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Associations Announce Trade Show Plans FMI Connect!canceled for 2017 but Nationwide Fresh will proceed; NGA Region Wise.United

.thes helby repor or Visit www 888-4 98-07 71

Show moving to new city in 2019 t.com /subs cribe

Two Louisiana grocery families, the Rouses and LeBlancs, are combining forces under one banner, Rouses Markets.

LeBlanc’s Food Stores has nine stores. Five of them, operating as Frais Marché, are located in Baton Rouge, Zachary, Duplessis, Gonzales and Prairieville. Four additional LeBlanc’s banner stores are located in Donaldsonville, Hammond, Plaquemine and Plattenville.

The transition, expected to be complete later in October, will

give Rouses Markets 54 stores.

The Oct. 1 announcement came a little more than a month after Rouses Markets opened its first store in Baton Rouge, but the deal has been in the planning stages for a while, according to Rouses, which added that the Rouse and LeBlanc families are longtime friends and share a common philosophy, history and Shelby Publishing commitment to community.

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griffinr Brookshire with Four NeBrothers Growing Again eport.com w Express Sto res

Mart is acquiri all nine of the ng of the No remaining Minyar Stores and two rtheast a Shelby Sun Fresh Market d Food with Minyard s affiliated said Publica Lufkin, Texas-b in Andre Bhatia, ased Brookshire tion Metroplex from the Dallas-Fort Worth ACON a managing partner employee-own RLS Supermarkets. . “Our prior ed regional grocer Brothers will be growin of Fiesta is a specialt superm g again in the Grapeland, Texas. plans to open coming year. stores in four y grocery retailer ing experience and success arket investknown for its The rural markets “Each store will will further strengthen Fiesta’s international starting this fall be tailored to offerings that cater to the position in the in they meet are we serve.” diverse commu markets located,” the specific needs nities by their stores. of the commu from the people said COO John Alston. “As The newly acquire With the Minyar served nities in which a of result Grapela Stores acquisi of d d Minyar an outpouring nd, their Food tions will years of d store loca- location to include tion, Fiesta now of request continue to be a pharmacy. ‘Wellne store will be our first servic s will operate 70 stores across supplied by current Express Please see page ss e supplier Associa Texas.

50 ted Wholesale “We are excited along with Fiesta’s Grocers, to welcome supplier, Grocer Food Stores to the Fiesta family. Minyard The Minyard stores y Supply.

This action reinforces the over the next severalwill transition to Fiesta strategic growth plan we put forth early last months.

Publishe Additio year, d Since Fiesta CEO. “Our ” said Michael Byars, disclose nal terms of the deal were not 196 entire d.

Fiesta 6 worked togethe team has r to Fiesta To Su bsc organically, and move the brand forward Bonham was co-founded by Donald now through rib e To and O.C. Mende acquisition we continue on nhall in Housto An y of in 1972. Fiesta our growth plan. n currently has 70 Ou r Ot ” Byars has persona stores in the Houston, Austin he r Fou l ties to Minyar and Dallas-Fort worked for the d, as he market r Pu bli company from Worth s, serving cat ion January customers from to January 2009, PRICE s Ca ll The and LeBlanc family ultimately serving 2005 than 100 countries more CHOPPE of origin with Us At as CEO president of Minyar ‘GROU R OP a variety 88 8-4 98 ND d for more than of dry grocery and perisha three years. He ble products.

OXFOR -UP’ MARK ENS -07 71 Fiesta is buying joined Fiesta Region ET 32 D, CONN in 2015 and or Vis it these has focused the Minyar Wise. Na IN The Golu d and Sun Fresh location company on reinvig ECTICUT ww w.t s: tionwide of its core consum oration 3300 he she lby up” Markb Corp. cut the Harwood Road, er promise, “To ! et ribb consumers the 32 on rep ort Bedford provide 6324 Connect After freshest quality Meadowbrook .co m/ sub icut. Locastore on Sept. on a “groundand extensive Drive, Fort Worth products 8040 new unit 20 in Oxfo Mid-Atl 37 years in the ted at 300 assortment, at scr ibe Ferguso anti is rd, n Road, Dallas the value Oxfo need to celebra Quarry Walk the anchor John Said c, will retire food industry of the longrd Road, the te food and family they 610 Ferris, Waxah . achie day.” along with nawey, pres at the end of , Gar y Larkin, -anticipa “Market every 3630 Forest Janu ted EVP of ary.

Lane, Dallas and imm his team fromident and CO concept 32 is a contemp In early 2015, JOH 2200 West Shady O of JOH ediately Fiesta was purcha Mid-Atl store that Larry, Darrell and Paul Reese-p.23 Reynolds-p.14 orar y, food Larkin’s Grove, prop JOH cust ACONKimberly , anti sed says Dallas omers , an international by 10121 East elled who career has prom c Imp -focu that Lark in 1979 started Legamb Lake June Road, private equity and conv have told us lly reflects wha sed oted Pete JOH to success act—joined investment firm. i Kroger’s Housto Dallas they wan 4202 Pioneer, JOH in in— James working for t our alon Leg Mid-Atl joined JOH n Division Preside Grimmett enient shopping Balch t in a mod “ACON is pleased antic food is retiring, and in 201 ambi to EVP g the East Coa 2010 inde O. Brown Co., the expe , Price Cho nt Bill Breetz 3230 Martin Luther Springs ern sibility 2 and penden the company to add Minyar of JOH st. indu pper’s presrience,” said Scot This is the Stores to the for King Boulevard, t food brokan is promoting d Food 1450 Mid-Atl Fiesta team as retail mer JOH Mid-Atlstry. Legambi is a 36-year Marlen t ident and Dallas Stewart, currently preside West Pleasant antic. based in Pen er company 10th Market will hav part Pete Leg strategic vision Run nt of the compan e antic and CEO. chandis Dillons Divisio e profit veteran of the and started nsylvania. Sev ambi to grow the Fiesta of our 2223 Singleton Boulev Road, Lancaster “When ing and n, to succeed him. will y’s the new announced its32 to open sinc and ard, Dallas brand,” Colleen Juergen Legamb the Paul Nes en years late e the its 60th we reflect backadministrat lead all grocery, loss responGary Lark stores overbrand across the plans to deve ter & r he left i beg sen will succeed anniver in frozen, on why ion associated “Gary Lark to join sary, it majority lop the next Stewart as dair y, then worked on an his career Sons Co. the com JOH with Paul Nes com of deca in as is thriving ing to wor the regi its 135 the dist es dow pany’s Price de. with a stro is a perfect ter on. ributor a retail mer converte k as and Chopper To date, eight example n to our peo ng pass d Please see page of ple,” said celebrating Associates, Jose a food broker side at Gourmechandiser for ion for stores have Connect to Market 32 (incl 50 doing whaof the highest RMI. He icut, store been uding quality Saidnawey. he was a foun ph Riley and with Kluge Finkt World befo t’s right.

Massach ding part re retu human finally Star elste ” usetts—h ), while one othethe Torrington, Legamb bein ner. up; it open i as been Sales and in, Richards rng mon r—in Sutt and on & built ed in Octo ths to ensu Larkin will on, Marketi Several ber 201 from the ground ng, whe be wor re a smo conv 5. re king oth tran closely across the ersions curre sition. over the new store chain’s six-state ntly are unde next five r The Foo is expectedis being built in footprint, and anotway Ft. Edw store dire d Marketing her to open Institut Grimmett before the ard, New York Steve Morrow, e (FMI) Massach ctor at of Big ; it p 12 end of the recently is distinctivsaid the look usetts, La Preferida @ year. and as a gran Y World Clas Awards sele KeHE Show, p.20 ely more thouStacy com s Market cted Piotr d prize modern feel of Market gh man Soja Wright, winner y of the 32 Soja was petition. p 36 Marked differenc than Price Chopper in its 201 in Northampton , before wor among summer by es are subt king his , 6 Store , the earth tone open space, . way up le.

Manager tion of store a décor chosen According to finalists honored to his curr s and murals filled with FMI, of based on Accordi director. in Chicago ent pos and light product-focu the 85 tional cust their abil iconvenie sed disp soft prepare ng to Soja, app ing, the earl “Every for innovati omer service ity to generate licants, the win ier this crafted nt, ready-to-eat brand emphasilays, mor lenges that work, I look and on sale ners wer /or and dem s grow foods; commun zes forward ning as I Soja was manufac and locally onstrat fresh, ity relation th, provide exce e is an opp await me. I feel to the e team chosen chains chalortu pthat lead s, departmetured products; grown/produced handexec as nity for ersh and grow with 50-1 the win ute in-s ip. me to coneach challenge ner in a crystal tore 99 stor next to thent adjacencies and intuitive prod and in the the cate grocery tinue to es. Eac award.

Piotr Soja retail (e.g., gree uct/ floral depa h gory bus learn win Soja ines ting card ner rece of rtment). has ived a $1,0 supermarket current loca s. In my s 10/11/16 1:05 PM front-en been employe tion, Northam 00 priz d service d with the e and Big Y for tioning clerk whi put in the pton store, to 21 year I ment man the meat dep le he was still s. to look time and effort artm in high He started ager as for way well as ent. He held pos school befo off as a sup s to a meat por and seaf itions as a mea re transi- thro t local busineshelp ood mer ughout t ses chandis departSoja enjo the store.” er/train er ys spen dingPlea

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ole Foods and Affiliated Associated Wh ale Grocers (AWG)cooperatives’ distribuAssociated Wholes ing the two

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The Rouses, LeBlanc’s to Join Forces in Louisiana

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) said

implem have to us announcement, In making the FMI President employing and ive cooperatives will allow ucture power but also that our respect support infrastr anders.CEO Leslie G. Sarasin said, “After much 80 to 90 years networks and oped over the nity, distribution center rs of independent member-retail deliberation and guidance from the FMI executive commu are combin “Combining our g numbe Midwest (AFM) said July 28. ship with the vendor to t to allow said. serve our growin our board of directors, we came to the companies hen our relation enhance committee our ability of suppor what we need more effectively tion businesses, s will further strengt goods, and endeavor is exactly be profitable,” said AFM the decision to no longer host FMI Connect 2017.

“This unified busines es and subsequent cost of “This exciting n our e, grow and rs of a expens betwee compet ng es membe to added. be s operati synergi Please see page 54 Smith would “The reduce our retailer rship,” Our members operate more growing membe atives going forward CEO Martin Arter. and serve our retailers thrive. members who President and of both cooper will help our the members ative supplying Much credit is ng members that As proposed, cost of goods.

-owned cooper joint cooperatives to cooperative supplyi AWG is a retailer substantially lower AFM’s board of directors is a retailer-owned larger AWG. benefit with a and .” while it is in 30 states. AFM of both AWG’s could become the alliance, and than 3,000 stores 800 stores in 15 states. due to the vision lities of what we ously approved it is expected AWG, said the than of unanim y lders, more see the possibi CEO compan shareho and operate president al by AFM directors of each David Smith, ng the approv !

The boards of ing conditions, includi makes sense. tionwide forces and combin - still subject to certain consolidation about joining Wise. Na year.

“We are excited Expanding our collective distribu to close later this Region atives. r stores will make ibe the two cooper sub scr over 800 new membe wants us to .co m/ ng states and adding leadership that rep ort on of several new adjoini truly blessed with tion areas into Trade is an extensi , in which we’re he she lby an said. “Care program w.t Silverm Cares ” ation, our KeHE Vis it ww “B lass giving organiz show in of s companies as 71 or During its evolve into a world-c which certifie 98 -07 June, KeHE performance, give.” nonprofit B Lab, 88 8-4 Indianapolis in that calling to Fyfe from the page 17 and environmental in See to launched what ll Us At tor the U.S. ts included Andy standards relating to social utors Ca distribu Panelis Distrib s food Products 1967 g they meet first and largest “Care Trade” cat ion ted at Natural it calls its Corps,” meanin transparency. KeHE was the from the ng Since ur Pu bli and was celebra ce.”

