Michael Johnstone, VP of Goodwin & Sons Inc., is a fourth-generation grocer and great-grandson of the company’s founder. He responded to questions from The Shelby Report’s Lorrie Griffith about the grocer’s four stores, three of which are located in Southern California. To start off, tell me about you – your title and history with […]
Tag: independent grocer
Joe V’s Smart Shop Opens 12th Location, Second Store In Dallas
Continuing its expansion across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Joe V’s Smart Shop has opened a store at 7700 Samuell Blvd. in Dallas, the second location in the city and 12th in Texas. Part of the H-E-B family of brands, Joe V’s Smart Shop works to reduce costs throughout its operations and passes those savings on […]
Hy-Vee Surpasses $1M In Support Of Hope For The Warriors Program
Hy-Vee raised $1.3 million in 2024 in support of Hope For The Warriors through its Hy-Vee Homefront initiative. Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit that provide services to help post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families. Hy-Vee operates more than 570 business units across nine Midwestern states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, […]
B&R Stores Acquiring Iowa Location From Newman Family
B&R Stores is acquiring the Newman’s Thriftway store in Glenwood, Iowa, and will convert it to a Russ’s Market. B&R operates several banners aside from Russ’s Market, including Super Saver and Apple Market. The Glenwood store will be the 20th location for the company. “B&R Stores expanded into the state of Iowa in 1993 with […]
Former SNAC Int’l. President Dempsey To Helm Kennie’s Markets
Tom Dempsey Jr. has been chosen as new president and CEO of Kennie’s Markets in Littlestown, Pennsylvania. He succeeds P.K. Hoover, who announced his retirement after 40 years with the company. Hoover had served as president and CEO since 1987. “One of the most important final decisions a CEO can make is the selection of a […]
Remodel Yields Amazing Returns For Southeast Georgia Independent
In 2016, Reynolds Foodliner converted its store in the southeast Georgia town of Hazlehurst to the Piggly Wiggly Country Fresh banner. As part of the Country Fresh part of the name, the store features expanded fresh departments like meat, produce and deli/bakery. “We have had a tremendous amount of success in that store,” notes Tom […]
Remke Succumbs To Cancer At Age 41
Mr. Matthew Robert Remke, 41, of Villa Hills, Kentucky, passed away in the early hours of Sunday, Nov. 19, at his home after a battle with cancer. Mr. Remke was the fourth generation to run his family’s independently-owned grocery business, Remke Markets, and was president up until its sale in early 2017. He leaves his […]
Mother’s Market Expanding Into Los Angeles Market With Two Stores
Mother’s Market & Kitchen, a natural and organic foods retailer based in Southern California, will be expanding into the Los Angeles market, adding two new stores in the cities of Signal Hill and Manhattan Beach. The Signal Hill store, which is under construction, will be located at 2475 Cherry Ave. It will serve as the […]
Misfits Help Hy-Vee Save 1M Pounds Of Produce From Landfills
Hy-Vee says it has rescued more than 1 million pounds of produce from landfills, a milestone reached just four months after it began offering an “ugly” produce program. Hy-Vee began offering the Misfits program in nearly all of its grocery stores in January. Ugly produce is cosmetically challenged fruits and vegetables that traditionally would go unsold due to the […]
Grocery Biz ‘Not For The Faint Of Heart’: Independent Sales Down From Prior Year
FMS Solutions and the National Grocers Association (NGA) have released their annual “Independent Grocers Financial Survey,” the latest edition covering fiscal year 2016. The study, now in its 12th year, found independent grocers reported that their sales were down 1.62 percent in 2016 compared to 2015. Food-at-home deflation across all categories, especially in meat and […]
Hy-Vee Guarantees 100 Percent Of Its Sushi From Responsible Sources
Hy-Vee Inc. has successfully transitioned 100 percent of its sushi to responsible sources. The supermarket chain guarantees that all sushi prepared and sold in its 244 Midwestern stores, including Hy-Vee Market Grille restaurants, will now contain seafood that is caught in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. According to its recently updated Seafood Procurement Policy, Hy-Vee […]
Four Generations Open Fourth Edwards Cash Saver
Four generations of the Edwards family attended the grand opening of their new Edwards Cash Saver in Beebe, Arkansas, on Feb. 1. Patriarch Oral Edwards, founder of the Edwards grocery chain, cut the ribbon as company president, Steve Edwards, welcomed a crowd to the new store. The first 100 customers received a bag full of Best […]
Brookshire’s Dairy Plant Sale Follows Bakery Closure
Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) has sold its ice cream, dairy and water plants to Springfield, Missouri-based Hiland Dairy. Chairman and CEO Brad Brookshire said BGC’s “focus has always been on our retail stores, which our manufacturing plants supported. “But with an abundant offering of quality products now available through the supplier community, we […]
Barons Market Adds Olive Oil And Vinegar Bars To All Stores
San Diego-based natural grocer Barons Market has installed olive oil and vinegar tasting stations in all six of its locations. Ten olive oils and 14 vinegars fill silver vats at each store’s tasting station, where shoppers will find bread for dipping. Unique flavors include citrus habanero olive oil and honey ginger white balsamic vinegar, with […]
SpartanNash To Become Primary Wholesaler To Gordy’s Market
SpartanNash has signed a long-term contract to be the primary wholesaler to Gordy’s Market, the largest locally-owned and -operated grocer in the western Wisconsin area. SpartanNash will begin distributing private brand product to Gordy’s in mid-February and will be servicing the retailer as its primary distributor by May. Gordy’s will be serviced out of SpartanNash’s St. Cloud, […]
Buy For Less Gives Away New Home Just In Time For Christmas
This Christmas season is one Oklahoma City resident Barbara Allen likely will never forget. Santa, a.k.a. Buy For Le$$, gave her a new home on Dec. 19. She held the winning key to the front door of the 1,642-s.f. house located in Sycamore Creek in Yukon, Oklahoma. “It’s been a tough year and this is […]
Festival Foods’ Skogen Is Wisconsin Grocer Of The Year
On July 28, the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) presented Mark Skogen, president and CEO of Festival Foods, with the state’s 2014 Grocer of the Year award. WGA President and CEO Brandon Scholz, Supervalu’s Jeff McClure (who nominated Skogen for the award) and Marlin Greenfield of Festival Foods worked together to ensure the award was a surprise. Skogen is […]
