A community event from 1940 was brought back recently as the Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Babbs Supermarket in Spencer, Indiana, hosted the Chester’s Chicken Chuck. The event, also held in partnership with the Owen County Community Foundation, Smithville and other local sponsors, took place on the courthouse lawn Sept. 6. In 1940, local […]
Tag: Indiana
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Babbs Supermarket Has Deep, Personal Connection To Indiana Community
Babbs Supermarket in Spencer, Indiana, will celebrate its 97th anniversary in July. Third-generation grocer Robert Babbs says his family legacy is not about making money but about building community. Chester Babbs, Rob’s grandfather, opened the original store July 28, 1928, by purchasing a meat and grocery business in receivership. Over the years, the business grew […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Indiana Economy: Stability, Setbacks And Grocery Industry’s Fight To Adapt
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 […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Midwest, News
The J.M. Smucker Co. To Close Indianapolis Manufacturing Facility
The J.M. Smucker Co. plans to shutter its facility in Indianapolis that manufactures products from the company’s Hostess brand and consolidate operations into other facilities. The timeline for closure and sale of the facility is early 2026. “This decision continues the ongoing work to ensure our manufacturing network is optimized to mitigate costs and reduce […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News, Save A Lot, Southeast
Houchens Food Group Acquires 3 Indiana Save A Lot Stores
Bowling Green, Kentucky-based Houchens Food Group Inc. (HFG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Houchens Industries, has entered the Indiana Save A Lot market by acquiring stores in three cities – Princeton, Sullivan and Vincennes. With the expansion, more than 60 employees at the three stores will join the HFG family, becoming future employee-owners through the […]
Posted inMidwest, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Lipari Foods, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content
Faith And Community Keep Versailles Hometown IGA Prosperous
2019 Indiana Market Profile by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest Robert Wood evidently was meant to be a grocer. A grocer in Versailles. He was a contractor for years, building foundations and bridges. His father had an implement dealership that he and his wife, Dotty, worked with for five years. After that, they started a bulk food business […]
Posted inMidwest, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Store News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
SpartanNash To Expand Into New Markets With Martin’s Deal
SpartanNash, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based grocery wholesaler and food retailer, has signed an agreement to acquire Martin’s Super Markets in South Bend, Indiana, the companies announced Nov. 20. Martin’s is a family-owned and -operated Midwest independent supermarket chain. With the acquisition of Martin’s, SpartanNash will expand its corporate retail footprint into markets adjacent to its […]
Posted inGrocery News, Beverage News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Snacks Brands
Giant Eagle, Ricker’s Enter Acquisition Agreement
Giant Eagle Inc. and Ricker’s have entered into an acquisition agreement, allowing the GetGo and Ricker’s brands to join forces in serving customers throughout Indiana. “We are thrilled to partner with such a strong company, brand and talented group of Ricker’s employees,” said Laura Karet, Giant Eagle president and CEO, in a statement. “We look […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, C-Store News, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Store News, Whole Foods
Ricker’s Bringing Hybrid Checkout Platform To All Stores
C-store chain Ricker’s is rolling out a new checkout experience with Skip, a mobile checkout platform, to all of its 58 Indiana stores. The retailer describes the technology as a hybrid of mobile pay and AmazonGo’s “just walk out” program. Ricker’s says the mission of its partnership with Skip is to provide a best-in-class c-store […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Suppliers
Tyson Donates $151K And Truckload Of Protein To Food Finders Food Bank
Tyson Foods in June made a $151,000 donation to Lafayette, Indiana-based Food Finders Food Bank to help fund a mobile food pantry and leverage access to federal funding for food programs. The company also donated a truckload of protein totaling 29,640 pounds, the equivalent of 118,560 servings. With the purchase of a refrigerated box truck, […]
Posted inShelby Content, Association News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Produce News, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Suppliers
Indiana Grown Makes Life‑Changing Connections For Producers
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest Austin and Kristen Witt have been growing blackberries on their District 6 Farm in Jasonville, Indiana, since 2015. It isn’t easy to grow blackberries in the state, but for the Witts, it was a lot easier than selling them. “This is all new to us,” said Austin Witt. “I didn’t even know […]
Posted inBeverage News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Market Profile, Midwest, Shelby Content, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content
Indiana Now Has Sunday Sales, Which Is…Great?