Silverman, shi ned Fo and March penden in Scott bli r . ed lear tability Pu happen program ation of Interde r Ot he solutions accoun pany has Fyfe said. That Shelby signed a “Declar of Ou the com VP of growth made the certify as a B Corp, t ves and guests y executi An wha KeHE , ut rib e To and own brands Expo West, where U.S. business development talk abo signs of with a panel s the cutives e people cement t manage exe To Su bsc itiv ’s Fyfe suppor announ pos to is aler the representing Its mission Wholes discuss “in hopes of speakers arm for B Lab. a force for good nce and ce part of it. use business as ies will commit to be not experie ing marketpla brands that are brands as who the “I’ve known their a while, that one day all compan an improv but the best for or or quite in the world, a consumer for just the best d/web edit d/web edit been ing its here today to ten Clou ten Clou B Corp is kets hasfornia. s blow dur so we’re really world.”

by Kris

by Kris s. Mar to certify as a ey, ered a loss of busines social impact er Bro i Valley, Cali ned Joe Falv cers suff Fyfe said the process but, support the the ades, Stat Ling and to Sim did as it ope stores eneurs who fied Gro rter due to Bob entrepr way est Uni for being s. n, For dec these Los also its and in and t arduou man d qua Southw er, there make to get there, he said. ery cha e at 660 Eas onch Leon Berg cers. lead fiscal thir gen Pacific SEE PAGE 30 trying to. 24, the groc “It’s a long journey KeHE serves as an internal are helping others,” KeHE’s Gro lesaler’s the results, whi Hag nty stor ning and ribb e y, fied is who Aug Cou Uni from On mor 21 Care Trade such a large compan e 58 g to the pleased with Ventura grand opee come at a had Please see page see pag Trade. accordin its first Avenue. The Please t hav version of Fair Bros. ons to be station y couldn’ are reas e Stater Angeles Aug. rs at the “It’s really a manife ceremone, either, sinc iversary on Russell, a panel of speake cutting an introduces r Micah 80th ann riate tim i KeHE’s Scott Silverm e Manage ran. approp ially marked its ey Stor vete from Sim ” Trade. r uests) Simi Vall Stater Bros. launch of Care re, just offic afte (req t whe e ear mor gon and , we wen than any Helden an 18-y 17. bably get . In fact es in Ore rodent s. store journey “We pro a Stater Bro CEO Pete Van opening food stor . While a n a long est; it was for est break56 June t and with 42 grand Southw ; it’s bee Valley Bob Mariano, p ication come /editor-W grocer California, in s. Presiden ort at the 26 Pacific get here commun Griffith to -based Ken Nemeth, p pa, Stater Bro Shelby Rep challenge to re in the 20 deals. that we by Lorrie , Oregonstore in Hoo was continuing ent inability director Hank Meijer, p gen’s failu things Haggen e been a es.” p 12 Medford on, its told The subsequ Michelle Hurd, wing Hag uired in the “do some new ion. “It’s tim ket, the closed down bigger issu and the to Dan Gustafs e to celebrat four different in acq store follo g ure, the e’s landlord, C&K Mar fornia, , the stor up the ino-based cha er Bros. the clos accordin this site Bros. picked thern Cali ed a role in ey Tribe, the stor nine years, g flooring wed Stat nard allo Nor udin e Ber er play incl past stor San e, Stat ion . the pa Vall i Valley infestat Helden store the or packag the Hoo store for the only 00 s.f., the Sim rding to Van y’s latest dec and it downs with a lease for the ket. in n es, acco pan stor t dow on At 48,0 e before,” C&K Mar e, was shu er Bros. t in the store to terms g the com don sing for d Plac mea other Stat . haven’t ition to featurin of adverti e, a Ray ’s Foo ent issue. . den said rently than “actually smoke decided In add lighting diffe Van Hel gram, es The stor the rod serious, and we municaall LED rgy efficient,” ndised wich pro very employe e due to boasts or ene is mercha , where rent sand mid-Jun situation became lt of poor comlandlord,” “It’s very t department meat program den said. we have a diffe done before, es.” a by the “This e as a resu Hel , iveness to close the stor The mea a new smoked y to go,” Van ood offering that we haven’t into other storto open to close lack of respons er an easy call with the e it seaf read ses ngs ship showca omers take it, very different h sushi. Thi will, we’ll mov fornia, expects tion and said. “It’s nev a relation ration. We it fres e Cali k e cust n hav on king thin hav GE 26 and k and Gustafs wor we ul ope , we Souther ed, “We sn’t wor a good page_01-54 NEW.indd 1 SEE PA successf He add salad program . If it works, and 169 stores in on.” what doeStater Bros. is store, but critical to a s only optiWissmann, in ks and is a differentall in place here ently operate ure as our what wor adding that landlord Karl curr e 58 . s in viewed this clos t and CEO often, areBros., which the next year e things and seeVan Helden, Valley. se see pag nge i cha Plea Sim iden in er of som said es s in Stat a lot endC&K Pres stores,” really test e new stor al location through r yet and, dep five mor was a chance to gs in other newg for addition n has gone ” ove es. is niti tow e thin change “This includin e 10 . “This opportu install thosfor new sites, ket,” he said I’m not sure thelook at other Please see pag maybe mar to ing” g and r ts look ngin ainly eage ermarke “always has been a cha with sup here, we’re cert .38 “This of years ie Roerink-p couple we’re accepted Anne-Mar the last how well p.52 ing on ung Pak-

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Region Wise. Nationwide!

Sept. 28 during tea call with its media partners Call Us At sol that itida is discontinuing its 2017 show, known as Midwest Con FMI Connect, originally scheduled to be held and buying additional scale ted Foods develin Chicago next June. The organization says it is ing not only the have been that and Affilia together, leverag Smithstrategy. practices of each refocusing s,” event its atives stronger enting the best been in busines sale Grocers our unified cooper

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A LOOK INSIDE

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Shelby Publishing Co. is celebrating a half-century of serving the food industry in all its many facets—food retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, brokers and the endless array of service and technology providers. All of these work together to present today’s grocery shoppers with an experience built to their specifications, whether in the store or online, whether they pick up their groceries or have them delivered to their door.

It’s a different world in 2017 than it was in 1967, but our commitment remains the same:

“We’ll provide you with a publication which will be, we hope, lively, informative and valuable to you in your own business.”

—from the company’s original statement of purpose

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5/10/17 9:21 AM

34 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

Thankful for Where We’ve Been, Looking Forward to Where We’re Going

by Dathan Mitchell/Chairman & CEO What a blessing it has been for Athaleen and me to have been a part of the Shelby Publishing Co. team since our purchase 12 years ago.

From that time when we were serving only two regions, Southeast and Southwest, we have grown into a national Dathan and Athaleen Mitchell company serving all five regions of America. We serve all of America, yet we still maintain our original approach of focusing on one region at a time.

We are blessed to have Ron Johnston as our president and publisher. Ron has more than 40 years of experience in this business and has been the leader of our expansion into the West, Midwest and Northeast. We thank Ron for all his hard work and long hours and devotion to making Shelby the leader it has become. Ron is a workhorse of unmatched proportions. Without Ron’s achievements we would not be where we are today.

Super sellers Each of our publications has a dedicated manager in that region. We have EVP Stephanie Reid in the Southeast; VP Bob Reeves in the West; VP Geoff Welch in the Midwest; VP Jan Meade in the Southwest (our newest hire); and The Griffin Report of the Northeast team of Publisher Kevin Griffin, VP/Group Associate Publisher Bill Dooley and Sales Administrative Assistant Kristen Brissette. Shelby Publishing Co. veterans Penny

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Smith, National Foodservice@Retail Director, and Joye Jones, Retail Manager—as well as a newer staff addition, National Director of Digital Sales Dannielle Kent—capably round out our sales force, which continues to keep us strong through both print and digital ad sales.

Content creators Our editorial staff, headed by company veteran Lorrie Griffith, editor-in-chief, continues to hone their craft as they create content for five monthly print publications as well as daily e-newsletters and other digital products.

They have to be a well-oiled machine in order to produce what they do, week in and week out. Lorrie started with the company back in 1988 and has been at the helm for nearly 12 years now. She keeps more than a few balls in the air every day, editing our West and Southeast Shelby Reports while also consulting on web content and coordinating with grocers, manufacturers, industry associations, etc., on content that’s more national in scope. Lorrie is blessed with a hard-working team that includes Terrie Ellerbee, editor of our Midwest and Southwest Shelby Reports, who’s been with the company for nine years; Kristen Cloud, our web editor, who has five years with us; and Alissa Marchat, our staff writer (and proofreader), who has been with us for two years. And Mike Berger, editor of The Griffin Report of the Northeast, has been with that publication for 20 years.

When you put all of this talent together, what it equals is the greatest editorial staff in our industry. And they are always ready for a good story; if you have one, please let them know.

Page producers Our production department produces five publications in four weeks each month. It’s quite a task to produce hundreds of pages every month, but they get it done. Production Manager Eddy McIlvain is a 13-year veteran of the production world and has been with Shelby for three years, the last two heading up the production department. He oversees two graphic designers: Elaine Brady, an eight-year Shelby staff member who has nearly 40 years in the industry; and Kay Hake, who is celebrating one year with Shelby and 35 years in graphic design. I believe anyone who is a reader, advertiser or supporter of The Shelby Report or The Griffin Report will agree they all do a fantastic job.

Administrative all-stars Our headquarters office staff of Joy Breedlove, accounting manager/bookkeeper/office manager; Genie Monaghan, circulation manager; and Elaine Blackmon, circulation assistant, may be in more behind-the-scenes type roles, but they form a very important foundation for our company. Joy makes sure to pay whoever needs paying and bill whoever needs billing, all with a smile.

Genie and Elaine make sure our subscribers get their publications, whether print or digital, and that our publications are at all the shows and events where they’re expected to be.

So now you see why I say we are blessed by God to have been a small part of the first 50 years of Shelby Publishing Co. and why we are looking forward to what He has in store for us in future years.

God bless you, and thank you all.

And One More Thing . . .

We want to offer special thanks to Paul Hynson and his team of hard workers at Walton Press, the company that prints and ships our publications every week. If it had not been for Paul and his support, we would not have been able to grow as rapidly as we have.

Thank you, Paul, for always being there when we needed you—and we have needed you a lot. Thank you for being a special friend and a blessing to us all.

5/10/17 9:24 AM

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4/28/17 11:45 AM

36 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

Our Founder, Gary G. Shelby Gary George Shelby is a tough man to describe, and he would probably have liked that.

Growing up in Elgin, Illinois, a 1958 graduate of Elgin High School, his dad a college professor, Gary proved too restless for academia (though he actually became a bonafide member of Mensa, the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world).

Anxious to pursue a career in business, and after a brief stint at Dun & Bradstreet in San Francisco, he found A holiday staff photo from the 1980s taken in front of the Gainesville, success in sales. First, working his way Georgia, office. Front row: Meta Stephens, office manager; Eileen Goss, editorial; Smith Moseley, columnist; Ileen Bloch, sales; Gary Shelby, to regional manager for Kimberly-Clark, publisher; back row: Jim Hood, editor; Stormie Ellwanger, sales; Priscilla then tackling the same position in AtAt the 1983 FMI convention, from left: Linda Applewhite, “Pris” Talley, controller; and Angela Smith, editorial. lanta. Next came the call from Neenah, assistant publisher of The Shelby Report of the Southwest; Wisconsin. Gary was being promoted to Ileen Bloch, assistant publisher of the Southeast edition; and national sales manager, but he turned Publisher Gary Shelby. who determines it down. He had saved judiciously, and the success or now saw the opportunity to buy a business, one he could build on. failure of your overall sales effort.

That’s when he came into the “To the advertiser we say: publishing busi- We’ll provide you with the ness, purchasing attention of the Southeastern The Griffin Report food market operator, the guy of the Southeast who’s the important link in in 1974, which your whole chain of distribuwas embarking on tion. its seventh year “To the reader in general we of publication. say: We’ll provide you with a News from gropublication which will be, we cers and wholehope, lively, informative and salers formed the valuable to you in your own backbone of the business.” editorial coverage (as they still Here, in 2017, Shelby Pubdo today), but in lishing Co. remains commit- A licensed private pilot and seeker of all kinds of advenIn a photo of Shelby staff from 1979: Gary Shelby, Linda Applewhite, that era, food bro- ted to providing that kind of ture, Gary hosted the company Christmas party at his Marilyn and Ron Johnston, and Tom Olson.

