Indiana’s economy remained largely stable through 2024, buoyed by strong capital investments and modest GDP growth. But a forecast released in April cast a shadow over the state’s two-year financial outlook, setting the stage for challenges in the grocery and convenience store industries. According to the Indiana Business Research Center, the state’s GDP showed modest […]
Tag: economy
Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, Nonfood Items, Southwest
Texas Governor Makes Plans To Reopen State’s Economy
On April 17, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott laid out the state’s plans for reopening the Texas economy from the Covid-19 crisis. As part of his plan, the governor issued an executive order which amends the current Texas “stay at home order” for the retail sector, according to the Texas Retailers Association (TRA). The amended order allows […]
Posted inAssociation News, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, West
Arizona Continues To Be Competitive Market For Grocers
by Treva Bennett/staff writer A strong Arizona economy, along with a pro-business governor, was good for the state in 2019, according to Arizona Food Marketing Alliance (AFMA) President Mark Miller. Phoenix, home to AFMA, has benefited from the pro-business environment in the state. “Downtown has really exploded,” Miller said, noting the new Fry’s Food Store […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News
Alabama Market Profile: State’s Economy Is On The Upswing
by Lorrie Griffith/editor–Southeast Alabama’s economy is on the upswing, according to Ellie Taylor, president of the Alabama Grocers Association AGA), located in Birmingham. In fact, the state’s unemployment rate is now 3.5 percent—the lowest in its history. The good times look to be continuing, as two major plants were announced in January. One is a […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Store News, West
Nevada Market Profile: State Drawing New Residents, New Business
by Lorrie Griffith/editor–West “Go west, young man” is how the saying goes. But today, some young men (and women) and older people, too, are doing the opposite and going east, according to a Dec. 3 article in the Los Angeles Times. They are leaving Southern California to head to Las Vegas to “find the middle-class […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, National
Consumers Optimistic About Economy As Gas Prices Drop
Consumers have seen gas prices fall after the temporary supply disruptions caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and they say they are more optimistic about the economy, according to the latest national NACS Consumer Fuels Survey from The Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing. Americans say that they have seen gas prices fall 9 cents […]
Posted inWest, Albertsons, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content
All Eyes On State And National Governments As Oregon Enjoys Booming Economy
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer The economic outlook is bright for the Beaver State, according to the state’s latest economic forecast, released by the Department of Administrative Services in late February. While Oregon is adding jobs at a slower pace than the “full-throttle” rates seen in 2014 and 2015, it still is outpacing the nation, with […]
Posted inAssociation News, C-Store News, Home Page Latest News, National
Convenience Stores Hit Record In-Store Sales In 2016
U.S. convenience stores experienced record in-store sales of $233.0 billion in 2016—as well as their third straight year of $10 billion-plus in pretax profits—according to newly released “NACS State of the Industry” data, which provides benchmarks and key performance category insights for the convenience and fuel retailing industry. Convenience stores, which sell more than 80 […]
Posted inNortheast
NACS: Surge In Store Sales Expected In Second Quarter
A combination of low gas prices, strong consumer confidence and warmer weather is expected to continue the year’s already strong sales at convenience stores into the second quarter of 2017. That’s according to a recent survey of convenience store owners conducted by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS.) A sizable percentage of retailers surveyed say that […]
Posted inShelby Signature Content, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Southeast
Market Profile: Georgia’s Economy Saw Modest Growth In 2016
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer 2016 ended as a positive year for the Peach State, which saw a slight dip in unemployment over the course of the year. The Georgia Department of Labor’s (GDOL) October report, released in late November, put the state’s unemployment rate at 5.2 percent—a few tenths of a percent lower than last […]
Posted inNortheast, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods
National C-Store Sales Grow In 2016; NACS Optimistic About New Year
Low gas prices helped drive sales increases at convenience stores in 2016—and retailers expect those strong sales to carry over into 2017, according to a survey of retailers released this week by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). More than two in three convenience retailers (68 percent) said their fuels sales increased in 2016 […]
Posted inNortheast
U.S. Raises Bar For Seafood Imports To Curb Fraud
A U.S. program will trace specific fish products from international harvest to entry into the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries will administer the Seafood Import Monitoring Program to further curb Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices and to identify misrepresented seafood imports before they enter the U.S. market. The program requires […]
Posted inNortheast
Maine Food Opportunities Are Growing, But Group Director Concerned Over Lack Of High-Paying Jobs
There is some optimism surrounding the food industry in Maine, but Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association Executive Director Shelley Doak still maintains a wait-and-see attitude. Doak reports more economic opportunities for food manufacturers, with more new startups for full-service independent markets. She is excited about a “Fork Food Lab” connecting food manufacturers with food lovers […]
Posted inWest, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content
Arizona’s Grocery Industry Hopeful For A Bright Future
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer This time last year, grocers in Arizona were feeling optimistic about the state’s economy in the year ahead, and 2016 did not disappoint, Arizona Food Marketing Alliance (AFMA) President Tim McCabe tells The Shelby Report. The Grand Canyon State’s unemployment rate has continued to fall overall, down to 5.5 percent from […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, West
Wyo. Profile: DDA, Business Council Working With Grocers And Community To Develop The State
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer In early August, McKee Foods Corp. awarded the Casper (Wyoming) Downtown Development Authority (DDA) a grant to help move the Casper downtown public plaza forward. The grant is part of a McKee Foods initiative called OH!—the Outdoor Happiness movement. McKee Foods is working with every state in the country to discover […]
Posted in, Northeast
National C-Store Sales Strong After Nine-Month Mark
Convenience retailer optimism picked up sharply as sales of both in-store items and motor fuels remained strong for the first nine months of the year, according to a survey of retailers released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). More than two in three convenience retailers (69 percent) say that in-store sales in the […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News
Old Competitors And New Vie For Market Share In Rapidly Growing Carolinas
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer It’s been a busy year for the grocery industry across the country, but nowhere does there seem to be quite as much activity as in North Carolina and South Carolina. Between new stores, closures and the introduction of new competitors, grocers in the Carolinas have their work cut out for them […]
Posted in, Northeast
NRA Exec Says Future Is Promising For Foodservice Industry
Hudson Riehle, SVP of research and knowledge for the National Restaurant Association, and Rachel Roginsky, principal of the Pinnacle Advisory Group, both painted a good economic picture nationally and in New England for the foodservice and lodging industries when they spoke at the Economic Outlook Breakfast, hosted by the Rhode Island Hospitality Association in Providence […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast
Natural And Organics On The Rise, Legislative ‘Red Tape’ On The Decline In Kentucky
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer From bourbon to fried chicken, Kentucky is known for a number of indulgences, but the Bluegrass State appears to be going “clean” and “green” when it comes to groceries. The state has seen a recent influx of players in the natural and organic grocery segment, including Lucky’s Market, Fresh Thyme Farmers […]
Posted in, Northeast
NACS: Consumer Optimism Slumps Even As Gas Prices Fall
Despite declining prices at the pump and a prevailing expectation that lower prices will continue, a majority of U.S. fuel consumers remain pessimistic about the overall state of the American economy, according to the latest national consumer survey released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Only 44 percent of Americans say they are […]