Many Associated Food Stores retailers and team members from Associated Retail Operations participated in the Utah Food Industry Association’s (UFIA) annual conference Aug. 6 at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah. Leadership transitions and recognition Brandon Peterson, operations manager at Peterson’s Market and the outgoing chairman of the board, was recognized for his service. […]
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.
Vallarta Highlights Store Design At Second Modesto Site
Vallarta Supermarkets will debut its second location in Modesto, California, on Aug. 27. Located at 2401 E. Orangeburg Ave., the new store builds on the momentum of Modesto’s first Vallarta, which opened earlier this year at 3900 Pelandale Ave. That store created 227 new jobs. The latest store, which will add 194 jobs in the […]
Heritage Grocers Group Transforming Prepared Food Production
With the help of its technology partner, Upshop, Heritage Grocers Group (HGG) has begun transforming how it plans and produces fresh prepared foods. By shifting from experience-based methods to a cutting-edge, data-driven production planning system, Ontario, California-based HGG aims to enhance product availability, optimize labor and better serve diverse communities. “Leveraging predictive analytics, this system […]
99 Ranch Market Opens First Store In Portland, OR
Asian grocer 99 Ranch Market will open its second store in Oregon – and first in Portland – on Aug. 16. Portland is home to one of the country’s most vibrant Asian food scenes, which the company said makes it an ideal community to open its 65th store nationwide. Located at 10544 SE Washington St. […]
Former Vons Revamped As Pavilions In Mission Hills Neighborhood
The former Vons location in the Mission Hills area of San Diego, California, is now a Pavilions store. Though it underwent a fairly extensive remodel, the store remained open throughout the process. Wayne Heaton, VP and GM for Pavilions, said Mission Hills is “an incredible neighborhood” for the format. “Mission Hills has a great diverse […]
WAFC Adds King Soopers’ Albi To Board Of Directors
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) elected Chris Albi, president of King Soopers/City division of The Kroger Co., to its board of directors during an Aug. 1 meeting in Irvine, California. With more than 40 years of leadership experience in the grocery industry, Albi brings knowledge, strategic insight and commitment to serving the community. She […]
Grocery Outlet Raises More Than $5M For Food Banks
Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. has completed its 15th annual Independence from Hunger Food Drive, raising more than $5 million to support food banks. From June 25-July 31, more than 540 locally-owned and -operated Grocery Outlet stores nationwide accepted donations in-store and online. They also collected pre-assembled grocery bags that were allocated to local food banks. […]
Pavilions Stores Specialize In Selection Of Stellar Wines, Liquors
“There’s no other supermarket in Southern California that carries the selections and the varieties that we’re able to get in Pavilions.” That’s how Wayne Heaton, VP and GM of the Pavilions banner, describes the stores’ wine and liquor offerings. He credits Phil Markert for stewarding those departments so well. “We have a very special director […]
WAFC Mourns Death Of Former Longtime Leader
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has announced the death of former longtime COO Carole Christianson on Aug. 1 after a battle with leukemia. Christianson retired in 2022 following a 50-year career in the food and beverage industry and more than 15 years at the helm of the WAFC. During her time as COO, […]
Mars Opens Nature’s Bakery Facility In Salt Lake City, UT
Nature’s Bakery, part of the Mars Inc. family of brands, opened a new baking facility July 30 in Salt Lake City, a $240 million investment that marks a milestone in the brand’s expansion. The 339,000-square-foot site gives Nature’s Bakery the space to grow, with the ability to produce more than 1 billion bars each year. […]
Save Mart Breaks Ground On New Location In Manteca, CA
The Save Mart Companies broke ground July 30 on a new 52,000-square-foot Save Mart at Main Street and Atherton Drive in Manteca, California. Slated to open in late summer 2026, the store will be an anchor tenant in the Marketplace at Main Shopping Center. “With this future Save Mart store, we are proud to provide […]
Pavilions Fills Role As Test Site For New Grocery, GM Products
“Pavilions is a testing ground for a lot of new and innovative items for the entire division,” said Wayne Heaton, VP and GM of the Pavilions banner. Together with Albertsons and Vons banner stores, they form Albertsons’ 329-store Southern California division. “If something works in Pavilions, there may be 100 stores in the other two […]
Pavilions Marks 4 Decades Of Offering SoCal Consumers An Upscale Full-Shop
Wayne Heaton is VP and general manager of the Pavilions banner for Albertsons, which also owns Pavilions’ sister banner Vons. Heaton has enjoyed a long history in the grocery industry, starting as a courtesy clerk “pushing carts” in 1987. He came up through the ranks at Albertsons and served as a store director for many […]
3-Store Acquisition Strengthens Stokes Markets’ Position In Mountain West
John Stokes and his brother, Steve, are fourth-generation grocers who have spent their lives immersed in the family business, Stokes Markets. Their work ethic and dedication to excellence are a direct result of their upbringing in the industry and the influence of those who worked alongside them. Stokes credits their customers with pushing them to […]
Gelson’s, Upshop Collaborate On Store Operations Technology
Gelson’s Markets is embracing a data-driven transformation in store operations by partnering with Upshop. By adopting the tech firm’s total store platform, Gelson’s aims to infuse intelligence into its forecasting, total store ordering, production planning and real-time inventory processes, ensuring every location is tuned into local demand dynamics. The initiative means shoppers will find what […]
Food 4 Less Leader Doyel Plans To Keep Building On Banner’s Strong Foundation
Kendra Doyel may have one of the most well-rounded careers among today’s supermarket industry leaders. Named president of Kroger’s Food 4 Less/Foods Co division in April, Doyel started as a pharmacist in the company’s Fry’s division in 1998 and wound through several departments and responsibilities on her way to leading 101 Food 4 Less and […]
Superior Grocers Debuts Second Las Vegas Store
Superior Grocers opened its second Las Vegas store July 23 at 390 S Decatur Blvd. Among other products, customers can find a $1.99 street hot dog plus Jarritos soda combo, premium cuts of SR Superior Ranch Meat, agua frescas, boba tea, fresh tamales and treats from an in-store dulceria. Customers can visit SuperiorGrocers.com or download […]
Heritage Grocers Group CEO Steps Down, Leadership Transitions In Progress
Heritage Grocers Group (HGG) has shared multiple leadership transitions within the company, as Suzy Monford steps down from her role as chairwoman and CEO to pursue other opportunities. She had joined the company in November 2024. HGG has named industry veteran David Hirz chairman of the board and is instituting an Office of the CEO […]
Heritage Grocers Group, NationsBenefit Partner To Boost Health
Heritage Grocers Group has begun a retail technology integration through which health plan members can use their NationsBenefits Mastercard Prepaid Cards at the grocer’s banners to buy fresh produce, pantry staples and over-the-counter wellness essentials. By embedding its Basket Adjudication Service technology platform into checkout systems, NationsBenefits is providing members the freedom to use their […]
Sprouts Farmers Market Joins U.S. Food Waste Pact
Sprouts Farmers Market has become the latest grocery retailer to join the U.S. Food Waste Pact, a joint initiative led by ReFED and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to reduce food waste throughout the supply chain. Sprouts and 21 other food businesses and organizations have committed to the pact’s voluntary agreement, which utilizes the “Target, Measure, Act” framework to facilitate […]