North Georgia farm in 2002. Here, Millie Adcox, who kers were in their publication. has done editorial work for Shelby Publishing on and off heyday, numbering exponentially more than today, and Gary seemed to get news and We had to say goodbye to for more than 20 years, enjoys a ride with the boss. “scoops” from every broker around. Though brokers purchased a lot of advertising in Gary in 2003, but his imprint the paper, Gary was not opposed to calling out those who were abusing the system— remains on the company, not just through the name of the publications but the spirit his 1980 “Bordengate?” column reverberated in the industry for years to come—or of trying to serve the food industry community with the work we do. We are thankful reporting on injustices in other segments of the industry as he was informed of them. for that foundation.

This allegiance to truth telling was part of the paper’s creed, even before Gary bought it.

On the front page of the first issue of The Griffin Report of the Southeast under Gary’s ownership, Editor David Guinee cites parts of the publication’s statement of purpose, which was published in the first issue in February 1968: “The publishers of this newspaper believe that no true newspaper can thrive and live up to its responsibility to ‘community’ unless it really serves that body. They also believe that while a newspaper must be a source for constructive good in any field, it must also be free to ‘call a spade a spade’ and cry out against injustice whenever that monster raises its ugly head…

“Also, from time to time, we’ll print features and columns of opinion that may have nothing specifically to do with the food business. We think that our readers are responsible, thinking people who are also interested in other areas of human endeavor outside their own particular business sphere.

“To the retailer we say, We’ll provide you with news of the food business which we think will enable you to operate a better market.

“To the manufacturer and food broker we say: We’ll carry word of your major product and promotion developments to the food market operator in the Southeast, the fellow

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40 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

It’s Where Lots of (My) Life Has Happened

by Lorrie Griffith/editor-in-chief It’s been like trying to drink from a fire hose, this process of looking through back issues of The Shelby Report in preparation for our 50th anniversary. I would loved to have looked through all of them—there is a lot of entertainment value there in addition to all the news—but there simply wasn’t time.

So while you will see some headlines and faces from food industry history that we did unearth, it seems more important to share founder Gary Shelby’s rationale for why he started the paper all those In the ’90s, when word processing was still a years ago and introduce you to, or way of life; desktop publishing was yet to come. remind you of, some of the people who have tried to fulfill that purpose here at Shelby Publishing Co. since 1967. We’ll also look at what some of the big issues have been over this half-century (and which ones continue to be).

We also want to convey our thankfulness for the industry’s support over these five decades. Whether you send us news, advertise with us or subscribe to our print or digital products, it is true that we would not be here without you.

As for me, I got here in the fall of 1988, hired as an editorial assistant with my newly minted English degree from the University of Georgia. The editor who hired me, Jim Hood, was an Auburn grad and fan, but he gave me a chance anyway. He taught me that the Procter in Procter & Gamble is spelled with an “e,” not an “o,” among other valuable lessons.

In fact, I had left the company to assist Kevin in his fledgling health insurance business when Gary passed away in July 2003. But Gary had told me when I left in 2002 that the door was always open for me to return, and I did so a few months after his death.

I’m not the only person he extended that courtesy to, and looking back now I realize what a generous gesture it was.

When Chuck left in 2005, I was offered the opportunity to become editor, and I took it. My children weren’t quite so young anymore and it seemed to be the right thing for our family for me to go back to full-time work after working part-time for eight years after our second son was born.

Shelby had new owners at the time, Dathan and Athaleen Mitchell, and it wasn’t long before our expansion began. The Shelby Report of the West was launched with the January 2008 edition; The Shelby Report of the Midwest had a July 2009 launch; and March 2011 saw the first issue of The Shelby Report of the Northeast, marking the first month in our history that we had a publication for every region of the U.S. Today we continue to cover the nation, with Northeast coverage now provided by The Griffin Report, which was a part of Shelby Publishing’s beginnings, as you will read...

Thankfully we continue to have a strong audience for our print publications, but like any industry, publishing is changing. That’s why today we have a dedicated web editor who updates our site (theshelbyreport.com) with new stories every day. She also sends out e-newsletters every weekday (and on Saturdays!) and keeps all our social media sites fresh. It’s a new world, and we work hard to make sure we continue to be a vital part of it. It’s a team effort, for sure, and I want to thank not only our web editor, Kristen Cloud, but my fellow editor, Terrie Ellerbee, who oversees our Midwest and Southwest editions; Mike Berger, in charge of the Northeast edition; and Alissa Marchat, our highly capable staff writer who also fills that important proofreader role.

I started out doing some writing, but primarily proofreading the pages before they went to press. Reading our publications every month— at that time, The Shelby Report of the Southeast, The Shelby Report of the Southwest and Sunbelt Foodservice—helped me learn about retailers, wholesalers, brokers, manufacturers, foodservice operators, etc., and how they interrelate. It turned out to be a great foundation for a career at Shelby that has lasted for about 28 years now.

I also have Shelby to thank for my husband. We met when Gary hired him as an advertising sales rep shortly after I joined the company. I later learned that Kevin had had to talk to Gary before asking me out; apparently there was a no-co-worker-dating rule in place. But on a trip to the FMI convention in May 1989, Kevin got clearance from the boss. A date that included Pizza Hut pizza and “Field of Dreams” was our beginning, and we were married just over a year later, in June 1990. Kevin stayed on at the company for a couple of years after that before going into product sales.

I became associate editor when Jim left the company in 1992 and remained in that role for several years. The ’90s was the decade when Kevin and I had a couple of children, two boys. It smarted a little when Chuck Gilmer, who had joined the company in 1992, was named editor instead of me in 1994 (the year our first son was born), but in retrospect, my priorities had shifted a bit after motherhood and Gary made the best decision for the company at the time. I don’t think I ever told him that.

The Shelby team dressed in black to commemorate a milestone birthday for Production Manager Kelly Hulsey in this 1998 photo. From left: Pam Patterson, staff writer; Dana Barclay, office manager; Chuck Gilmer, editor; Lorrie Griffith, associate editor; Stormie Ellwanger, foodservice manager; Joye Jones, retail manager; the birthday girl; Mindy McBain, staff writer; Leigh Burrell, circulation manager; and Ileen Bloch, VP-publishing.

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In a 1989 photo, from left: Tina Hatcher, production manager; Lorrie Jenkins, editorial assistant; Jim Hood, editor; Ileen Bloch, VP-publishing; and Angela Smith, staff writer.

And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some people who have been my constant encouragers over the years. These days, they’d be called mentors, but “friends” really works better. They include fellow editorial staffers like Angela Smith, Karen Kirkpatrick, Pam Patterson and Mindy McBain, as well as Ileen Bloch, our VP of publishing who retired in 2008 (but who is still asked about regularly out in the industry). She took me under her wing and taught me about the business from the getgo. I went to a few trade shows with her and saw her in action, fearlessly approaching anyone and everyone in her path. She was a true ambassador for The Shelby Report; she believed in what we were doing and thus was not ashamed to ask people to advertise. (And many of them did.) She taught me the importance of being passionate.

Her stories, and she had dozens of them, made me laugh, a lot.

Equally passionate but in a more low-key style was Stormie Ellwanger, who spearheaded our Sunbelt Foodservice publication for many years. I looked forward to seeing Stormie every day; she was always upbeat and usually had a funny story about her dog or her children or herself or her husband. She made it a point to get to know her co-workers and clients personally, asking about family members by name on many occasions. She taught me that being successful in business is based on genuine relationship and connection. Stormie worked part-time but achieved sales levels rivaling a full-time rep. She beautifully balanced her days between her job and her family; that was another lesson she taught me.

Shelby Publishing Co. has been part of my life for more than half my life. Wow… more waking hours spent here than anywhere but home. It’s been my other home, and it’s been a good one.

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42 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

▼ That office is outgrown in eight

A Look at Our History

months. The company moves to a house on Church Drive in Doraville, Georgia, that has been remodeled into office space.

1967:

1968:

1974:

John Griffin’s plans for The Griffin Report of the Southeast are under way with the opening of an office on Atlanta’s Peachtree Street in October.

The staff does the needed legwork, such as gathering store lists and executive rosters, to get ready to launch the publication in January 1968.

David M. Guinee, EVP of Griffin Publishing Co., is named editor of The Griffin Report of the Southeast and moves permanently to Atlanta. Recognizing the paper’s potential although ad sales got off to a slow start, Guinee purchases all the stock of The Griffin Report of the Southeast in June.

▶ In January, Gary G. Shelby purchases The Griffin Report of the Southeast from Guinee, who continues to edit the publication as a part-time consultant.

(He returned to the company full-time in January 1976.)

A year earlier, Griffin had launched his first Griffin Report, covering the grocery industry in the Northeast from headquarters in Boston.

▲ A David Guinee column from April 1976.

From January-September 1974, Shelby runs the paper out of his home; the company then moves to a small office for six months. Two employees are added, and the company moves into much larger offices.

◀ By September, plans are in place to launch a new publication for the Southwest.

1977: ▶ Shelby renames the publication The Shelby Report of the Southeast to kick off the year and begins to use the “S” logo that is still seen on company correspondence. ▼ The name change is made for a number of

reasons, including continuing confusion over the publication’s link to the Griffin Report’s Northeast publication and the launch of Gary Shelby’s second publication, The Shelby ­Report of the Southwest.

1980: ◀ The Shelby Report on Foodservice appears in The Shelby Report of the Southwest.

1983: ▼ Shelby’s Southwest

Foodservice launches as a separate publication with a September issue.

Formerly an insert in The Shelby Report of the Southwest, Shelby’s Southwest Foodservice covers the foodservice industry (restaurants, schools, etc.) in Arkansas, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana and western Tennessee. The publication is “in the black” from its first issue, which is 32 tabloid-size pages.

James “Jim” Hood is managing editor, working alongside Bill Edrington and Eileen Goss.

Gus Wallgren serves as VP of Shelby Publishing Co. and GM of the Southwest edition; his wife Joy Wallgren is business manager. They are based in the Dallas area, in Richardson.

Stormie Ellwanger, who would direct the foodservice publication in future years, joins the advertising sales team with the November issue.

▶ Ron Johnston, current president and publisher, joins the company, serving as editor.

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JUNE 2017 • The Shelby Report 43

1988:

◀ For the June issue, Shelby’s Southwest Foodservice begins to go by a new name: Sunbelt Foodservice. The publication expands its coverage to include the Southeast region, and advertising sales rep Stormie Ellwanger is named foodservice manager.

Lorrie Jenkins joins the company in September as an editorial assistant and proofreader following graduation from the University of Georgia.

1991:

1992:

Joye Jones joins the Shelby Publishing Co. staff as a marketing representative. She remains with the company today, now serving as retail manager.

Penny Smith joins the Shelby Publishing Co. staff, pursuing advertising sales primarily for Sunbelt Foodservice, but also The Shelby Report. She has a background in ad sales from a competing publication. She remains with the company today.

Jim Hood, VP and executive editor, leaves his post after the March issue; Lorrie (Jenkins) Griffith is named associate editor in charge of the company’s editorial department.

1994: Chuck Gilmer is named editor.

Chuck Gilmer, formerly a reporter with the Gwinnett Daily News and Winn-Dixie employee in Brunswick, Georgia, joins the editorial staff as assistant editor.

2001: Shelby’s first corporate website is launched. It is informational rather than interactive.

2005:

2003:

2007: On May 20, Dathan and Athaleen Mitchell purchase Shelby Publishing Co.

July 11: Company founder and publisher Gary G. Shelby passes away while recovering from a four-wheeler ­accident. He is 62.

Stormie Ellwanger is named foodservice director, overseeing Sunbelt Foodservice magazine. She also becomes a member of Shelby Publishing’s Executive Committee.