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest Anyone who wanted to grab a cold beer on Sunday in Indiana was out of luck until March of this year. That is when a state law took effect allowing Sunday alcohol sales. Now a customer can get a cold one on Sunday, but only from a liquor store. Grocery, drug and […]
Posted inDeli News, Amazon Fresh, Bakery News, Corporate Store News, Food Service News, Grocery News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Organic Natural, Store News, Whole Foods
Whole Foods Celebrates Opening Of New Downtown Indianapolis Store
Whole Foods Market in late March opened its new 40,000-s.f. downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, store, located at 320 E. Market Street. The first 500 customers through the doors this morning received a Whole Foods Market gift card with a mystery value ranging from $5 to $50, with one lucky customer receiving a $500 gift card. “Whole […]
Posted inGrocery News, Beverage News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Supply Chain News
Free The Grapes Takes On ‘Winery Lockout’ In Indiana
While Indiana is one of 44 states that allow legal direct to consumer shipments from wineries, the Hoosier State stands out from the other 43 states in one big way: Indiana is the only state that prohibits wineries from carrying both a legal direct shipping license and a relationship with a wholesaler. According to Free […]
Posted inExecutive News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Three Top Execs Promoted At Martin’s Super Markets
Martin’s Super Markets has promoted three key executives at its South Bend, Indiana, corporate office. Amy Simeri McClellan is moving into the position of SVP, retail, where she will oversee merchandising and operations. Simeri McClellan has held a variety of positions with Martin’s over the past 17 years, most recently serving in the role of […]
Posted inStore News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest
Report: Kroger Spending $20M To Renovate Seven Former Marsh Stores
The Kroger Co. has closed on its purchase of 11 former Marsh stores and plans to spend $20 million to renovate and reopen seven of them, the Indianapolis Business Journal reports. Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. and Fresh Encounter Inc., another Ohio-based grocer, in June agreed to buy 26 of Marsh Supermarkets’ 44 stores. Indianapolis-based Marsh Supermarkets filed […]
Posted inStore News, Deli News, Food Service News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Martin’s Debuts Artisan Pizza Concept At Granger, Indiana, Store
Martin’s Super Markets has launched a new artisan pizza concept, Crushed Tomato, at its Granger, Indiana, store located at 7355 Heritage Square. Crushed Tomato offers brick-oven pizzas made to order. Customers may choose from a large selection of both traditional and unconventional sauces, toppings and meats, according to the South Bend-based grocery chain. Each pizza […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Martin’s Opens Its First Café At Indiana’s Elkhart General Hospital
South Bend, Indiana-based Martin’s Super Markets has opened its first Martin’s Café at Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart. The new café is located in the hospital’s first floor public area. Recent renovation at Elkhart General Hospital made the new café location possible. It is the first partnership venture between Martin’s and the hospital. Martin’s Café […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Store News
Central Grocers Selling Strack & Van Til, Closing Nine Ultra Foods Stores
Twenty-two Strack & Van Til stores will be sold and nine Ultra Foods locations closed. The Northwest Indiana Times reports that parent company Central Grocers, based in Joliet, Illinois, is working toward a sale. The plan is to sell the 22 stores as “going concerns,” Strack & Van Til President and CEO Jeff Strack said […]
Posted inStore News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
First Day Of Business For Indianapolis-Area Meijer Supercenters Is May 2
Meijer stores in McCordsville and Franklin, Indiana, will open May 2. Maureen Mitchell, regional VP at Meijer, says company leadership and local dignitaries will dedicate the store’s first day of business with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Indianapolis-area supercenters are two of seven new stores the retailer is opening in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin this year. […]