
Pastry Smart LLC has launched its latest organic and American Humane Certified brioche bread, Miettes de Pain. The bread is available in Whole Foods Market stores throughout Northern California and Reno. An exclusive brand for Whole Foods Market, Miettes de Pain is a line of French-inspired handcrafted brioche breads—light, airy and rich with the flavors […]
Posted in, National, West
Unified Grocers Advancing Waste Reduction Efforts
Unified Grocers, the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the western U.S., is making significant advancements in its ongoing effort to reduce waste and encourage earth-sustaining practices throughout the organization, the Commerce, Calif.-based wholesaler says. As part of Unified’s commitment to being a good steward of the earth while responsibly growing its business, the company has […]
Posted in, National, West
The Independent Impact On The West
In the West, independent grocers provide 178,335 direct jobs, along with $6.4 billion in direct wages. West grocers do $33.2 billion in sales annually and pay approximately $6 billion in taxes. In terms of sales, California brings in the most with $19.7 billion each year, followed by Arizona ($3.6 billion) and Washington State ($3.2 billion). […]
Posted in, Store News, West
Sprouts Opening 35th L.A. Area Store On May 1
The countdown is on in Westwood, a neighborhood in the north-central portion of Los Angeles’ Westside, as Sprouts Farmers Market gets closer to opening its 35th store in the area. The 22,558-s.f. store will open Wednesday, May 1, at 1751 Westwood Blvd., just off Santa Monica Boulevard. “We’re pleased to be moving into such a […]
Posted in, National, West
Fresh & Easy Confirms Exit From U.S.
U.K. retail giant Tesco has confirmed its exit from the U.S., saying earlier today that its Fresh & Easy venture is being treated as a “discontinued operation.” Philip Clarke, Tesco’s chief executive, said “the announcements made today are natural consequences of the strategic changes we first began over a year ago and which conclude today. […]
Posted in, National, West
City Of Hope’s ‘Angels’ Host Another Successful Fashion Show
The City of Hope’s Angels of the Southern California Food Industries Circle hosted its annual fashion show earlier this month, raising $250,000 from key industry sponsors alone. Those title sponsors for the “100 Years of Hope” fashion show and luncheon included PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, QTG-Quaker Tropicana Gatorade, Nestle Purina PetCare and Unilever. Actor and entertainer Florence […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Executive News, West
Van Helden Appointed President, COO Of Stater Bros. Markets
Peter Van Helden will become president and COO of Stater Bros. Markets when Jim Lee retires as of June 1. Van Helden is a 36-year veteran of the supermarket industry. Prior to joining Stater Bros., he was EVP of retail operations for Supervalu. Van Helden began his career in 1977, working for Rosauers in Libby, […]
Posted in, Executive News, West
Stater Bros. President Announces Retirement
Jim Lee, president and COO of Stater Bros. Markets, plans to retire May 31. He made the announcement Thursday in Pomona, Calif., after being inducted into the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation (CGAEF) Hall of Achievement. Lee joined San Bernardino-based Stater Bros. Markets as group SVP of retail operations in 2002, bringing to the company […]