In October, Ron Johnston becomes president and publisher. During his career at the company that first began in 1977, he has served in numerous positions, including editor, business manager, EVP and associate publisher.

2008:

1990:

In the summer, Lorrie Griffith, associate editor, is promoted to editor following the departure of Chuck Gilmer.

2009:

The first edition of The Shelby Report of the West is published— the January edition. Bob Reeves, who joined the company in June 2007 and is based in the Los Angeles area, is California Region Manager.

2010: Geoff Welch joins Shelby to head up sales in the Midwest region from his home in Illinois.

The summer of this year brings a number of changes to the Shelby Publishing staff. Promoted are Reeves to West regional manager and Gordon Lowry, who had served as Texas regional manager since March 2006, to Southwest regional manager.

▶ The California Edition is launched as part of The Shelby Report of the Southwest, which began covering the California market in 1991. The January issue marks its launch.

2011: Shelby Publishing Co. launches its first interactive website to kick off the year. ◀ The inaugural edition of The Shelby Report of the Northeast is published in March. This publication gives Shelby Publishing coverage of the entire continental U.S., joining the Southeast, Southwest, West and Midwest Shelby Reports.

In addition, VP Ileen Bloch retires following her 29-year career in advertising sales for The Shelby Report.

▲ The first issue of The Shelby Report of the Midwest is published in July.

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44 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

2012 Shelby begins sending out e-newsletters, starting with one per week (today they are daily). The emailed newsletters feature the previous week’s biggest stories.

2014: Stephanie Reid joins Shelby Publishing as EVP in February.

She is a veteran of the grocery publication world, most recently with Supermarket News.

Bill Dooley, also formerly with Supermarket News, joins the company in May as group VP and associate publisher, working out of the Northeast.

2013: On Feb. 28, Shelby Publishing Co. acquires The Griffin Report, headed by Publisher Kevin Griffin.

Griffin’s father, John, had founded the publication that would become The Shelby Report. With the acquisition, Shelby ceases publishing The Shelby Report of the Northeast, which is replaced by The Griffin Report. Shelby Publishing Co. now offers five regional grocery publications as well as Sunbelt Foodservice magazine.

2015: In the summer, Dannielle Kent joins the company as national director of digital sales. She works with Shelby’s advertising clients and prospects as well as the Shelby sales team to reach their respective online marketing goals, whether via website, e-newsletters, e-blasts or other channels. She formerly worked for Penton, publisher of Supermarket News and other publications.

2016: The Griffin Report of the Northeast celebrates its 50th anniversary.

▶ December marks the final issue of Shelby Food Service Magazine (formerly Sunbelt Foodservice), which is replaced by a new Foodservice@ Retail section in The Shelby Report and The Griffin Report, recognizing the increasing importance of foodservice in the supermarket setting.

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46 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

The Other Side of 50

by Ron Johnston/president and publisher

What will the next 50 years look like for Shelby Publishing? Only the team on board in 2067 can say for sure.

I can tell you with absolute certainty, however, this side of 50 has been a great ride, with wonderful, talented people and unselfish owners. Hats off to our present ones, Dathan and Athaleen Mitchell, who succeeded the late Gary Shelby in May 2005.

It’s a humbling experience when one has been part of the journey in growing a brand. For those who did not make it this far, we miss you and are thankful for your contributions. For those who arrived a little later, I am privileged to work alongside you, an enviable perspective when you see gifted people employ their God-given ­talents day in and day out. Technology may change the way we execute, but the hearts and souls of conscientious, dedicated talent can never be wired or transformed in any valley of silicon.

Some things just never change. Like the need to tell someone, show someone the best you have to offer. Whether it’s yourself when you walk out into the world every morning; a company, its products, services; a church, school, community or institu-

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tion, it is a fundamental tenet of being. As a wise man once said, “Nothing happens until something is sold.”

Which brings me to Smith Moseley, a columnist for The Shelby Report back in the ’70s and ’80s.

Early in his illustrious career, he both wrote news and sold advertising for the ­ irmingham News and Post newspapers. A World War II veteran who served in B ­England, Smith had a way with words and a golden, resonant voice of broadcast quality whose charm would turn the ladies’ attention his way whenever and ­wherever he was reciting his signature poetry. Smith’s perfect diction, absent of ­dialect, and eloquent delivery never remotely hinted he was born and bred in the Deep South. Paired with a keen sense of humor, his characteristic prose always left one wanting to hear more.

Smith’s monthly column, “In Praise of Things,” did just that, whether people or principles. His piece in our February 1978 Southeast edition reaffirmed then, and does still today, an age-old axiom. Featuring legendary Coca-Cola executive E. ­Delony Sledge, the column appears in its entirety here...

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48 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

The Southeast Edition

Our Flagship Is Still Sailing The Southeast is our home market, the place where we began 50 years ago. We’ve seen dozens of grocery companies come and go over the years in the Southeast market.

Do you remember Schwegmann Bros., Delchamps, Bruno’s, Jitney Jungle, Ukrop’s, Sweetbay, Big Star, Red Food Stores, White Stores, Food Giant, Seessel’s, etc.?

And then there are those grocers that are still here and making news in the Southeast, like Publix, Kroger, Harris Teeter (a Kroger division now), Food Lion, Winn-Dixie, BiLo, Rouses, Food City, Ingles, Walmart, Aldi, etc., as well as hundreds of independents under nearly as many names.

Companies like these, as well as their suppliers and other service organizations (like grocery associations), continue to be found in the pages of The Shelby Report of the Southeast—along with market shares, for which the papers have been known for many years—every single month.

As with any first child, we have more photos and material from the Southeast edition than any other; here is just a small sampling from our first 50 years.

From the October 1976 edition.

Piggly Wiggly store operators met up in Tennessee in 1997.

See more from the Southeast edition on page 50 The Alabama city had its own organization for executives in the food sales business for many years. Here are scenes from a meeting in February 1992.

From the January 1987 Southeast edition.

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Isidore Alterman, chairman and president of Alterman Foods in Atlanta, received an award from the State of Israel for his “lifetime of service to his fellow men.”

Gary Shelby gathered company employees in 1992 after the PrimeTime Live show aired to discuss how The Shelby Report would handle the story. Great care was taken to show all sides of the story.

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50 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

Florida Bi-Lo Holdings is now Southeastern Grocers, home of the Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery banners. The name change for the Jacksonvillebased parent company of those three chains took effect May 18.

With the new name, Southeastern Grocers debuted a new logo as well. The company said the change symbolizes that regardless of whether employees work for Bi-Lo, Harveys or Winn-Dixie, all associates are part of a “unified family with a common aim to do the best they can for all our customers across the Southeast.”

••• The company that comprises the Bi-Lo, Harveys, Winn-Dixie and, most recently, Fresco y Mas banners, was renamed Southeastern Grocers in 2015.

The above announcement appeared in our July Southeast edition that year.

We reported on Publix’s plans to enter Georgia in the September 1991 edition.

Georgia’s grocer and wholesaler organizations combined their conventions for the first time in 1992.

Atlanta had a thriving food manufacturers group for many years; the FMSEC was founded around 1950. This trade dinner was covered in the January 2003 edition.

The annual Kroger ALS Golf Challenge raises funds to help in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The Shelby Report donated to the cause in 2015. From left: Bruce Lucia, Kroger Atlanta president; Ron Johnston, Shelby Report president; and Sarah Embro, The ALS Association.

Jay Campbell, former president and CEO of Associated Grocers of Baton Rouge, generously supplied The Shelby Report with news and commentary for many years. Here, Campbell, who retired from those positions in May 2015 to become executive chairman of the AG board, is shown with wife Libby at the fall 2014 conference of the Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA).

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Members of the Louisiana Wholesale Grocers Association (LWGA) gathered in New Orleans in 1980.

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52 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

‘What an Extraordinary Experience’

by Ileen Bloch

by its current owner, Dathan Mitchell.

In the beginning (1974), a young lady moved from the Cleveland/ Akron, Ohio, area, to Atlanta, Georgia, and immediately got an office job with a food broker, Murray-Hett Brokerage Co. Gary Shelby, who recently had purchased a publication called The Shelby Report, was a regular weekly visitor. He would bring with him an army of newly hired sales reps, one at a time, during lunch time and ask me to explain to them what a food broker was. He would leave them for the entire hour and disappear.

Eventually, I realized that I was training these people for Gary.

It has been nine years since I retired from Shelby Publishing, and every once in a while I have a chance to view the current publications and am in awe of their growth and prosperity.

Bloch and Block: Ileen with Jack Block, president and CEO of Food Distributors International (formerly NAWGA), at the NGA Show in 1995.

Ileen, at left, during her Murray Hett Brokerage days in 1976.

Finally, after five years of doing this and secretarial work, I decided to get into sales myself. Over and over I would march down to Gary’s company a few blocks away and ask him to hire me in sales, which he refused to do. He said he liked both Murray and Hett too much and felt he would be “stealing” me. After three months of persistence with Gary, I was about to leave the brokerage company and go into sales somewhere else. That was when he hired me. He told me I was the most aggressive woman he had ever met, which floored me since I was still figuring myself out as a single woman. It was a hilarious love/hate relationship. I didn’t know how to behave being an independent woman but was determined not to be controlled, so I drove Gary crazy. Keep in mind, I immediately started to sell, so Gary kept me and eventually made me vice president of his company.

Selling.

I have a million stories about my time at Shelby to entertain people with. Rooms of people laugh out loud and usually say when we part company, “Stay out of trouble, Ileen.”

What an extraordinary experience!

My first assignment in 1979 was to attend a dinner at a swanky downtown Atlanta hotel with the Southeast president of Winn-Dixie, Dwayne Carpenter, and a bunch of football celebrities.

“I hate sports,” I told myself (and was unimpressed), but I had enough street smarts to bring along my tape recorder in case Mr. Carpenter said anything important. I taped and taped and when his comments appeared in The Shelby Report, I got a call from Mr. Carpenter.

“Ileen,” he said, “you are the best journalist in the business! Not one statistic I quoted to that group was incorrect!”

Well, hello, you can imagine, right then and there, I realized THIS NEW JOB IS SHOW BUSINESS! Working with Shelby Publishing was the best job and the most fun a person could have. I covered any and all conventions—interviewing, taking photos, and every once in a while writing an article—for nearly 30 years. But I loved being in sales the most, going from booth to booth at conventions, dealing with all of those marketing and sales wizards. There are a thousand stories I could write about the things that occurred in and out of the office, but it really would take a book! Ron Johnston (now president and publisher) and I are the two real survivors of Shelby Publishing who could get everyone laughing with those shenanigans.

With NGA President Tom Zaucha at a Retail Bakers of America show.

With Martha and Tom Smith of Food Lion at an FMI convention.

Ileen’s signed photo with entertainer and sausage king Jimmy Dean.

When I learned at a gathering in our company kitchen in 2003 that Gary Shelby had passed away from an accident on his ATV, I lost my dearest sparring partner and friend. He made me an executive in our industry when women in those positions were nonexistent. What an opportunity I was blessed with. The company went on with the employees managing themselves for a period of time until the company was purchased

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54 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

The Southwest Edition

Next Came the Southwest In 1977, Gary Shelby changed the name of his first publication to The Shelby Report of the Southeast from The Griffin Report of the Southeast and simultaneously launched his second publication, The Shelby Report of the Southwest.

At the outset, Gus Wallgren served as VP of Shelby Publishing Co. and GM of the Southwest edition; his wife Joy served as business manager for the edition. They were based in the Dallas area, in Richardson.

In the first issue of the Southwest paper, Gus, in his “As I See It” column, took on White Swan, which had told suppliers that they would only buy from Federated Foods, not from brokers. Wallgren called it a “blatant conspiracy in restraint of trade.” He was carrying out Gary Shelby’s goal of keeping the industry honest.

Shelby Publishing Co. continued to operate an office in Dallas for a number of years, into the 1990s, with both sales and editorial staff. After that time, operations were consolidated into the Gainesville, Georgia, headquarters office of Shelby Publishing Co.

