John Clews, COO and head winemaker at Clos Du Val Winery, has promoted Kristy Melton from assistant winemaker to winemaker at the Napa Valley winery. Melton, who was hired by the winery in 2010 to assist John in ongoing the enological modernization of Clos Du Val winemaking techniques and wine style, is expected to bring […]
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, Equipment & Technology, Marketing News, Southeast, West
Revionics Signs Grocer for Price Optimization Software
Roseville, Calif.’s Revionics Inc. has signed K-VA-T Food Stores to use its price optimization software, reports the Sacramento Business Journal. K-VA-T Food Stores is based Abingdon, Va. It operates 104 grocery stores, with 76 pharmacies and 71 gas stations under the Food City, Super Dollar, and Gas ‘N Go brands in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. […]
Posted in, Marketing News, West
Pollock Fishery Certified Sustainable; Crab Will Be Next
Bering Sea crab will be the next Alaska fishery to win certification for sustainability, according to United Nations guidelines, helping to increase market access for Seattle-based seafood producers, reports the Puget Sound Business Journal. In December, the $1.1 billion pollock fishery won the same United Nations sustainability certification, following salmon, halibut and black cod, which […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, West
Stater Bros. Awarded by State for ‘Green Business Practices’
For the second year in a row, Stater Bros. has received a Waste Reduction Award for its environmentally friendly programs from California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP). In total, Stater Bros. eliminated 125,780,911 lbs. of waste from landfills in 2011. The company’s significant green programs include: • Recycling […]
Posted in, Midwest, West
Players Tackle Hunger in San Fran Prior to Kraft Bowl Game
As a warmup for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl played at AT&T Park on Saturday, football players from the University of Illinois and the Bruins of UCLA served meals to some of San Francisco’s neediest at St. Anthony’s and Glide Memorial on Friday, reports the San Francisco Business Times. “At a time when we see […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, New Products, West
Seattle Chocolates Introduces New Bars for Valentine’s Day
Seattle Chocolates is introducing Red Hot and Pink Bubbly, two new chocolate bars wrapped to appeal to him and to her—just in time for Valentine’s Day. Jean Thompson, Seattle Chocolates owner and CEO, says, “We had such a terrific response to our Summer Love bar flavors, customers asked for more. Valentine’s Day seemed the perfect […]
Posted in, Center Store, West
Frieda’s Offers Chinese New Year Promotion Tips
Since 1973, Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Frieda’s has worked with produce retailers to promote Asian produce specialties for Chinese New Year. A longtime leader in the specialty Asian produce category, Frieda’s presents its recommendations for a “Year of the Dragon” display. Asian cultures around the world will be celebrating the 15-day long tradition, and the entrance […]
Posted in, Beverage News, West
CGA Sues California Alcoholic Beverage Control
The California Grocers Association filed a petition for writ of mandate on Wednesday, Dec. 28, to stay a California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) industry advisory that attempts to provide guidance in complying with a new state law to regulate alcoholic beverage sales at assisted self-checkout terminals. CGA claims the advisory is inconsistent with the statute, […]
Posted in, West
Walmart Acknowledges Plans for Granite Bay, Calif., Store
Walmart Stores Inc. finally has acknowledged the planned Walmart Neighborhood Market in Granite Bay, Calif.,that everyone else has long been talking about, reports the Sacramento Business Journal. In fact, this is the first Walmart Neighborhood Market in California that the giant retailer has announced. The nation’s largest retailer has 150 locations of its groceries-only format […]
Posted in, West
Seattle Plastic Bag Ban One Step Closer to Reality
The Seattle City Council voted unanimously Monday for a broad band on plastic shopping bags for businesses ranging from farmers markets to department stores. The bill would require stores to charge a 5-cent fee to shoppers if they want paper bags to hold their purchases. The bill now goes to Mayor Mike McGinn for his […]
Posted in, West
Shih Appointed to Starbucks Board of Directors
Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. has named Clara Shih to the Starbucks Board of Directors. Shih, the CEO of Hearsay Social, will serve on the board’s nominating and corporate governance committee. “Clara is a true technology leader and will bring fresh insight to our strong and forward-thinking board,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and CEO of Starbucks. […]
Posted in, National, West
WFIA Recognizes Grocery Industry’s 2011 Standouts
The Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA) recently honored its annual grocery industry award winners. The WFIA awards were voted on by the association’s full membership, then presented by President Jan Gee on behalf of the Washington state grocery industry to three top leaders in the following categories: Grocer of the Year, Kevin Stormans of Stormans […]
Posted in, West
Unified’s 2011 Earnings Down Over Last Year
Unified Grocers, the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the Western United States, announced earnings of $7.4 million for the fiscal year ended Oct. 1, as compared to earnings of $11.0 million for the same time a year ago. The value of one share of stock held in the company rose to just more than $312, […]
Posted in, West
Hirz to Take Over as Smart & Final CEO
Los Angeles-based Smart & Final Holdings Corp. announced Dec. 9 that David G. “Dave” Hirz, president and COO, will be named CEO effective Jan. 1. Hirz also will become a member of the company’s board of directors. Smart & Final’s current chairman and CEO, George Golleher, will remain executive chairman of the board and continue […]
Posted in, National, West
Looking Back: Bradshaw Still Dispensing Wisdom at 98
[gn_note color=”#66cc66″] This interview originally ran in the March 2008 edition of The Shelby Report of the West. Douglas B. “Buzz” Bradshaw, the well-known Western food broker, died Nov. 7 at his home in Ketchum, Idaho, just two months before celebrating his 102nd birthday. In memory here is one of our favorite articles of the […]
Posted in, Albertsons, West
Safeway’s Jonathan Mayes Elected CGA Board Chairman
Jonathan Mayes, SVP of public affairs, government relations, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy for Safeway Inc., was elected the 2011-12 California Grocers Association (CGA) Board of Directors chairman at the group’s annual meeting Dec. 2. As chairman, Mayes will oversee CGA’s legislative, educational and industry-related programs. CGA is comprised of more than 400 retail companies […]
Posted in, West
Tyson Foods Donates 20,000 lbs. of Chicken to Fight Hunger
Tyson Foods Inc. donated 20,000 lbs. of chicken to the Veterans’ Holiday Celebration (VHC) and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank on Nov. 30 as part of an effort to feed people in need and show its commitment for hiring military veterans, reservists and their family members on Wednesday. The donation was made in conjunction with […]
Posted in, West
PCC Natural Markets Endorses Seattle’s Plastic Shopping Bag Ban
Seattle-based PCC Natural Markets (PCC), the nation’s largest consumer-owned grocery retailer, has made known its support of the City of Seattle’s proposed ordinance to prohibit all retailers from providing single-use plastic carryout bags to shoppers as of July 1, 2012. PCC discontinued offering plastic shopping bags to customers at all of its stores—within and outside […]
Posted in, West
Stater Bros. Helps to Feed over 8 Million People in Need
Year-round and especially during the holiday season Stater Bros. makes a major commitment to help its friends and neighbors who are faced with hunger. Through monetary donations from Stater Bros. Charities as well as through in-kind donations of food, each year Stater Bros. helps to provide meals for over 8 million individuals who are faced […]
Posted in, West
Safeway Recalls Four Safeway Farms Bagged Salads
In cooperation with the Ready Pac Foods recall of bagged salads containing romaine lettuce due to possible E.coli O157:H7 contamination, Safeway announced Nov. 16 that it is recalling four Safeway Farms brand bagged salads in 14 states. The following salads with the “Best if Used By” dates, Lot Numbers and UPC codes below are subject […]