The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, has appointed Amy Kirtland EVP of independents, fresh and exclusive brands at KeHE Distributors, and Lori Raya, chief merchandising and marketing officer at SpartanNash, to fill vacancies on its board of directors. Kirtland serves KeHE’s customers in the areas of grocery independents […]
Category: Wholesaler/Distributor News
Posted inLipari Foods, Bakery News, Beverage News, Dairy News, Deli News, Executive News, Grocery News, Home Page Slider, Industry News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, Organic Natural, Perishables, Private Label Brands, Snacks Brands, Specialty, Suppliers, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Walls Named Lipari Foods President, Chief Operating Officer
Lipari Foods has named Tim Walls president and chief operating officer (COO), effective immediately. As president and COO, Walls oversees all company operations. He reports to Lipari Foods CEO Thom Lipari. “By bringing Tim into this new role, we are ensuring the existing operations continue to have the attention needed to grow and prosper,” Lipari […]
Posted inProduce News, Dairy News, Frozen Food, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology, Organic Natural, Sustainability News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
SpartanNash Opens Produce Distribution Center In Fargo, North Dakota
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash held the grand opening of its Fargo produce distribution center. The 80,000-s.f. facility has the capacity for 1,600 items—including 300 organic items—and is solely dedicated to produce and floral distribution. To bring the Fargo produce DC to life, SpartanNash invested nearly $10 million and created 30 jobs, including specialized warehouse teams, […]
Posted inLipari Foods, Executive News, Home Page Slider, Midwest, Private Label Brands, Snacks Brands, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Lipari Foods Founder Vincent ‘Jim’ Lipari Dies At Age 91
Mr. Vincent J. “Jim” Lipari of Birmingham, Michigan, died Nov. 7, 2019, at the age of 91 with his family by his side. Born on May 6, 1928, in Detroit, Mr. Lipari was a longtime Michigan resident. Mr. Lipari founded Warren, Michigan-based Lipari Foods in 1963, after distributing unique products from the back of his […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, National, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Wholesaler/Distributor News
UPDATED: ROFDA To Join Forces With NGA Jan. 1
The Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) organization will merge under the National Grocers Association (NGA) umbrella, effective Jan. 1, 2020. The announcement was made this morning at the NGA and ROFDA co-located fall conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. ROFDA’s current share groups and buying programs will continue to operate under this new […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Equipment & Technology, Independent Store News, Southeast, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Alex Lee Using AI Technologies In Its MDI Wholesale Biz
To support its wholesale distribution business, Merchants Distributors (MDI), Alex Lee is implementing Demand ForecastingAI and Warehouse Replenishment from Symphony RetailAI, a global provider of AI-enabled revenue growth management solutions and customer-centric insights for retailers and CPG manufacturers across the entire value chain. Headquartered in Hickory, North Carolina, MDI supplies more than 600 retail food stores with food […]
Posted inSouthwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Frito-Lay Marks Anniversary Of Southern Dallas Thrives With Grant
PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America gave a $1 million grant from The PepsiCo Foundation to support the expansion of its Southern Dallas Thrives initiative. The additional funding brings the company’s total commitment to Southern Dallas to more than $3 million. Frito-Lay is the founding partner of Southern Dallas Thrives, an initiative created alongside United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and The PepsiCo Foundation. Today […]
Posted inSoutheast, Association News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Members Of Alabama Grocery Industry Honored By AGA, NGA
The Alabama Grocers Association (AGA) held its annual Food Industry Finest Luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 23, presenting the winners of its industry awards. More than 150 people attended the event at The Club in Birmingham. The Retailer of the Year Award was presented to Andy Virciglio of Piggly Wiggly Supermarkets in Birmingham. “It has been […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, Southeast, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Associated Grocers Holds Fall Show And Golf Tournament, Donates Food
Associated Grocers Inc. (AG) held its Fall Food Show for member retailers at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana, on Wednesday, Sept. 25. The event, themed “Follow Our Lead”, drew more than 900 vendors, manufacturers, retail members and store representatives. AG hosted the event, which featured new items, merchandising ideas and current services […]