HGMRA’s third annual dinner took place in 1977.

Gordon Lowry was named Texas Regional Manager in March 2006 and then was promoted to Southwest Regional Manager in the summer of 2008. Gordon oversaw advertising sales for both The Shelby Report and for Sunbelt Foodservice magazine.

He had a rich industry background when he joined Shelby, having joined Del Monte Foods in 1969 and eventually ascending to division sales manager in Memphis. He was an account executive for a Latin American product company just prior to joining Shelby. He retired from Shelby Publishing Co. in 2014, although he continued to cover some trade shows for the company.

New Mexico Food Dealers Association convention coverage appeared in the October 1977 edition.

Interestingly, a former colleague of Gordon’s from Del Monte is the newly named VP of the Shelby Report of the Southwest. Jan Meade, who began her career at Del Monte as a sales representative in the Kansas City district in 1988, joined Shelby Publishing Co. in April and works from her home in Dallas. She has a rich resumé. After Del Monte, she joined broker The Gordon Co. in Dallas, followed by Catalina Marketing, Advo, Mspark and most recently, the American Heart Association. She is a graduate of the Food Industry Management Program at Cornell (2007).

The Southwest edition is celebrating 40 years this year, a milestone in its own right.

Linda Applewhite served as assistant publisher of The Shelby Report of the Southwest and wrote a column called “What’s Cookin’.”

Please see page 56

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56 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

From page 54

Faces from the Texas Retail Grocers Association’s 50th convention in the September 1977 edition.

Duke Hobbs, who had worked for Procter & Gamble and The Gordon Co., was a columnist for the Southwest edition. This “Springboard” appeared in the January 1988 edition.

Members of the Oklahoma Grocers Association met in Tulsa in July 1996.

From the July 1988 edition.

Gordon Lowry, then VP-Southwest and Ron Johnston, president and publisher (right), flank H-E-B’s COO Bob Loeffler. They interviewed Loeffler for a Market Profile story for the June 2006 issue.

President and Publisher Ron Johnston interviewed Carrol Cox of Foodarama for the Houston Market Profile in April 2006.

Southwestern grocery executives pose with Francis Cameron, left, president and CEO of Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates at ROFDA’s fall conference in 2014: Roger Lowe Jr. and Roger Lowe Sr. of Lowes Foods and Randy Arceneaux of Affiliated Foods in Amarillo.

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58 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

The West Edition

Working to Win the West

by Lorrie Griffith/West editor

The Shelby Report of the Southwest began covering western states back in 1991, but it wasn’t until 2007 that the company began preparations for the launch of a publication specifically for the West.

The first step was the addition of The California Edition, inside the Southwest paper.

The next step was hiring California Region Manager Bob Reeves, who works from his home in the Los Angeles area. His responsibilities included ad sales and helping build buzz for the new publication. At the time of his hiring 10 years ago, Bob had 31-plus years of experience in the food industry.

Bob knew about the grocery industry from an early age; his stepfather was George Fitzpatrick, who served as president of Boys Markets in Southern California and was president of the Western Association of Food Chains in 1976.

After completing the Food Industry Management (FIM) Program at USC, Bob began his career with Bradshaw Inc. South, one of the largest food brokers in Southern California at the time. He spent 23 years with Bradshaw until it was sold to another broker.

He then worked for ConAgra, selling grocery and snack products to several Albertsons divisions in the West.

In January 2008, the first Shelby Report of the West was published.

By the summer of 2008, Bob was promoted to West Regional Manager, reflecting his expanded market.

He then was named VP-West in 2012 and continues in that role today. Bob has cultivated relationships with dozens of organizations, associations and people over his first decade at Shelby Publishing, and his efforts have resulted in not only advertising for the company, but also hard news…and some softer news. He attends a number of charitable events during the year (some including golf, which he does happen to enjoy) and brings back stories that serve as reminders of the struggles people face, and how the grocery industry is so often there to help. City of Hope, Olive Crest, iFoster, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and numerous other organizations that serve those facing difficult times have been covered in the pages of The Shelby Report of the West since its inception. These stories often are the ones that people comment on most, a testament to the fact that, as many say, the grocery business is a people business.

Bob also has interviewed top executives at retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, grocers associations and broker organizations as part of developing a publication that has become a trusted source of news (see testimonials of that on page 64). He’s also been the impetus behind fun stories, like those about In July 2010, seven grocery executives embarked on a 220-mile food industry execubike ride that started in Montana and wound up in Wyoming. tives—even those who We covered another of the bike rides in our February 2017 are competitors—going West edition (visit our website to read about it). on long bicycle trips together.

The West has some of the most competitive grocery markets in the country, meaning there is never a shortage of news. We hope to continue to bring you the right mix of news and people stories that will keep you reading.

Orville Roth of Roth’s Fresh Markets in Oregon is but one of the colorful characters that have been in the West edition (he was known for his green bow tie). His story appeared in the April 2008 edition. Roth passed away in 2013 at the age of 79.

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One of The Shelby Report’s popular columnists is former western region grocer Art Patch, who worked for Safeway, Lucky Stores and Save Mart, among others, during his career.

He offers keen insights on the operations side of the business.

Please see page 60

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60 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

From page 58

Ron Fong, president and CEO of the California Grocers Association, is a longtime West columnist. His predecessor at CGA, Peter Larkin, also writes a column for The Shelby Report.

Bob wrote a column at one time, using his industry background and current grocery events in the West as his backdrop.

Arizona Food Marketing Alliance (AFMA) Excellence in Leadership Awards Banquet Phoenix Downtown Sheraton • Oct. 28

AFMA President Tim McCabe, right, presents the Retailer of the Year Award to Paul Rodriguez of Circle K.

The late Jack Brown of Stater Bros. Markets (center) was featured in a photo on the cover of The Shelby Report in January 2013—one of many times that occurred during Brown’s career. He spoke about the competitive year ahead for grocers.

Bob Reeves and Ron Johnston visited him at his offices in late October 2012.

McCabe presents a plaque to Hall of Fame inductee Rex Collins of Advantage Solutions.

McCabe presents the Supplier of the Year Award to Artie Long of Hensley Beverage Co.

In the January 2017 edition, we covered awards presented to a retailer (Circle K), a broker (Advantage Solutions) and a supplier (Hensley Beverage Co.) by the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance.

California Grocers Association (CGA) Strategic Conference—‘Reshaping Retail’ Palm Springs Convention Center • Palm Springs, California • Sept. 25-27

George Frahm, Stater Bros. Markets; Vic Chiono, Coca-Cola Co.; Dan Meyer, Stater Bros.

Markets; Terry Dana, Alta Dena Certified Dairy.

Diane Roy, Aurantiaca USA; Rob McDougall and Chris Fromm, Gelson’s Markets; Subriana Pierce, Navigator Sales & Marketing.

From coverage of the 2016 annual gathering of CGA.

The Western Association of Food Chains is a major industry association in the West whose mission is to promote and fund higher education to the benefit of the industry.

Bob followed the story of Shelby Klug, daughter of former Southern California food industry executive Sue Klug, for several years. Her story culminated in a successful double lung transplant, which cured Shelby’s cystic fibrosis (September 2016 edition).

‘Miracle at 757 Westwood Plaza’: Shelby Klug Battles CF and Wins

Bob shook Joe Theismann’s hand at the Fresh Produce & Floral Council Expo in Southern California in summer 2013.

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See more show photos on page 66

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JUNE 2017 • The Shelby Report 63

Our President President (and Publisher) Ron Johnston first joined Shelby Publishing Co. in 1977 as editor. It’s not every editorial person that moves into sales. In fact, it’s probably a pretty rare thing for a person to have the aptitudes needed to be successful in both of those arenas.

But he has them, and he has used both during his career to cultivate both news and sales for Shelby ­Publishing over the past four decades in positions that also included business manager, EVP and associate publisher. He came to the helm as president and publisher in October 2003 following Gary Shelby’s death.

Ron spent many years traveling across the South after he became part of the sales force, visiting retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers when it was their area’s Market Profile month in The Shelby Report. Then he took on double duty, covering the Southwest alternateA column from the February Southwest ly each month. When the decision was made to grow edition, 1980, when Ron served as editor. our brand into a national footprint, he barnstormed the West, Midwest and Northeast regions. As of May 2016, Ron had introduced the Shelby banner to 47 of the 48 contiguous states. Only North Dakota remains on his list…

He had a knack for bringing back stories others may have missed, presenting “Another Side” to consider. He interviewed a variety of industry executives, unique to their market, region or cause, like Jack Brown (Stater Bros.), Ralph Ketner (Food Lion), Orville Roth (Roth’s Markets), Dean Werries (Fleming Foods), Louis Fox (AWG), Jack Evans (Tom Thumb), Hillar Moore (Associated Grocers) and Harvey Mabry (H-E-B), as well as one-store operators and small manufacturers looking to get their foot in the food store door. He has gone to more trade shows than he can count, including FMI, NGA and NFBA (the National Food Brokers Association, back in the day) events as well as ROFDA’s two yearly conferences. Ron spearheaded The Shelby ­Report’s yearly ROFDA Report, which is part of each December issue.

This September 1997 column about Publix’s Ed Crenshaw appeared in the Southeast edition.

At the NFBA Convention in San Francisco in 1994, Ron poses with NFBA President Robert “Bob” Schwarze along with Shelby colleagues Ileen Bloch and Chuck Gilmer.

Another Shelby product he initiated was an annual tribute to daily newspapers, “Newspapers: The Best Buys,” based on their special relationship with the grocery trade. As newspapers have increasingly gone digital, that has became part of our past, but for several years it was another success for Ron and Shelby.

Thanks, Ron!

Martin Arter of Affiliated Foods Midwest shows off The ROFDA Report at the 2014 Fall Conference.

Ron sat down with Food Lion legend Ralph Ketner twice, once in 1997 and then again in 2016 (at Ketner’s request), shortly before Ketner passed away.

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Ron with Martin Arter and Shelby EVP Stephanie Reid at the ROFDA Fall Conference in 2014.

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I’ve gotten a lot of awards—some deserved, some undeserved, I’m going to tell you—I’ve never been prouder of anything. I have been really fortunate being in a small town and I’ve been in the paper a number of times for a dozen things, but I have never had one that is as accurately done. I actually got to thank in this article the people that I feel like I owe so much to, so thank you for that, because that gave me the credibility. My mom’s been gone for 19 years. I don’t know if I can get into heaven with one of these to show it to her when I get there, but if I can, I’m going to.

I am so proud and my employees are very proud of it.

—Steve Morrow, Allen’s Foods, Bella Vista, Arkansas First-ever winner of Associated Wholesale Grocers’ Store Manager of the Year Award Featured in the 2016 Arkansas market profile in The Shelby Report of the Southwest

We love The Shelby Report. When I’m talking to my staff and my business development team, that is the one magazine that we read cover to cover. The updates about what’s going on in the different states, the different retailers—I’ve gotten so many contacts out of it. I have three people that report to me—one focused totally on retail, one on foodservice and the other on processors, like milk companies and dairy product manufacturers. Every one of us gets something out of the magazine. I know people from all aspects of the supply chain read it. I know this magazine is read.

—Cindy Sorensen SVP-Business Development, Midwest Dairy Association 2017 Woman of the Year, Women Grocers of America

I appreciate the factual reporting I find in The Shelby Report. When reporting on our company, Bob Reeves will go to great lengths to ensure accuracy, and the editing is always well done. I’m sure other companies experience the same…which makes The Shelby Report a faithful and factual supporter of our industry.

—Pete Van Helden President and CEO Stater Bros. Markets

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The label says it all ♦ Organic Certified ♦ Non-GMO ♦ No High Fructose Corn Syrup

1992

♦ Gluten-Free ♦ No Preservatives

Sharing the great tastes of life Contact Griffin Food Company for your Branded, Private Label, or Co-Packing needs. ♦ email: info@griffinfoods.com ♦ phone: 800-866-6311 Griffin Food Company 50 NA_062017.indd 1

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The Midwest Edition

Sharing Stories of Great Grocers in the Heartland

by Terrie Ellerbee/editor–Midwest It was a hot July day in 2009 when The Shelby Report of the Midwest first rolled off the press. The inaugural issue featured a column by Chairman and CEO Dathan Mitch-

ell, who with his wife, Athaleen, own Shelby Publishing Co. The Mitchells and Shelby President and Publisher Ron Johnston traveled to as many Midwest states as possible before that first issue was produced.

