Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Companies Inc. has announced a collaboration with Apple to bring activity data from Apple Watch and iPhone to the Sincerely Health digital health and wellness platform. Sincerely Health is a free tool available on 16 Albertsons Cos. grocery banners and websites, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Shaw’s, Jewel-Osco, Acme and Tom Thumb. Customers who wear Apple […]
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 inBeverage News, Corporate Store News, Organic Natural, West
New Seasons Market Releases Sustainable Hazy IPA
Portland, Oregon-based New Seasons Market has collaborated with Hopworks Brewery on the release of Carbon Farmer, an organic hazy IPA crafted with Kernza. Kernza is a grain grown in a perennial polyculture system, which echos the natural prairie ecosystems and helps to improve soil health, reduce water use and provide habitat for pollinators. Because Kernza’s root system reaches more […]
Posted inRaley's, Produce News, West
The Raley’s Companies Donates Apples To California Food Banks
Two divisions that operate as part of The Raley’s Companies – Bashas’, which has grocery stores in Arizona and New Mexico, and Raley’s, which has them in California and Nevada – were selected by FirstFruits to participate in the “Take a Bite Out of Hunger” initiative. They donated about 40,000 pounds of apples to local food […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Naturipe Farms Offers Blueberries From Southeast During Season
Salinas, California-based Naturipe Farms is promoting blueberries from its Southeast growing region in retailers. The berry grower will fill shelves with blueberries in all clamshell sizes, from the single serving six-ounce to the two-pound pack. Retailers can expect the crop between mid-April and mid-June. Weather plays a factor in the production of the superfruit in the […]
Posted inCenter Store, New Products, West
Hidden Valley Introduces Pickle Flavored Ranch
Oakland, California-based Hidden Valley has introduced a new offering: pickle flavored ranch. Available at Walmart stores nationwide, the flavor combines the company’s ranch with a tangy twist. The appetite for pickle-flavored products continues to grow, with the number of pickle-related offerings up 67 percent from 2019-22. Armed with this data and other insights, Hidden Valley saw an […]
Posted inKeHE Distributors, West, Wholesaler/Distributor News
KeHE Names 15 Winners Of Trendfinder Event At Expo West
KeHE has named the 15 winners of its 2023 TRENDfinder event, which took place March 7-11 at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California. The recipients of the “Golden Ticket” include: Resist Nutrition, The Plug Drink, CorEats Mixes, Egmont Manuka Honey, Eve Wellness, Green Boy, Clean Juice, Naturli’, Almondy, VGAN Chocolate, Melati Drinks, Bear Bar, Wild Orchard, FITPPL and EVERBLUE. “A key focus at KeHE is to support small and […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Executive News, West
Superior Grocers Appoints Two Industry Leaders To SVP Positions
Santa Fe Springs, California-based Superior Grocers has appointed Tom Finn and Miguel Alarcon to SVP positions within the company. Finn joins Superior Grocers as SVP of marketing and merchandising. With more than 35 years of experience in the retail grocery industry, he has dedicated the majority of his career to merchandising, marketing and enhancing the […]
Posted inPackaging News, West
ZAG Named Speaker At Food Northwest Process, Packaging Expo
ZAG Technical Services will be attending, exhibiting and leading an event session on achievable business outcomes with robotic process automation April 4-6 at the Food Northwest Process and Packaging Expo in Portland, Oregon. ZAG’s event session will be led by VP of Data and Software Services Thuan Ngo. Titled, “How to use software robots to automate […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Albertsons, West
Albertsons Cos. Creates Partnerships For Health Benefit Cards
Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Companies Inc. has partnered with global financial services technology provider FIS, which represents supplemental health benefits administrators, including Fresh Connect, PayForward and WEX that utilize its technology payment platform. Additionally, Albertsons Cos. is entering into a partnership to accept benefit cards from Soda Health, which works to improve health equity by tailoring benefits based on individual needs. Customers with FIS […]
Posted inPackaging News, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Organic Natural, West
Albertsons Cos.’ Organic Brand Introduces New Packaging
Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Companies has shared that its O Organics brand is celebrating growth with new packaging. To kick off the redesign, the private label brand is designating April as Organic Breakfast Month and encouraging customers to share their favorite breakfast routine on social media using #WakeUpOrganic. “Many of our customers have embraced an organic lifestyle and consider it to be […]