Posted inNational, Home Page Slider, Private Label Brands, Shelby Originals, Snacks Brands, Wholesaler/Distributor News
The Private Label Path To The Shelf: UNFI’s Essential Everyday Chips
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest Editor’s note: The Shelby Report staff toured the Supervalu private brands facility in 2018, just before United Natural Food Inc.’s (UNFI) acquisition of the company. The staff again visited with private brands associates at this year’s UNFI National Expo and found that some of the products that the Shelby team had sampled […]
Posted inExecutive News, Home Page Slider, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Associated Wholesale Grocers Makes Key Leadership Changes
Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (AWG) has made some key leadership changes for the cooperative, including promoting Dan Funk to chief operating officer. These changes align all wholesale operations, subsidiaries, sales and services into a singular operating team. In a letter to its members announcing the changes, AWG President and CEO David Smith said, “It is […]
Posted inBeverage News, West, Wholesaler/Distributor News, Women In The News
Markstein Sales Co. Marks 100 Years Of Beverage Distribution
Antioch, California-based Markstein Sales Co. (MSCo), a woman-owned and operated wholesale beverage distributor marked its 100th anniversary. Markstein, now in its fourth generation, has remained a family-owned beverage distributor servicing more than 1,500 retail accounts in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The company recently kicked off its anniversary in an exclusive invite-only event that included […]
Posted inSoutheast, Home Page Slider, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Ben E. Keith Breaks Ground For New Alabama Distribution Center
On Oct. 16, Ben E. Keith Co. held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new foodservice distribution center in New Brockton, Alabama, located in Coffee County. The new facility will position the company to expand its distribution coverage in the Southeast by adding up to 1 million s.f. in the future. The 425,000-s.f. distribution center has […]
Posted inBeverage News, Home Page Slider, Northeast, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Reed’s, Full Sail Brewing Partner To Launch Reed’s Craft Ginger Mules
Reed’s Inc., owner of a national portfolio of handcrafted, all-natural beverages and Full Sail Brewing Co., Oregon’s award-winning craft brewer, entered into agreements for the development, marketing and distribution of ready-to-drink Reed’s Craft Ginger Mules, which come in two flavors: Classic and Zero Sugar. Reed’s Chairman of the Board and interim CEO John Bello said, […]
Posted inBeverage News, Health & Wellness, Packaging News, Produce News, West, Wholesaler/Distributor News
POM Wonderful Launches Antioxidant Superpower Marketing Campaign
Los Angeles-based POM Wonderful is launching a new marketing campaign to communicate the health benefits of antioxidants and try to establish POM Wonderful 100 percent pomegranate juice as the “Antioxidant Superpower.” “Two-thirds of super premium juice consumers report looking for antioxidants when making food and beverage choices—and we’re continuing to provide the solution,” says Charlotte […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Amazon Fresh, Center Store, New Products, Packaging News, Southwest, Whole Foods, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Frito-Lay Offers Limited-Edition Reflective Trick-Or-Treat Bag
Plano, Texas-based Frito-Lay Variety Packs is partnering with Safe Kids Worldwide to raise awareness around the issue of children’s safety with the introduction of its first-ever limited-edition reflective trick-or-treat bag. The reflective bag helps increase a child’s visibility or the likelihood of being seen at night when reflecting a vehicle’s headlights or other source of […]
Posted inMidwest, Health & Wellness, Packaging News, Perishables, Produce News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
California Sun Dry To Unveil New Branding At PMA Fresh Summit
Middleton, Wisconsin-based California Sun Dry is launching an updated brand identity to communicate the products’ focus on natural flavor, healthy eating and its California roots—where the brand’s tomatoes are naturally grown and dried. This is the company’s first evolution of its branding since its founding in 1991. The new design, label and logo will be […]
Posted inCenter Store, New Products, Packaging News, Snacks Brands, Southwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Smartfood Popcorn Launches Lower Calorie Options With Smart50
Plano, Texas-based brand Smartfood has introduced Smart50. Air popped and available in White Cheddar and Sea Salt, the brand’s two flavors of ready-to-eat popcorn are 50 calories per cup or less. “With the launch of Smart50, we wanted to show consumers that making smart choices doesn’t mean having to sacrifice fun or flavor,” says Tracey […]