Mr. Mitchell, who has a long history in the grocery business, was mightily impressed from the start with what he saw in the Midwest: hundreds and hundreds of wellstocked, clean, appealing and friendly stores in state after state.

The Midwest edition covers 12 states in a region that is vibrant, dynamic and innovative. Forget the notion that trends start on the coasts, that the Midwest is just flyover country. Per capita, we’d venture to guess that some of the most imaginative, innovative and beloved grocers are rooted in the Midwest.

We so enjoy sharing their stories about what it means to be an independent grocer in today’s marketplace. Many we speak with were born into the grocery industry. They share their challenges, their dreams of what their companies can become and what they hope their legacy will be.

Here are a few examples: • “I’m of the opinion that everybody is selling the same can of beans, and you can kill yourself trying to be all things to all people and trying to have the lowest prices.

Your prices have got to be good and competitive, but at the end of the day, it’s your relationship with your customer that is going to keep them coming back, and that goes from the owner all the way down to the carryout kid.”

—RF Buche, GF Buche Co., South Dakota • “We’re not entitled to anything tomorrow because of anything we did today or yesterday. We’ve got to earn it every day.”

—Leo Braido, Riesbeck’s Food Markets, Ohio • “If we do what is right by our customers and continue to evolve the brand, stay connected to what our customers’ needs are, we’ll be fine. There’s always going to be Please see page 72

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Geoff Welch Comes Aboard to Bring Shelby to the Midwest In the fall of 2010, Geoff Welch of Green Oaks, Illinois, joined Shelby Publishing Co. as Midwest regional manager (he is now a VP). His impressive experience in publishing was enough to ensure he’d be a great fit. But it has been his boundless energy that propelled The Shelby Report of the Midwest into its rightful place as a top grocery industry trade publication. Thanks to Geoff, The Shelby Report of the Midwest has gotten into more hands, hearts and minds than we could ever have hoped.

That born-for-radio voice of his has come in handy when he’s emceed best bagger competitions for the Wisconsin

Geoff Welch with Chubby Checker at the Private Label Manufacturers Association show in 2016.

Grocers Association and the Illinois Food Retailers Association, not to mention the countless interviews he has conducted. His (numerous) calls to the home office in Georgia are always upbeat and positive. He’s the same guy with us as he is at your store openings, golf outings, capitol day events, expos, galas, trade shows and more.

Geoff Welch speaks to a contestant while emceeing the Wisconsin Grocers Association’s Great Wisconsin Bag-Off.

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Geoff also is known for his great goodbyes. They tend to go something like this: “I’m at your service, I love ya and I’m with ya 110 percent!”

The Shelby Report’s Geoff Welch with Hank Meijer, Meijer co-chairman and grandson of founder Hendrik Meijer.

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From page 68

more than enough competitors out there. That doesn’t change. We just have to be as good as we possibly can be.”

—Rich Niemann, Niemann Foods Inc., Illinois There is much to celebrate in the Midwest, and we have been honored to help acknowledge many milestones. In November 2013, we featured Schuette’s Markets, a family-owned company in Illinois with a history dating back to the American Civil War. Last year, Metcalfe’s Markets in Wisconsin was in the spotlight on the verge of its 100th year.

In our January 2014 issue, we featured St. Louis-based Schnucks Market’s 75th anniversary. For its centennial celebration in 2011, Sheboygan-based Piggly Wiggly Midwest and some of its great retailers—Fox Bros., Stinebrink’s, Geidel’s, Olsen’s and others—shared their stories with us. Last year, we devoted a special section to Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City, Kansas, as it reached the 90-year mark.

We’ve introduced our readers to extraordinary people, like Steve Martinez, a Dillons manager in Wichita, Kansas, who by some miracle survived a nearly fatal bout of E. coli and sepsis that left him without his lower legs.

Martinez stands a good five inches taller with new legs than he did before

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the ordeal, and his positive outlook was an inspiration to those he worked with at Dillons. He continues to share his message of hope today as a motivational speaker.

There are many more folks we’ve yet to meet and so many more stories yet to tell about Midwest innovation and unparalleled customer service. We look forward to getting to know even more of you and sharing your stories.

We have been blessed to be so welcomed by Midwest readers. When we’ve erred, you’ve let us know, and we appreciate that. It means you are reading and you care. When we’ve done well, you let us know that, too, and that feedback makes an ordinary day extraordinary.

This “receipt” is used by the Michigan Grocers Association to encourage members to call MGA first.

We appreciate that you continue to welcome the Midwest edition into your stores, companies and corporate offices. Our hope is that you have become as attached to us as we are to you.

Associations welcomed nascent pub with open arms Steve Martinez

Strong state associations make for strong markets for grocers of all sizes. These organizations are the unsung

superheroes of the industry who fight every day for grocers. They have the foundational power to bring about positive change for the industry and keep bad laws at bay. They want grocers to call them first when any need arises.

Strong state grocers’ associations are essential if independent grocers, in particular, are to continue to thrive.

The men and women who helm these organizations helped The Shelby ­Report believe we belonged in the Midwest right from the start. In appreciation, we share here a few gems—some prescient—that have been passed on to us by some association leaders in our first (nearly) nine years.

Brian Jordan, Illinois Food Retailers Association Brian Jordan, the soft-spoken president of the Illinois Food Retailers Association (IFRA), talked to us in 2011 about the role of state associations and the importance of strong membership.

Brian Jordan

“I’d like to think that all retailers in the state are members of their state association. Some retailers are dues-paying members; others are non-dues-paying members,” Jordan said. “I say this because all retailers benefit from the programs and services offered by their state association, especially in government affairs, both legislative and regulatory.”

Jordan offered examples about why supporting state and national associations matters. One was the Durbin Please see page 74

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From page 72

Amendment, which addresses the high cost of debit card swipe fees. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is from Illinois. (That amendment is under threat as this issue goes to press.)

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA), led

by Rob Karr, also does incredible work for grocers in the state capitol.

“Grocers are operating on thin margins, so our job before the legislature and the state government is to do everything we can to make sure the government doesn’t further erode those margins,” Karr told us. “In fact, we’d like to do things that would help increase those margins.”

association debuted a new logo and an updated website.

“Information is one of the greatest resources we provide to members,” Hurd told us. “IGIA staff is committed to staying on top of the latest industry Michelle Hurd trends and news, and communicating this information to members in a timely and convenient format.”

Hurd also talked to us in 2013 about connecting with customers on a personal level and how grocers were using new technologies to make that happen.

Joe Lackey, Indiana Grocery and Convenience Store Association Indiana Grocery and Convenience Store Association President Joe Lackey often talks to us about laws regulating cold beer sales. Indiana consumers can buy warm beer in grocery and convenience stores, but not cold. To get a cold one, you have to go to a liquor store, but you can’t get a cold Joe Lackey soda pop inside a liquor store. You can get one in a vending machine outside. They line the front of liquor stores.

“They are focused on responding to today’s mobile consumers as no trend is peaking faster than the use of mobile devices to aid and enhance the shopping experience,” Hurd said. “Tools and users are getting more sophisticated, changing consumer expectations and the way retailers are communicating with consumers.”

“We’ve suggested to the state that we just have cold beer machines in the front of grocery stores,” Lackey told us in 2013. “They didn’t think that was very funny.”

“If there is something we’re able to do for them, whether it’s visiting legislators...or providing a particular service or product, it’s all about helping them continue to remain viable in their marketplace. With our great members and staff, along with the best wholesalers in

Michelle Hurd, Iowa Grocery Industry Association Michelle Hurd took the helm of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association (IGIA) in 2012. In her first year, the

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Jon McCormick, Retail Grocers Association of Kansas City At the Retail Grocers Association of Kansas City and the Kansas Food Dealers Association, it’s all about the members, said President and CEO Jon McCormick in 2015.

Jon McCormick

the country and a supporting cast of suppliers and brokers in the food industry, Kansas (and Missouri) are alive and well at retail.”

Linda Gobler, Michigan Grocers Association The Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) has a difficult task, politically speaking. That is because Michigan is one of a handful of states where the legislature is in session year-round. Fortunately, MGA President and CEO Linda Gobler has a good working relationship with Gov. Rick Snyder, who has been in the office Linda Gobler since 2011. He sent her a letter of congratulations when the Food Marketing Institute awarded her the Donald H. MacManus Association Executive Award in April 2013. Gov. Snyder also appointed Gobler to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission.

MGA developed a new concept in 2013, “Call Us First,” designed to let retailers know that the association has the resources to help with almost any issue or concern.

“What we found out—and I know my colleagues have experienced this a lot, too—a lot of times our members will call everybody else first, meaning they’ll call their attorney, they’ll call their legislator,” Gobler told us.

“Often, by the time they get to us, either the situation is worse or more complicated than it should have been, or they are really frustrated. So we’ve said, ‘Call us first.’

That’s why you belong.”

Jamie Pfuhl, Minnesota Grocers Association Jamie Pfuhl, president of the Minnesota Grocers AssoPlease see page 76

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From page 74

ciation, was among the first to welcome The Shelby Report’s inquiries. Without fail, she will bring the conversation around to hardworking Minnesotans.

Here’s a quote from 2012: “Folks in the state are just pushing up their shirtsleeves and getting in and getting ready to keep serving the communities.”

Jamie Pfuhl

Pfuhl and her counterparts agree that it can be frustrating to get the word out about the wealth of opportunities in the grocery industry. She encourages grocers to tout what they offer regarding “Consumers, Careers & Communities,” words that are prominently displayed on the MGA website.

Pfuhl told us that when she first started her job people asked why on earth grocers need a lobbyist.

“You start walking them through and every issue somehow plays back into that, into how we sell groceries,” Pfuhl told us. “People take the grocer for granted in their communities. You come in. You buy groceries. You go home. You don’t really think about all the areas that are affected and that go into getting those groceries into that store.”

Dan Shaul, Missouri Grocers Association Dan Shaul, executive director of the Missouri Grocers Association (MGA), also has another title these days: Missouri State Rep. Dan Shaul serving the 113th District.

Few lawmakers have so much success with any bill, let alone their very first one. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry praised his efforts and named Shaul the 2015 Legislative Freshman of the Year.

Shaul told us in 2016 that MGA members’ political engagement had increased; the association had one of its best-ever Grocers Days at the Capitol with near-record attendance.

“But the interesting thing was the level of engagement between the legislators and the members. It was just awesome to watch the conversations and the relationships continue to build. The relationships are the only thing that makes things go up there in Jefferson City.”

Kathy Siefken, Nebraska Grocery Industry Association Nebraska has only 49 senators in its unicameral legislature. Half are up for re-election every other year. Association president Kathy Siefken said that’s a lot of new senators to educate.

Kathy Siefken

“Because they just can’t know everything about everything. They’ll get to a

point where they will come to rely on those people that bring them the facts and information they need to make an educated decision when they vote,” Siefken said.

“That’s the way I view my job. When I lobby it is my job to bring them accurate, factual information so that when they vote, they are voting based on fact and not emotion.

We get a lot of that emotional stuff. And that’s hard.”

John “Jiggs” Dyste, North Dakota Grocers Association Tom Woodmansee retired last year after 31 years at the helm of the North Dakota Grocers Association (NDGA).

He was presented with the National Grocers Association Leadership Award for his dedication and commitment to the independent supermarket industry.

John “Jiggs” Dyste, who now heads the NDGA, certainly has the credentials, being a fourth-generation grocer and having served on the NDGA board Jiggs Dyste for more than 15 years. His family’s business dated back to 1885, before North Dakota was even a state. He talks about North Dakota as if it were one large community.

“There’s only 600-and-some-thousands of us, so we know people from all over,” he told us. “I think I have a feeling for where they’re at for the most part.”

