The artichoke has been named the official state vegetable of California. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom made the announcement earlier today. California produces 99 percent of the annual U.S. crop of fresh market artichokes. The drive to name the official state food was organized by a radio station in San Francisco and was based on votes […]
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
Grocery Outlet Moving To Long Vacant Nugget Site In Greenhaven Area
Grocery Outlet Inc. has leased a former Nugget Market site in Sacramento’s Greenhaven area. The Sacramento Business Journal reports that the deep-discount grocer will invest nearly $2 million to remodel the 23,000-s.f. building at Florin Road and Riverside Boulevard. The building has been vacant for about a decade—ever since Nugget moved out for a bigger […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Stater Bros. To Break Ground On New Redlands Store This Week
Stater Bros. will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, to celebrate the construction of the company’s newest and most modern supermarket—located in the Redlands Village Shopping Center and being developed by Lewis Retail Centers. The new Redlands Stater Bros. store will be located on the northwest corner of Lugonia and Wabash […]
Posted in, Store News, West
WinCo Plans 800,000-s.f. Phoenix Warehouse
WinCo Foods has delivered nearly $12 million in cash for a west Phoenix lot where it plans to erect an 800,000-s.f. warehouse within the next year and bring about 300 jobs to the Valley, the Phoenix Business Journal reports. According to Business Real Estate Weekly of Arizona, the 74-acre parcel—located at the southwest corner of […]
Posted in, West
California Avocado Season Dawns With Breakfast Promotion
California avocado season has kicked off with the California Avocado Commission’s (CAC) “Wake up to Breakfast with California Avocados” promotion. Morning represents tremendous growth opportunities for avocado consumption, and the commission aims to encourage consumption of California avocados with its breakfast-themed activities, according to a news release. It works very well for spring merchandising events […]
Posted in, Market Profile, West
Innovative Formats, Expansion Projects Lead The Way In The Beaver State
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer “Changing” might be the most appropriate word to describe the Oregon marketplace. From unique store formats to expansions and more, The Beaver State already is seeing signs of transformation early in the new year. Local and health-driven segments take stronger hold in Portland Local Choice Produce Market Local Choice Produce Market […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Center Store, West
Earnest Eats Adds New Granola Bars And Hot & Fit Cereals
Earnest Eats, makers of natural foods rooted in the nourishment of whole, unprocessed ingredients, has added three new choices to its family of products: Earnest Eats Chewy Granola Bars, Hot & Fit Cereal multi-serve canisters and Hot & Fit Cereal single-serve cups. Each blends a unique trio of superfood grains, including whole oats, amaranth and […]
Posted in, National, West
CGA Hires New Government Relations Manager
The California Grocers Association (CGA) has hired Dane Hutchings as its government relations manager, effective immediately. In this position, Hutchings will be responsible for bill tracking and analysis, regulatory analysis, member relations and grassroots development. In addition, he will work with CGA members to develop positions and draft advocacy messages and represent the organization before […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Haggen Closing Federal Way, Wash., TOP Foods Store
Haggen Inc. is closing its TOP Food & Drug store in Federal Way, Wash., in April, the company said earlier this week. The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that the closure whittles the Bellingham, Wash.-based chain to 27 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon operating under the TOP Food & Drug and Haggen Food & Pharmacy […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, West
Costco Plans To Expand Headquarters In Issaquah, Wash.
The Puget Sound Business Journal is reporting that Costco Wholesale Corp. is negotiating with city officials in Issaquah, Wash., to add as much as 1.5 million s.f. to its corporate headquarters through a new development agreement, according to Keith Niven, Issaquah’s economic development director. “They are trying to chart a path for their future,” Niven […]
Posted in, National, West
Grantham Joins Mann Packing Co.
Craig Grantham recently joined Mann Packing Co. as the new director of trade marketing. Grantham joins Mann with 16 years of sales experience. In addition, he has seven years experience in business development, process improvement and developing promotional programs. Grantham started his career at the Gillette Co. where he held numerous sales, trade marketing and […]
Posted in, Store News, West
Fresh & Easy Giving Customers Free Bagels For Daylight Savings Time
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market says it is hosting a bagel giveaway today to help customers cope with losing an hour of sleep due to Daylight Savings time. Customers can redeem a coupon for a free bag of six fresh&easy Plain or Everything Bagels, no purchase necessary, while supplies last. The giveaway began Sunday. “While […]
Posted in, Market Profile, West
Remodels, New Store Openings Dominate Competitive SoCal Marketplace
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Late last year marked the first time since January 2009 that California’s statewide unemployment rate fell below double digits. But at a rate of 9.8 percent, the Golden State still has far to go before it bests, or simply runs relatively even, with the national rate of 7.9 percent. The southern […]
Posted in, New Products, West
First-To-Market Fruit And Veggie Pops For Kids Debut Friday
Ruby’s Rockets, the fruit and vegetable pops with probiotics made especially for kids, will launch Friday at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif. These all-natural ice pops for kids, tweens and teens offer a healthy alternative to sugary, artificial treats and are a convenient, low-calorie snack, according to a news release. Ruby’s mom, Broadway/TV/film […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Beverage News, New Products, West, Whole Foods
Slimrock Cocktail Mixers Provide Low-Calorie Option
A new cocktail mixer is hitting the market. New Slimrock cocktail mixers replace high-caloric, sugary ingredients with natural sweeteners and add fruit extracts to create a low-calorie drink option. Exotic flavor combinations range from Guavapolitan and Mango Margarita to Cucumber Ginger Citrus and Prickly Pear Passion-Fruit. “With Slimrock we have created a very innovative product,” […]
Posted in, National, West
Nestle Hosts Its First Two On-Site Wind Turbines At Calif. Plant
Nestle is celebrating its first wind energy project in the world today with the hosting of two wind turbines at its Nestle Waters North America (NWNA) bottling plant in Cabazon, Calif. The turbines will provide wind power for 30 percent of the facility where the company produces its Arrowhead and Nestle Pure Life brand bottled […]
Posted in, New Products, West
New Natural Laundry Soap Debuts In PCC Natural Market Co-ops
Puretergent debuts this week at PCC Natural Markets, with nine locations in the Greater Seattle area. Puretergent, a news release says, leaves clothes clean and soft without the sticky residue of conventional detergents; it is packaged in an ergonomic pouch containing one-eighth of the plastic of other liquid laundry soap containers. Julia Fry, a former […]
Posted in, National, West
Flowers Completes Acquisition Of Sara Lee, Earthgrains Assets In Calif.
Flowers Foods Inc. has completed its acquisition of the perpetual, exclusive and royalty-free licenses to the Sara Lee and Earthgrains brands for sliced breads, buns and rolls in the state of California from BBU Inc., a subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. In October 2012, Flowers […]
Posted in, Store News, West
Fred Meyer And QFC Associates Ratify Agreements With UFCW Local 555
The Kroger Co. associates working at Fred Meyer and QFC stores in Portland and throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington have ratified new labor agreements with UFCW Local 555. “We are pleased to reach agreements that are good for our associates and enable us to be competitive in very competitive market areas,” said Lynn Gust, Fred […]
Posted in, Executive News, West
Stater Bros. Promotes Meyer To EVP Of Retail Operations
Stater Bros. Markets has promoted Dan Meyer to the position of EVP of retail operations. In this position, Meyer will be responsible for the retail operations of all 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of the corporate training center. Meyer is a 42-year member of the Stater Bros. family. He […]