Hyperlocal merchandising strategy is beginning to pay off by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Minneapolis-based Supervalu Inc. has been focusing on merchandising, connecting stores across its network based on similarities—for example, having a university in town—and on growing its private label line. The company reported second quarter fiscal 2012 net sales of $8.4 billion, down from $8.7 […]
Tag: business
Posted in, Marketing News, Midwest
Spartan Stores Retail Sales Up 2.9 Percent
Comp Sales decrease 1.3 percent as Michigan jobless rate rises by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Spartan Stores reported a nearly 3 percent increase in net sales in its retail segment in the second quarter. The increase was attributed to rising retail fuel prices and volume, as well as to rolling out the Yes Rewards loyalty program […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Midwest
AWG Reports Record Sales of $7.25B
Year-end rebate also a record, $151.6 million paid to members Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (AWG) of Kansas City, Kan., achieved record sales of $7.25 billion in 2010, up $200 million from the prior year. AWG’s most recent year-end rebate also was a record 2.64 percent, amounting to $151.6 million paid to its members. In 2011, […]
Posted in, Ellerbee Buzz, National
Maybe What We Need is a Little Sacrifice
It’s funny how the little things get you thinking. There was a story in The New York Times about consumers who stubbornly refuse to wash clothes in cold water, even as popular detergent makers have developed formulas specifically for the job. Evidently, that’s too much of a sacrifice, or at least, that’s how it read […]
Posted in, Northeast
OSHA Proposes DeMoulas Supermarkets Pay Half a Million in Fines
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited DeMoulas Supermarkets Inc., doing business as Market Basket, for 30 alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of workplace safety standards at its stores in Rindge and Concord, N.H. The Tewksbury, Mass.-based grocery chain, which has stores in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, faces a […]
Posted in, National, Shelby Content
African-American Buying Power
In 2010, African Americans will constitute the nation’s largest racial minority market, but the buying power of Hispanics—an ethnic group—is larger. Despite the severe impact of the 2007-2009 recession, however, blacks’ economic clout will continue to energize the U.S. consumer market. The Selig Center projects that the nation’s black buying power will rise from $316 […]
Posted in, Southeast
Braselton Official Seek Reconsideration for Mayfield Closing
Braselton Mayor Bill Orr and members of the Braselton, Ga., town council are urging Mayfield Dairy’s parent company, Dean Foods, to reconsider its announcement to close the popular visitor’s center in Braselton. At its council meeting Oct. 10, Mayor Orr said, “We need the opportunity to work with Mayfield and to express our willingness to […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
IFBA Reaches Out to Manufacturers, Grocers
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor [gn_pullquote align=”right”]Next year’s IFBA Top to Top will be held May 15-17 at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel. NARMS will hold its annual spring confernce April 14-17 at the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla., which is north of Tampa.[/gn_pullquote]Independent food brokers are, in many ways, the last people for whom a […]
Posted in, From My Point of View, National
Of Fiscal Conservatism
It is time for those who are truly proud to be an American to take back our country from those who have betrayed us. There has never been an election in my lifetime that was any clearer than the one coming up in 2012. Let’s stay prayed up for America before it is too late […]
Posted in, National, The Independent Perspective
12 Members of Congress Who Could Have a Profound Impact
Back in early August, right before members of Congress hightailed it back to their districts for the August recess period, the Administration and Congress finally came to an agreement at the 11th hour to raise the nation’s debt limit. A major part of that agreement was the creation of a new 12-member “super committee”—formally known […]
Posted in, National
Corn vs. Sugar Industries Legal Battle Heats Up
High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a man-made sweetener used in thousands of grocery store products and it has a serious image problem. Consumers are avoiding it. Food companies are taking it out of the products they make. Some supermarkets have banned it. Demand for this highly processed ingredient is falling fast. The Corn Refiners Association—comprised […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Inventure Foods Adds Nathan’s Famous to Its Line of Licensed Brands
Leading food manufacturer, Inventure Foods, has partnered with Nathan’s Famous Inc.to license the popular Nathan’s restaurant brand name for a new line of snacks that will be available at grocery, vending and convenience store retailers this fall. The Nathan’s Famous snacks will offer consumers ready-to-eat snacks that replicate the tastes found within Nathan’s restaurant menu. […]
Posted in, West
BeaconUnited Introduces Itself Out West
BeaconUnited™, the new venture comprised of eight leading U.S. food brokers, continued its dialogue with manufacturers during its Aug. 25 West Coast kickoff in San Ramon, Calif., hosted by Co-Sales Co. Don Cox, CEO of Co-Sales, especially appreciated one of the event’s core points that put the grocer/broker/manufacturer relationship in as simple terms as possible: […]
Posted in, National
Family Dollar Names Bloom New COO
Discount retailer Family Dollar Stores Inc. has named Michael K. Bloom as its new president and COO, filling the posts vacated by the retirement of longtime executive R. James Kelly. “Today’s announcement reflects the result of several years of thoughtful discussion and planning as we prepared for Jim’s retirement,” said Chief Executive Howard Levine. Bloom […]
Posted in, Center Store, Southeast
McCall Farms Providing Farm-Fresh Vegetables 170 Years Later
A family-owned cannery in Effingham, S.C., McCall Farms continues to provide farm-fresh canned vegetables, fruit and peanuts through its Margaret Holmes and Peanut Patch brands after more than 170 years in business. The history of McCall Farms dates back to 1838 when the family’s patriarch, James McCall, established a 2,000-acre farm. Through hard work, innovative […]
Posted in, Midwest
MGA Coverage: Missouri Beef Council Invites Grocers to Share Ideas
The Missouri Beef Industry Council in Columbia is charged with protecting and enhancing beef demand. Whitney Wallace, director of consumer outreach for the Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC), told The Shelby Report that an important way to do that is to work with grocery retailers. And it isn’t a cookie-cutter approach, either. “The cool thing […]
Posted in, Southeast
Schnucks Puts Products on Sale to Clear Shelves
The Kroger Co.’s purchase of nine grocery stores and eight fuel center locations from Schnucks Markets Inc. will have a secondary effect for Mid-South shoppers: discounted products. “Right now, we’re selling down inventory in all stores,” Lori Willis, director of communications for Schnucks, said to the Memphis Business Journal. “There are some clearance sales that […]
Posted in, West
Sunflower Farmers Market Moving Regional Headquarters
Sunflower Farmers Markets is moving its regional offices to Phoenix, reports the Phoenix Business Journal. The company is leasing 23,214 s.f. on the northwest corner of 19th Avenue and Loop 101 in the Deer Valley Office Park in Phoenix. The Boulder, Colo.-based company had been housed at a site near Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix. Financial […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Feature, National
Women of the Industry
[gn_tabs style=”5″] [gn_tab title=”The West“] [gn_spoiler title=”Christianson: Goal-Oriented Decisions Propel Career“] by Ashley Bates/staff writer As COO of the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), Carole Christianson said her main objective—along with the WAFC—is education. Education has been a constant theme for Christianson throughout her life. She says she decided at an early age that […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Southeast, The Kroger Co.
2011 Kentucky Profile: Grocers Fighting the Wine Fight
The 2011 Kentucky Profile originally ran in the September 2011 edition of The Shelby Report of the Southeast. Due to reader requests we will be posting our Profiles from each edition of The Shelby Report. The profile will be published on theshelbyreport.com one month after it has run in print.[/gn_note] by Katie B. Davis/staff writer […]