Posted inSustainability News, Corporate Store News, West
Thrive Market, RePurpose Global Partner To Fight Plastic Pollution
Los Angeles-based Thrive Market has announced that its owned brands have become plastic neutral certified. The brand is partnering with rePurpose Global, a plastic action platform, to support funding the recovery of as much nature-bound plastic waste as it uses across its branded product packaging and shipping materials. Through this partnership, Thrive Market is supporting […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Sustainability News, West
Sprouts Farmers Market To Eliminate Single-Use Plastic Bags
Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market will eliminate single-use plastic bags at checkout by the end of 2023. With this decision, the retailer will remove more than 200 million single-use plastic bags from circulation each year. Sprouts has eliminated single-use plastic bags at 132 California stores and will roll out this initiative company-wide in phases in April, beginning with […]
Posted inProduce News, Albertsons, West
IFG Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of The Cotton Candy Grape
Bakersfield, California-based International Fruit Genetics, a large table grape breeder with 48 patented table grape varieties, 10 patented sweet cherry varieties and its first patented raisin variety, is commemorating the 20th anniversary of the breeding of the Cotton Candy grape. The Cotton Candy grape was first naturally bred in 2003 by David Cain, geneticist, horticulturalist and […]
Posted inExceptional Independents, West
Shelby Publishing Honors West EIA Winners
On the following pages, Shelby Publishing is proud to present its inaugural Exceptional Independents Awards. Nominations were open to independent retailers, wholesalers, technology and other service providers. “Independents are the backbone of our industry, and this new awards program is an opportunity to recognize them for their contributions,” said Stephanie Reid, Shelby president. “Independents are […]
Posted inExecutive News, West
Cardenas Markets Promotes Stover To CEO
Ontario, California-based Heritage Grocers Group has announced the promotion of Eric Stover to the position of Division CEO of Cardenas Markets. In this position, Stover will continue to report to Doug Sanders, chairman and CEO for Heritage Grocers Group, its parent company. “Eric’s promotion to Division CEO supports the company’s strategy and overall growth plan. Serving […]
Posted inGrocery Store Layout, Corporate Store News, West
Stater Bros. Showcases Remodeled Store In Oceanside, CA
San Bernardino, California-based Stater Bros. Markets has announced the grand reopening of its enlarged, remodeled supermarket at 3770 Mission Ave. in Oceanside, CA. The store has expanded by 10,000 square feet and the additional space has allowed it to add amenities, such as stations for fresh-cut fruit and sushi and an expanded beer department. The store has also received an updated interior that matches other recent stores. Shoppers […]
Posted inProduce News, Feature, West
Official: Fresh Organic Produce Industry Has ‘Optimistic Future’
Top trends in 2023 include sustainability, CEA, regenerative Organic produce is a vibrant industry with an optimistic future, according Matthew Seeley, CEO of Organic Produce Network in Monterey, California. “People are going to want to continue to eat healthy, nutritious products, and organic fits that bill,” he said. “And that’s why I think we’ve got an […]
Posted inPackaging News, Sustainability News, West
Traditional Medicinals Introduces Compostable Tea Wrapper
Rohnert Park, California-based Traditional Medicinals, a botanical wellness company, has announced a new compostable, plastic-free tea wrapper, the first compostable tea wrapper to receive a Biodegradable Products Institute certification. After more than 10 years of development with ProAmpac, Traditional Medicinals will transition to the BPI-certified wrappers starting with 10 organic teas in 2023. The company has also […]
Posted inProduce News, Executive News, West
California Avocado Commission Hires Splane As VP, Marketing
The California Avocado Commission has hired food industry veteran Terry Splane as VP of marketing. Splane fills the role vacated by Jan DeLyser, following her retirement last month. He has more than 30 years of sales and marketing experience in the foodservice and retail channels, most recently as head of partner success and strategy for […]
Posted inProduce News, West
FirstFruits Marketing Installs Advanced Cherry Production Line
Yakima, Washington-based FirstFruits Farms is making strides in the fresh produce industry with the construction of an advanced cherry production line at its facility in Prescott, Washington. The production line will feature advanced technology offering total automation, putting FirstFruits Farms at the “forefront of retail integration.” “As a company, we are constantly looking to improve our […]