by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest There is something special about employee-owned companies. Marc Jones, president and CEO of HAC Inc., sees it as an attribute that attracts both employees and customers. “An employee-owned business is seen as a big plus in both groups, which is kind of a fun thing,” he told The Shelby Report’s Jan Meade, […]
Tag: Shelby Original
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 inGrocery Store Layout, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Market Profile, Shelby Content, Southwest, Store News, Whole Foods
Reasor’s Refocuses To Keep Up With Evolving Needs Of Shoppers
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor—Midwest and Southwest Several factors are driving change at Tahlequah, Oklahoma-based Reasor’s as it celebrates its 55th anniversary this year. Perhaps the most significant will be the ability to sell full-strength beer and wine beginning in October. For decades, Oklahoma grocery stores have only been allowed to offer beer that is 3.2 percent […]
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 inIndependent Store News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast, Store News
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 […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Market Profile, Midwest, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Store News
Born On One Coast & Based On The Other, Cohn Wholesale Serves Small Towns In Between
Editor’s note: This story is part of the Dakotas Market Profile, which can be found in the February 2018 print edition of The Shelby Report of the Midwest. by Terrie Ellerbee/editor—Midwest and Southwest The Cohn name likely is familiar to some in the Midwest, where Cohn Wholesale once operated 20 stores. The family business, however, began in […]
Posted inShelby Content, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Shelby Signature Content, Store News, West
URM Stores Continues To Strengthen Its Value Proposition For Retailers
Ray Sprinkle has been at the helm of URM Stores Inc. in Spokane, Washington, for four years now. During that time, the retailer-owned co-op has enjoyed some bright spots, like sales growth and a frozen and refrigerated warehouse expansion, while also weathering some storms, including a data breach. The future looks to be mostly sunny, […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Northeast, Shelby Content
New Maine Food Group Executive Director Working To Join Retailers And Producers
by Mike Berger/editor-Northeast Christine Cummings, new executive director of the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association (MGFPA), will be returning to her position in January after maternity leave. She joined the association in 2017 and was promoted to executive director in June. She is excited about the growth of the association, the rise of Maine […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Store News, West
Arizona Enjoying Economic Rebound, Business-Friendly Climate
by Lorrie Griffith/editor–West Arizona has rebounded strong economically over the past year, with its unemployment rate down to 4.5 percent vs. 5 percent the prior year and about 80,000 jobs added. Added fuel for optimism is a more business-friendly climate at both the state and federal government levels, Tim McCabe, president of the Arizona Food […]
Posted inRetailer of the Year, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, Southeast, Whole Foods
Southeast Retailer Of The Year: Lowes Foods
Giving Customers What They Want Since 1954 Lowes Foods began in 1954 as a single store in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and, over those 63 years, has grown into a nearly 100-store chain operating in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Now based in Winston-Salem, the grocer grew rapidly during the 1960s, ’70s and early […]