Kristin Mullins, Ohio Grocers Association Before being named president and CEO of the Ohio Grocers Association (OGA) in January 2016, Kristin Mullins had served the organization for 26 years in nearly every capacity—membership, marketing, operations, fundraising and more. For the 10 years prior to her taking Please see page 78

Co 50 on ngr Ye Ce atu ar le la s o br tio f S ati ns er ng vi ce !

In 2016, Shaul was awarded the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Donald H. MacManus Award. In presenting the award, which recognizes public affairs, community and industry commitment, FMI President and CEO Les-

lie Sarasin praised Shaul’s legislative victories, particularly HB 722, which gives the state alone the power to ban or place fines or fees on plastic bags.

It was later amended in the state senate to prohibit local governments from increasing the minimum wage above Dan Shaul that of the state as well. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, vetoed the bill, but it was overridden in the Republican-majority house and became law in 2015.

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From page 76

the helm, she was EVP and COO. A daughter of the industry—her father worked for A&P—she believes in the strength of independent grocers.

“They’re the ones who know every customer’s name as they walk through the door. They’re the ones that are still taking groceries to the car, ordering that special item for Mrs. Jones. As long as you do that, independents certainKristin Mullins ly have a place in Ohio. And Ohio is still traditionally very strong independently. I think we’ll work toward keeping it that way. “ In case you haven’t seen it, her weekly “Keeping Up With Kristin” video that arrives via email every Friday sets a new standard for communicating with association members.

Shawn Lyons, South Dakota Retailers Association In some states, the association that serves grocers also serves other retailers. Such is the case in South Dakota, where the award-winning Shawn Lyons is at the helm.

He refers to it as a “hybrid” organization.

“We have such a wide swath of members, from grocery to hardware stores to restaurants to you name it.

And I think in a state our size, all of those businesses coming together for one unified purpose and having a unified voice before the legislature, it’s worked very well for us since 1897 and our origin,” he told us in 2016.

Shawn Lyons

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Lyons received the J. Thomas Weyant

Award from the National Retail Federation last year. In a video that played during the award ceremony, South Dakota Senate Majority Leader Corey Brown said, “I wouldn’t call this his job—it’s more like his passion. Shawn is always one of the first trying to organize groups to lobby on behalf of the business community.”

As he accepted the award, Lyons said, “When it comes to the economy, everything starts with retail. I’m lucky to tell the message of retail.”

Brandon Scholz, Wisconsin Grocers Association Brandon Scholz is one of those guys who never meets a stranger. The president and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) treated our Shelby staff as if we belonged from day one. He could (and probably should) write the book on how to run a successful trade association.

Look for Midwest editor Terrie Ellerbee’s column to return soon.

Each year he gleefully talks to us about going out to stores to surprise the winners of WGA’s coveted Grocer of the Year, Excellence in Operations, Community Service and Vendor of the Year awards. Often the winners’ families are made aware of the honor before Scholz’s visit, and the presentation becomes a party.

thing because sometimes people in my job can’t get out as much as they’d like to,” Scholz told us. “That’s the best part of my job.”

We truly appreciate the work the industry associations do for independent grocers, and we will be forever grateful for what they have done for The Shelby Report of the Midwest.

“We’ve had a lot of road time and face time out amongst our membership, which is a great Brandon Scholz

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80 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

WAFC Continues to Increase Awareness, Utilization of RMC Since the year 2000, the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has been dedicated to increasing awareness and utilization of the Community College Retail Management Certificate (RMC) program. Today, there are more than 1,600 RMC graduates across the nation.

The RMC is an accredited academic eight-course program developed by industry and community college leaders to provide the retail workforce with the knowledge, skills, abilities and confidence that empower them to become successful leaders in retail and service-oriented companies. All facets of the industry can benefit from the curriculum. Students earn college credits toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree as well as the industry certificate.

The RMC program was developed under the direction of the WAFC, whose primary mission is “advancing the Food Industry through Education and Leadership.” With the generous support of scholarship donors, the WAFC has provided more than $26 million dollars in funding to benefit thousands of food industry employees who participate in WAFC-endorsed accredited education programs.

“The Shelby Report is a tremendous communication tool, and we are extremely grateful to have access to such a vast readership to build greater awareness for the Retail Management Certificate (RMC) program.”

—Cherie Phipps, Director, Retail Management Certificate Program, WAFC

National endorsement for the RMC

In recent years, the WAFC has forged a strong partnership with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) to help take this program to a national scale. Other dedicated advocates include state associations who have established tuition support programs specifically for the RMC, including the California Grocers Association, Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, the Washington Food Industry Association and the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association.

The program also is fully endorsed and recommended by the National Grocers Association.

The RMC’s most recent supporter is the League for Innovation in the Community College.

The League was awarded a $2.9 million grant to build on the success of the WAFC’s RMC. The “Brighter Futures 3.0” grant project adds several new approved community colleges across the nation, which will partner with retail employers that are committed to the RMC as a credential for the advancement of their existing workforce. It is anticipated that nearly 1,000 incumbent retail workers will receive scholarships to participate in the program.

For more information about how your workforce can get started, go to RetailManagementCertificate.com.

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Then & Now While today’s technology is certainly new, there are trends, challenges, issues, etc., that have been part of the grocery industry since The Shelby Report’s inception.

Here are some stories that show this to be true...

Sustainability has been on the industry’s radar for many years—this article appeared in 1990—but has grown into a major industry topic in 2017.

In 1985, the number of women working outside the home was growing.

Today, more women than ever before hold top roles at food manufacturing and retailing companies. But many would agree that there is room for more.

Since this article was published in 1991, category management has continued to be a major topic in the industry, with technology playing a major role in 2017.

Ralph Ketner of Food Lion (the stores were still called Food Town in 1976) was promoting the idea of Eating Out–at Home in this letter to the editor.

Alternate channels for grocery purchases were on the rise in 2006; those have only “mushroomed” since.

In 1995, supercenters were a topic at FMI Midwinter. They continue to be in the news today.

Hispanic consumers were on the rise in 1993; that continues today.

Founder Gary Shelby weighed in on one-stop shopping more than 30 years ago.

In 1976 and now, “The Consumer Is The Boss!,” as this sign at E. Kahn’s Sons Co. says.

Supermarket foodservice was a frequent story topic in 1995. Today, The Shelby Report devotes pages each month to Foodservice@Retail.

We were writing about grocery home delivery 26 years ago, too.

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James Love of Carolina Brokers Inc. in Charlotte spoke about the competition between grocery stores and restaurants in this 1977 column.

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84 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

I have had the privilege of being with Shelby Publishing Co. for 25-and-a-half years. I have seen so many changes not only with Shelby, but the food industry as a whole. Mergers, buyouts, trends—all have reshaped the industry throughout the years.

Gary Shelby hired me in 1991 and gave me a wonderful opportunity to expand my business and personal worlds. He saw the potential I had and helped me along the way.

After his passing, the Mitchells, Dathan and Althaleen, bought Shelby and have invested so much to take us to another level, going national with the five publications we have today and the many upgrades to the publications.

I also want to take a moment to praise our wonderful editorial department. Without their up-to-date reporting, we would not be the No. 1 must-read for the food industry.

Gary Shelby’s son Danny was assistant circulation manager at the company in the 1990s; here, he is with then-Circulation Manager Geri Reynolds. Sadly, Danny has since passed away.

In addition, our production and design department is second to none, and our office support is never-ending.

Gary always said he wanted me to retire with him and although he is not here, I do intend to do just that.

Thanks to all of you—our readers and advertisers who keep us out in front.

Best regards, Penny Smith National Foodservice@Retail Director

The company’s Christmas party in 2002 was held in the great outdoors at Gary Shelby’s farm. From left: Mindy McBain, staff writer, along with Penny Smith, Ileen Bloch and Stormie Ellwanger from the ad sales team.

Thank you Shelby Publishing for 50 years of service to the Food Industry! We look forward to many more! lebrating Ce

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Joye and Penny, Christmas 2016.

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Demo Sales demosales.net

Joye at the 2008 NACS Show.

My, how time flies when you are having fun. I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. And they have been good ones. So many changes in the industry and here at Shelby. When I started, we had Southeast and Southwest Shelby Reports plus Sunbelt Foodservice; now we are national, with Southeast, Southwest, West, Midwest and Northeast (through The Griffin Report).

It has been such a pleasure working here with our owners and great staff in editorial, production, sales and circulation.

So many memories come from conventions, like FMI, back in the days of the celebrities at the show; the NACS Shows are still just growing and growing.

I want to let everyone know what an honor it has been—all the wonderful people I’ve met, the friends I’ve made, the places I’ve been.

�emo Sales � The Southeast’s Leader in Retail Engagement �n�Store �emos – E�ent �ar�eting

Thank you all for 25 wonderful years.

CINDY GRIFFIN | cindy@demosales.net | 863.937.0518 JERRI HARDY-LOWE | jerri@demosales.net | 863.937.0503 Demo Sales_50th_NA062017.indd 1 page_84.indd 84

The Shelby Reports truly have been of service, always getting much-needed information to the people in the food industry.

The changes in the supermarkets are unreal. It is a different world now. And we’ll keep changing, too.

Joye Jones Retail Manager

4/26/17 10:13 AM 5/10/17 4:20 PM

JUNE 2017 • The Shelby Report 85

Our EVP Stephanie Reid joined Shelby Publishing Co. more than three years ago, in February 2014, as EVP. Steph, as we call her around the office, came to us from a competing publication, where she received a number of honors for her ad sales prowess. She is known for her collaborative spirit and her foresight in helping Shelby make strides in the digital advertising space.

In terms of collaboration, she has spearheaded relationships with national associations like the National Grocers Association (NGA) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) to sponsor industry research with companies like Nielsen. Steph also serves on the board of the Women Grocers of America (WGA), which is affiliated with NGA. In the digital arena, Steph was instrumental in helping bring aboard Dannielle Kent, with whom she had worked at the competing pub, to get Shelby squarely into the digital age with advertising and analytics and all the things needed to excel there.

Sherwood Foods’ Mike Coggins, left, is incoming chairman of the Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA). Here, he and wife Cindy are with Kristen Cloud, Shelby web editor, and Stephanie.

Stephanie (front row, in white) is a member of the board of the Women Grocers of America, which serves as the National Grocers Association’s career development network for active women professionals as well as students interested in pursuing independent retail grocery careers.

Steph had joined Supermarket News in 2001, following nearly three years with Grocery Headquarters. She had worked with another food industry trade publication, Food People, in Atlanta, before that, from 1994-98. Prior to getting into the food publication business (after she graduated from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia) she worked in the glamorous world of environmental services.

But one trip to the NGA Show in 1994, and she knew she had found the industry that she loved.

In fact, she calls herself a “grocery geek,” telling how awed she is when meeting people like Dr. Tom Haggai of IGA fame.

Today, Steph is on Stephanie with Kathy Kuzava, president of the Georgia the road a lot, traveling Food Industry Association, and Karen Edenfield of to shows and to visit Wayfield Foods at a GFIA event. retailers, manufacturers, brokers, etc., mostly in the Southeast region.

With Peter Larkin, president and CEO of NGA.

With Scotty Mayfield of ice cream fame at the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association convention in 2016.

She knows a lot of people in the industry already, but the great thing is that she always wants to know more. We’re glad she’s on our team now.

Congratulations on 50 years! from your friends at Manning the Shelby Report booth at FMI Connect 2015.

Stephanie—along with Shelby Web Editor Kristen Cloud—flank Paula Deen, who made an appearance at an Annual Meat Conference in Atlanta a few years ago.

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86 The Shelby Report • jUNE 2017

Our VP/Group Associate Publisher Bill Dooley joined Shelby Publishing Co. in the spring of 2014, continuing his career in two fields he is passionate about—advertising and marketing. Formerly with Supermarket News, Bill has a 20-plus-year-career linked to the food retail industry. Stephanie Reid, another SN alum, championed Bill’s addition to the Shelby team. Like Steph, he had won Sales Person of the Year titles at his former company, which certainly must have played a role in his promotion to associate publisher there in 2012.

