A number of big stories came out of the western states in 2013. Many of them involved companies having to regroup and/or sell off their holdings, but there were a couple of bright spots as well, including new banners and strong performance. Below are the top 10 most noteworthy as reported by The Shelby Report […]
Tag: California
Posted in, Executive News, West
WAFC Elects Two New Board Members
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has elected two new members to its board of directors: Ann Reed and Mike Servold. Reed is VP of merchandising for The Kroger Co.’s Fred Meyer Stores Division, based in Portland. She is responsible for merchandising for 132 stores in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington that employ more […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Blue Diamond Posts Record Sales And Revenue
Blue Diamond Growers’ global almond sales soared to $1.2 billion, up $189 million in fiscal year 2012-13. Value-added sales volume increased by 14 percent, even with a crop that was 7 percent smaller, according to President and CEO Mark Jansen, who addressed the cooperative’s grower owners at the company’s annual meeting. Value-added sales now represent more […]
Posted in, National
Progressive/Mission Asparagus Deal Creates Year-Round Program
Progressive Produce’s recent acquisition of Mission Asparagus has propelled the grower into the elite of asparagus suppliers, according to the company. Already growing thousands of acres in Mexico, Peru, California and Washington State, some in partnership with Keystone Fruit Marketing, Greencastle, Pa., Progressive’s increased Mexico and California acreage has solidified its year-round availability. “This year-round […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Grocery News, National
Sunkist Soda Refreshes Packaging
Dr Pepper Snapple Group recently enlisted the help of New York City brand agency CBX to refresh the packaging graphics for Sunkist Soda, first introduced in 1978. Sunkist Soda once was known for its California style, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group believed there was an opportunity to take the brand back to its “fun in […]
Posted in, West
FPFC Donates $10K To Support Typhoon Relief In The Philippines
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) has made a contribution of $10,000 through The Philippines Red Cross to support relief efforts in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. Thousands of Filipinos were killed during the storm that struck earlier this month and millions have been left homeless and without food. In addition to providing temporary […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National, West
Grocery Industry Lends Big Support For CF ‘Hike The Halo’ Fundraiser
by Cynthia Weifenbach, special correspondent for The Shelby Report Angel Stadium in Southern California was ablaze with sports enthusiasts, families and friends as they came out to assist in raising funds to find a cure for those suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) at the second annual Hike the Halo event on Sunday. The hike offered […]
Posted in, National
Wonderful Halos Hitting Stores This Week
Wonderful Halos mandarins, a palm-sized sweet, seedless and easy-to-peel fruit, is launching this week. Grown exclusively in California, Halos mandarins are filled with “pure goodness,” are non-GMO and ideal for children of all ages. Wonderful Halos are available in 3-lb. and 5-lb. bags and in 5-lb. boxes in the produce aisle of grocery, mass and […]
Posted in, National
Stop Hunger Ships One Million Meals to Philippines
Stop Hunger Now is shipping one million meals to the Philippines as part of ongoing disaster relief operations in response to the devastation that resulted from Typhoon Haiyan over the weekend. The first container with 285,120 meals will depart this week from the Stop Hunger Now warehouse in San Leandro, Calif. Additional containers of meals […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Independent Store News, West
Gelson’s Debuts First Store In 12 Years In Long Beach
Long Beach, Calif., residents have a new shopping option, and they’re excited. A new Gelson’s Markets opened its doors Thursday. The first customer in the door had waited in line since before 3 a.m. The line to get in included hundreds by opening time. “This is our first new store in 12 years and we’re […]
Posted in, California Perspective, Guest Contributors, West
A Light At The End Of The WIC Moratorium Tunnel?
by Ron Fong, CGA president/CEO For The Shelby Report California continues to suffer under an indefinite moratorium on new WIC vendor authorizations. The issue remains one of the most critical facing California’s retail grocers. The California Grocers Association (CGA) has taken a multi-pronged approach in an attempt to help the California WIC Department and the […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Bell-Carter Foods Finalizes Executive Team
Bell-Carter Foods Inc., a leader in the specialty condiment business and the nation’s largest table olive producer, has made some new hires and is growing its executive team. Matthew L. Amigh is CFO, Doug Reifsteck is EVP of operations and Tom Rickard is VP of retail sales. CEO Tim T. Carter and VP of Strategy, […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
New Stater Bros. Supermarket Opening In Moreno Valley Next Week
Stater Bros. will open its newest and most modern supermarket in Moreno Valley, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 13. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held in the parking lot at 8:15 a.m., and the new Stater Bros. North Moreno Valley store will open for business at 9 a.m. After Wednesday, the supermarket will be open daily […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National
New Sun-Maid Products Attract New Consumers
Don’t let the yellow sun that appears behind the iconic Sun-Maid girl fool you—California-based Sun-Maid raisin and dried fruit products are available year round. In fact, the company has a number of new products rolling out, particularly for the holiday season. “We have a lot of exciting new products,” Sun-Maid Marketing Director Jackie Grazier told […]
Posted in, National, West
Unified Grocers Holds Newly Designed Fall ‘Sell-abration’ In California
Unified Grocers combined its Expo and Extravaganza this fall in a new show experience designed to drive sales through the holidays and beyond. The show was held Oct. 23-24 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Unified’s new Sell-abration event is dedicated solely to products and to moving cases at retail. This mid-sized show featured a […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National, Store News
Safeway Reportedly Considering Strategic Options
Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway Inc. reportedly is considering its strategic options, with Cerberus and other private equity firms “exploring a deal for all or part” of the company, according to Reuters. A Cerberus affiliate, AB Acquisition LLC, bought Albertsons, Jewel-Osco and several other chains from Supervalu earlier this year. New Albertsons Inc., which now operates Jewel-Osco […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
C&K Market Selling Pharmacies To Focus On Core Business
By mid-November, C&K Market Inc. says it will sell its pharmacies. C&K owns 15 pharmacies that operate as Pharmacy Express, Tiffany’s Drugs and Chetco Pharmacy & Gifts in communities in southern Oregon and Northern California. “In a move to strengthen our operations, we plan to focus exclusively on our core business of operating community grocery […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Bristol Farms’ Director Of Warehouse And Distribution Dies At Age 57
Mr. Adrian Kelly Davis, director of warehouse and distribution for Southern California’s Bristol Farms, died Oct. 10 from injuries suffered in an auto accident. He was 57. Mr. Davis, known as Kelly, was the brother of Bristol Farms President and CEO Kevin Davis and was a week shy of celebrating his 58th birthday on Oct. […]
Posted in, National
Hass Avocado Board Unveils New Spanish-Language Mark, Website
The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) has rolled out Saborea Uno Hoy, its new Spanish-language mark and website to offer information to Hispanic consumers in the U.S. and encourage them to include fresh Hass avocados in their everyday meals. The new mark visually invites consumers to enjoy the avocado’s unique and satisfying flavor by including the […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Mulberry Love Beverage Makes Debut
Health advocate, author and entrepreneur Dianne Burnett has launched a antioxidant-rich, phytonutrient-potent new beverage—Mulberry Love. Sourcing her mulberries from organic trees in Izmir, Turkey, Burnett says naturally sweet Mulberry Love draws on the memory- boosting, vision-enhancing, heart-healthy and inflammation-reducing properties inherent in this new super food. Mulberry Love comes in two varieties—a premium organic mulberry […]