See’s Candies, an American-made chocolate and candy company, is kicking off its centennial anniversary. For the first time, See’s is asking its customers what its next candy piece should be with the launch of “What’s Your Sweet Idea?” Fans are encouraged to submit their ultimate candy creation on sees.com/sweetidea now through Jan. 20. See’s dedicated team of […]
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.
Flexitarian Diet Positioned To Lead In 2021, Offering Best Of Both Worlds
According to Food Network’s Healthy Eats, plant-based dieting is still going strong, however, consumers aren’t ready to give up meat and other animal-based foods entirely. Today’s plant-based food consumer wants both – a flexitarian diet. NPD data found that the majority of plant-based consumers are Millennials and Gen X and of these large groups, 90 […]
Bumble Bee Seafoods Awarded For Best New Packaging Redesign
Bumble Bee Seafoods has been recognized by NOSH.com’s annual “Best Of” Awards for the bold and fresh redesign of the brand’s tuna cans, pouches and snack kits. Each year, NOSH’s annual “Best Of” Awards are presented to honor the companies, brands, individuals, products, ideas and trends that are shaping the food industry. “Our new package design is […]
Merit Logistics Promotes Vern Malpass To Chief Operating Officer
Merit Logistics, a San Juan Capistrano, California-based national third-party warehouse services provider, has appointed Vern Malpass to chief operations officer (COO). Effective immediately, Malpass will oversee Merit Logistics’ operations, safety and business development divisions. As Merit Logistics’ new COO, Malpass will apply expertise gained from over 20 years of hands-on warehouse and logistics experience. “I […]
CGA Promotes Nate Rose To Senior Director Of Communications
The California Grocers Association has promoted Nate Rose from director of digital communications to senior director of communications, effective immediately. Rose will assume responsibility for all CGA communications including California Grocer magazine editor and media relations coordinator, following the retirement of Dave Heylen, VP of communications. Heylen retired Dec. 31, after more than 33 years […]
Bashas’-Navajo Nation relationship ‘spectacularly personal’
Independent grocery chain supports community, services in Navajo Nation by John McCurry / contributing writer One of the more compelling stories to come from the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona is the efforts of independent grocery chain Bashas’, which operates eight stores within the Navajo Nation. Mark Miller, president of the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, was […]
Associated Food Stores CEO Berube Retiring Dec. 30
Neal Berube, CEO of Associated Food Stores, has announced his retirement, officially taking place Dec. 30, 2020. Upon his departure, Robert Obray, who currently serves as the company’s EVP and CFO, will assume the role of CEO. Berube served for 30 years at AFS, beginning in 1990. He has held the title of CEO for nine years. Prior […]
Mosaic And BioConsortia Collaborate On Nitrogen-Fixing Microbial Product
The Mosaic Co. and BioConsortia Inc. have entered into a collaboration to develop and launch nitrogen-fixing microbial products for corn, wheat and other major non-legume row crops. Modern agriculture depends on nitrogen fertilizers as an essential tool to grow the major food crops, with over 100 million tons applied each year to help produce half […]
ReposiTrak Enables Perpetual Inventories For Grocery E-Commerce
To help retailers deliver on the key proposition of grocery e-commerce, ReposiTrak is offering an omnichannel perpetual inventory system that ensures products selected online are actually available in the store. The ramp up of ReposiTrak’s perpetual inventory solution comes at a time when brick-and-mortar stores have morphed into e-commerce fulfillment centers. However, the lack of […]
Albertsons Cos. Administers First COVID-19 Vaccines
Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos. pharmacy and health team has administered its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and is preparing for high consumer demand for immunizations through a broad series of measures – including hiring additional pharmacy staff nationwide, launching a new website with important information for the public and maintaining high safety standards in […]
FiveStar Gourmet Foods’ Simply Fresh Salad Features Beyond Meat
Ontario, California-based FiveStar Gourmet Foods is setting the trend by partnering with Beyond Meat to bring more salad protein choices to consumers. FiveStar is introducing a new Simply Fresh Taco Salad made with Beyond Meat, a leader in plant-based meat. The new 7.5-oz. salad recently debuted in Publix supermarkets. Available to retailers nationwide starting in […]
Northgate González Market Delivers Toys To Children
Northgate González Market shared the joy and magic of Christmas this week by giving away 50,000 toys to children across Southern California. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Northgate’s 25th Annual Toy Giveaway looked a little different this year as new safety protocols were put in place to protect both employees and consumers. Families in cars […]
Bashas’, Food City Team Up With Wells Fargo To Help Local Food Banks
Bashas’ and Food City supermarkets have teamed up with Wells Fargo to increase support of local food banks in Arizona, with a goal of raising enough donations for 2 million meals to feed families in need before Christmas. “The holidays are an especially challenging time for so many families, and this year’s pandemic has only […]
Cardenas Markets Partners With Instacart To Bring More Convenience
Cardenas Markets has partnered with Instacart, a popular grocery delivery and pickup service, to provide its customers with a convenient way to shop from home for its fresh and authentic offerings. “Cardenas Markets realizes the needs of our customers and communities are rapidly shifting,” said Adam Salgado, chief marketing officer for Cardenas Markets. “We are committed to […]
There’s Still Time To Support Team Shelby USA In Hike The Halo 2020
Fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation runs through Dec. 20 Cynthia Weifenbach, a Southern California-based writer and frequent contributor to The Shelby Report, is participating in the virtual Hike the Halo 2020 campaign, a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation that runs through Dec. 20. Sue Klug has organized Team Shelby USA, which is participating in […]
Sprouts Partners With L.A. Libations To Pilot New Beverages In 2021
Phoenix, Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market has partnered with L.A. Libations to launch emerging brands at 50 selected stores in California, as part of L.A. Libations’ SoCal Incubation Program (SIP). The assortment will add to Sprouts’ offering of healthier products to meet the growing demands of the consumer, including plant-based, keto-friendly and paleo. “In January, we’re accelerating […]
Cannabis Lifestyle Brand Old Pal To Launch New Signature Ale
Los Angeles, California-based Old Pal, one of the top-selling names in the cannabis lifestyle space, is launching its first signature beer – Old Pal Ale. Brewed in small batches and available in 4-pack 16oz cans, the company describes the ale as light and refreshing, with a soft malt sweetness, a touch of hops and notes of […]
Farmstead Reaches Key Online Grocery Profitability Milestone
Farmstead, the first online grocer to deliver fresh groceries for free, announced that it is now contribution-margin positive in its San Francisco hub, meaning the service is profitable on a per-order basis. The company says it achieved this milestone without markups, service fees or delivery fees – in the most competitive and highest-cost market in […]
Dominion Energy, Smithfield Foods Finish Sustainability Project In Utah
Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods have completed the first renewable natural gas (RNG) project through their joint venture, Align Renewable Natural Gas. Located in Milford, Utah, the project is producing RNG from a network of 26 family farms that raise hogs under contract with Smithfield. The project is the first large-scale effort in the state to […]
Hee-Sook Nelson Elected Chair Of CGA Board Of Directors
Hee-Sook Nelson, VP of team development & public affairs for Gelson’s Markets, was elected the 2020-21 California Grocers Association chair of the board of directors at the association’s virtual annual meeting on Dec. 4. Nelson is the first Asian-American woman to serve as CGA Board Chair, and the second woman to serve in this role […]