He loves the industry, as evidenced in words he penned when he joined Shelby three years ago: “I am fascinated by the ways in which our industry operates, knowing there is so much that happens behind the ‘swinging doors’ in our supermarkets. Not only does the shopping experience provide the sustenance that we need, but it provides a social atmosphere for shoppers to see those that they know as they wheel their carts down aisles with perfectly positioned products on display. I have a daughter on the Autism Spectrum (Molly), and taking her shopping is a wonderful and therapeutic experience for her growth, as she takes in the colors, noises and vibrancy of the store.”

Bill works out of The Griffin Report offices in the Boston area or out of his home on Cape Cod, but Bill is always just a phone call away for his fellow Shelby team members or his clients, which include local Northeast companies as well as national companies.

Bill, left, with Mark Mahoney of Dash’s Market, Jon Ambrose of Rosie and Allie Friedman, representing Rosie, at the 2017 NGA Show.

At FMI Connect 2016, the Shelby team flanked Steve Smith, president and CEO of K-VA-T/Food City (center), which would be The Shelby Report’s Southeast Retailer of the Year in the December 2016 edition.

From left are Shelby’s Ron Johnston, president and publisher; Bob Reeves, VP-West; Stephanie Reid, EVP; Smith; Lorrie Griffith, editorin-chief; Bill Dooley, VP/group associate publisher; and Geoff Welch, VP-Midwest.

Wishing you the all the best and continued success!

It’s a pleasure doing business with you.

Bill with his good friend and longtime colleague, Stephanie Reid, at the 2016 NGA Show.

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88 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

Today’s Shelby Publishing Co. For 40 of our 50 years, we had three publications that went out monthly to the retail and foodservice trades. Today, the strong foundation that was laid during the first four decades has led to five publications focused on the food retailing business in addition to a wide range of digital products to meet our readers wherever they are. From an industry-focused website that stays true to our roots of regional-based coverage and a half-dozen social media channels, to daily enewsletters and customized e-blasts, The Shelby Report remains “Regionwise.” but truly is “Nationwide!” when it comes to quickly delivering the latest food industry news.

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90 The Shelby Report • JUNE 2017

Ron Johnston

Stephanie Reid

Bill Dooley

Bob Reeves

Geoff Welch

Jan Meade

Lorrie Griffith

Terrie Ellerbee

The Shelby Team Joye Jones

Penny Smith

Kristen Cloud

Alissa Marchat

Eddy McIlvain

Elaine Brady

Katherine Hake

Dannielle Kent

Genie Monaghan

Elaine Blackmon

Joy Breedlove

Kevin Griffin

Mike Berger

Kristen Brissette

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SHELBY REPORT Covering Our Great Industry For 50 Years!

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4/21/17 11:27 AM 5/10/17 10:05 AM

Congratulations to Shelby Publishing on 50 years! theshelbyreport.com

theshelbyreport.com

The

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MAY 2017

Shelby Publishing Since 1967 • Region Wise. Nationwide!

To subscribe to any of our other four publications, call us at 888-498-0771 or visit theshelbyreport.com/subscribe

Investment Advisor Expects More Deals in Latino Grocer Circles editor-in-chief

Scott Moses sees a parallel between natural grocers and Latino-focused grocers, anticipating that some of the same growth that has occurred for natural grocers in recent years will increasingly take place for Latino grocers in coming Northgate Gonzalez is an example of a top-notch Latino months and years.

Moses, who is a grocer, Moses says. Its festive new store in La Habra, managing director and California, opened March 29 (more coverage in the June issue the head of food retail and at theshelbyreport.com). and restaurants investment banking Vallarta Supermarkets in 2010. for Peter J. Solomon Co. in New York KKR’s investment in Cardenas City, has formed that theory based on Markets (operating 30 stores in Southern his work with both groups of retail- California and Las Vegas) and Mi ers. In the natural space, he advised Pueblo (operating 19 stores in Northern Sprouts Farmers Market on its merger California) sets the stage for their with Henry’s Farmers Market (which growth, the grocers indicated. was owned by Apollo Management) in Both companies said the new capital 2011; Sunflower Farmers Market on will be used for “creating new jobs and its sale to Sprouts Farmers Market in offering long and rewarding career paths 2012; and Lucky’s Market on its sale of for our executives and employees,” as a meaningful ownership stake to Kroger well as upgrades and remodels of existin 2016. On the Latino supermarket side, ing stores, which would set the stage for he advised Mi Pueblo and Victory Park expansion.

Capital on Mi Pueblo’s November 2016 An even larger private equity deal in sale to KKR (which acquired Cardenas the Latino grocery sector took place in Markets at the same time) and Pro’s April 2015, when Washington, D.C.Ranch Markets on its sale of stores to based Acon Investments purchased

Publix Super Markets plans to “reignite” its GreenWise store concept, the Lakeland, Florida-based grocer said March 31.

The first newly redesigned GreenWise will be located near Florida State University at the southwest corner of Gaines Street and Railroad Avenue in Tallahassee, and is expected to debut in late 2018.

“We are committed to being the retailer of choice for consumers who are looking for specialty, natural and organic products,” said Kevin Murphy, SVP of retail operations for Publix. “Over the past several years, we have gained valuable insights from our existing GreenWise locations.

By combining these learnings with customer feedback and market trends, we are better positioned to deliver on our vision of being the best at serving the evolving lifestyles of today’s consumer.”

Publix’s three existing GreenWise Markets are in Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton and Tampa. The stores offer the same “Publix experience” as the supermarket chain’s traditional stores but with a focus on organic ingredients and products.

GreenWise also is the name of a line of products that Publix created in 2003. The line

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IGA USA revealed its new cause marketing partner at its 2017 Global Rally in Las Vegas earlier this year.

Its new partner is Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, an organization that is summed up best by its tagline, according to President and CEO Marcia Lee Taylor: Where families e find answers.

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DOAK TO LEAVE MAINE GROCERS & FOOD PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION

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The Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association (MGFPA) is looking for a leader after its executive director, Shelley Doak, said that she would step down June 30 to move to Colorado to live near her family.

Doak has served as the association’s executive director since November 2008. The group is made up of grocers, food producers, processors, wholesalers and associated service companies.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree or advanced degree with a minimum of five years of management or business experience; lobbying experience; knowledge of Maine and an appreciation of Maine as a brand; and food industry experience in grocery, distribution, food production, marketing and regulation. Also required are leadership, business and financial management skills as well as interpersonal skills.

Applications will be accepted through March 24 and can be sent to info@mgfpa.org with “Search Committee” in the email subject line.

MGFPA President Jim Lesser said, “We’re excited about the continued growth of the MGFPA and of our members’ successes. We operate a financially sound association, provide excellence in government relations and communications and host one-of-a-kind educational events under the leadership of an engaged board of directors.”

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The organization offers support and guidance, in several forms, to families struggling with their son or daughter’s substance use.

This alliance with Partnership for Drug-Free Kids marks IGA’s first initiative under IGA Cares, the new umbrella brand for all IGA cause marketing programs.

It’s also a first for Partnership for Drug-Free Kids; IGA is its first grocery partner.

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by Mike Berger/editor-Northeast One constant at C&S Wholesale Grocers’ fall and spring trade shows is Tracy Moore. For nearly 25 years she has been a consistent, dependable force behind the rise of C&S. As SVP of non-perishable procurement, merchandising/marketing and supply chain/trade relations, she is responsible for the continued development and support of the non-perishable procurement team and for providing quality service to C&S retail customers.

She also is responsible for service level performance, inventory management, trade relations, margin performance, merchandising and marketing deliverables.

Fairway Market has named Abel Porter, a supermarket veteran who has been a consultant to the company, its CEO, succeeding Jack Murphy, who led the company for nearly three years and presided over two ownership transitions and a bankruptcy.

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Weis Markets is celebrating the opening of its new flagship store in Enola, Pennsylvania, featuring the company’s new community market design.

The 65,000-s.f. supermarket’s layout features a food court offering a selection of freshcooked meals and hand-rolled sushi made right in the store and service-focused fresh departments. The Enola location also has the company’s first in-store pub, complete with a rotating selection of draft beers and a growler station. The pub features an adjoining café stocked with 900 domestic and craft beers in addition to 500 varieties of wine. There also is an in-store ice cream parlor offering treats like a soda float or a scoop of Weis Quality ice cream.

“Our community market design has been in development for a number of years, so we are delighted to debut our new store to the Enola community,” said Weis Markets CEO Jonathan Weis. “Each new feature of this store was designed to not only provide convenience to our customers, but to also elevate the grocery shopping experience. We wanted

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“We are delighted to partner with IGA,” Taylor tells The Shelby Report. “The whole team has been so receptive to taking on our cause. We know that the drug issue isn’t always one that’s easy to talk about, so we really give them credit for embracing this cause and understanding that this is something that is causing so much pain and heartache among so many families across the nation. The Partnership has resources to help those families, and IGA is helping make that connection.

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To subscribe to any of our other four publications, call us at 888-498-0771 or visit theshelbyreport.com/subscribe

includes products that are USDA Organic; made with at least 70 percent organic ingredients; contain no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors (may contain colors from natural sources); and are raised with no antibiotics or added hormones (federal regulations prohibit the use of added hormones in GreenWise poultry and pork; all GreenWise meats are fed a 100 percent vegetarian diet).

Publix plans to share additional details related to the new GreenWise format closer to the store opening. The company says it continues to aggressively look for additional GreenWise locations across its operating areas.

Publix currently has stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee; leases also have been signed for stores in Virginia. The first two are in Bristol and Glen Allen. The Bristol store is expected to open in the fourth quarter of this year.

Maria Brous, director of media and community relations for Publix, told The Shelby Report that there is not a specific size store Publix utilizes for GreenWise; “we will customize to best meet and serve the needs of our customers.”

IGA Announces Its New Cause Marketing Partner

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Northeast

Shelby Publishing Since 1967 • Region Wise. Nationwide!

Publix Sets Its Sights on Growing GreenWise Market Format

The Kroger Co. has named Joe Grieshaber responsible for fresh and natural foods throughpresident of its Fred Meyer Stores Division. He out Kroger’s family of stores. He was promoted formerly served as to president of Dillons in 2010 and was named president of Kroger’s president of the Columbus Division in 2015.

Columbus Division in Grieshaber and his wife, Vickie, have three Ohio. grown daughters and five grandchildren.

Grieshaber succeeded De La Rosa will oversee the Columbus Division, Jeff Burt, who resigned with approximately 122 stores primarily in central, March 20 to become northwest and southeast Ohio.

SVP of grocery, fresh “Dan is a dynamic leader who combines a food and beverage passion for people with strong experience in for Target Corp. in both merchandising and store operations,” said Minneapolis.

Morganthall. “Dan’s commitment to associate Succeeding Grieshaber development and putting the customers first will Joe Grieshaber in the Columbus Division help ensure the Columbus Division’s continued is Dan De La Rosa, who has been promoted to success.” president. De La Rosa was elevated from VP De La Rosa joined Kroger as a clerk’s helper of merchandising for Fred Meyer Stores. Fred Please see page 50 Meyer, based in Portland, Oregon, operates approximately 132 stores in Alaska, FISMC’s 2017 Women in the Food Industry Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

“Joe is known throughout the retail industry as an exceptional leader who always brings out the best in his people and teams,” said Fred Morganthall, Kroger’s EVP of retail operations. “His depth of experience will help the Fred Meyer team build on their successes and continue to innovate and deliver a unique shopping experience for our customers.”

Grieshaber began his career with Kroger in 1983 as a store management trainee in Nashville, Tennessee. He has served in a variety of leadership roles with Kroger, including meat merchandiser, district Honorees are Hee-Sook Nelson, VP of Gelson’s manager and as VP of merchandising for Markets, and Valerie Jabbar, president of Ralphs the Columbus Division. In 2003, he was Grocery Co. named group VP of perishables merchanSee event photos on page 10; story begins on page 12. dising and procurement, where he was

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