“Share your gifts with the world,” González said. “When you reach the top, remember to be humble and give back to the generations that gave to you and will come after you. Be a student of life because there is always something to learn…sí se puede.”

González received the first Presidential Distinction Award from the university’s president, Devorah Lieberman.

Walking across the stage to receive his doctorate in organizational leadership was Lupillo Ramirez, senior director of innovation and product development at Northgate Market. As a member of the grocer’s executive team, Ramirez plays a role in analyzing and identifying some of the nation’s Latino food trends.

Ramirez has worked at Northgate Market for 37 years and serves as the chairman of the board of the Latino Food Industry Association, a national organization serving Latinos in the food industry. He earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Pepperdine University.

Northgate González Market is a Southern California supermarket chain that caters to the Mexican and Latino communities. Family-owned, operated and headquartered in Anaheim, California, Northgate operates 43 high-volume stores in Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

For more information, visit northgatemarkets.com.

To read more news from Northgate González Market by The Shelby Report, click here.

The post Northgate Gonzalez Market Co-President Gives Keynote Address appeared first on Shelby Report.

On June 9, the store will hold an open house and ribbon cutting from 1-6 p.m. with representatives from the mayor’s office and the EDC of Fosston. The retailer will have samples available in every department, as well as prize giveaways, 25-cent root beer floats, cake and ice cream. It will also have a beer tasting at its Bistro’s outdoor beer garden and a photo opportunity with the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

North Dakota-based Hugo’s Family Marketplace, along with Hugo’s Family Pharmacy, Bistro 300, Hugo’s Wine & Spirits and the Hugo’s Xpress Gas Station/Convenience Store, offers items for every customer. The produce, meat, deli and bakery departments offer a wide selection of fresh product.

During the three-week grand opening celebration, customers can register in the Fosston store for a chance to win a Samsung Smart TV or a Pit Boss Smoker with an “Ultimate Meat Bundle.”

All customers can register at any Hugo’s Family Marketplace for a chance to win more prizes. Hugo’s Wine & Spirits and Hugo’s Xpress will also be giving away additional prizes. There will be samples in every department, with all Hugo’s Family Marketplace locations joining in the celebration.  

“We are beyond excited to join the Fosston community,” said Kristi Magnuson Nelson, Hugo’s president and CEO.

“The store, our associates, the community and everyone we have met are outstanding. We welcome everyone to check us out and look forward to making new friends as we continue to serve the Fosston community for many years to come.”

For more information about the store and the services it offers, visit gohugos.com/fosston.

To read more independent store news from The Shelby Report, click here.

The post Hugo’s Family Marketplace Holds Store Opening In Fosston, MN appeared first on Shelby Report.

Throughout tournament week on June 15-18, Meijer will collaborate with local, diverse-owned food and beverage restaurants and vendors to supply experiences for spectators.

“Our purpose at Meijer is to enrich lives in the communities we serve, and we believe supplier diversity plays a vital role,” said Carla Hendon, director of supplier diversity and indirect procurement.

“By partnering with diverse restaurants at the Meijer LPGA Classic, we aren’t just supporting their founders, we’re intentionally helping to grow their communities with the thousands of spectators who attend the tournament.”

Food and beverage offerings will include Tuscan Mediterranean salad, jerk chicken puffs and specialty items from Soldadera Coffee, Rani Indian Catering and Pochi’s Sweet Designs. Restaurants new to J. Brewer’s in 2023 include Irie Kitchen, Monsoon and Tacos El Cunado. For a full list of restaurant partners, click here.

In addition to the diverse food and beverage offerings, the Meijer LPGA Classic is excited to welcome the John Shippen National Women’s Golf Invitational champion as a sponsor exemption into the 2023 tournament. That event will also be held at Blythefield Country Club on June 6-7 and is named for the first Black professional golfer in the U.S.

“We’re excited to welcome back so many diverse-owned restaurants to this year’s tournament – and invite new ones – to partner with us to share their wonderful menus and expand upon the traditional offerings typically seen at golf events,” said Cathy Cooper, executive director.

The 2023 Meijer LPGA Classic will host a field of 144 of the best female golfers for 72 holes of stroke play over four days of competition. Proceeds from the tournament – and each of the week’s festivities – will benefit the Meijer Simply Give program that feeds families by restocking the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest.

The 2022 tournament raised $1.25 million for local food pantries. In total, the eight tournaments combined have generated more than $8.65 million for the hunger relief program. Additionally, Meijer also donated $25,000 to a hunger relief organization of tournament champion Jennifer Kupcho’s choice. She selected Grand Rapids-based Kids’ Food Basket as a thank you to her host family, who had ties to the organization.

For more information on the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give or to purchase tickets, visit meijerLPGAclassic.com.

The post Meijer LPGA Classic Partners With Diverse-Owned Businesses appeared first on Shelby Report.

Work to clear the site will begin this month and a groundbreaking ceremony will take place in early 2024.

“Communities depend on a local grocer to offer high quality products and unmatched service. Fareway values the communities and people it serves, and we look forward to building a new Fareway store in Story City,” said CEO Reynolds W. Cramer. “We want to thank city officials and economic development for helping make this project possible.”

Fareway provides customers with full-service butcher counters, as well as a large grocery selection with farm-fresh produce, healthy varieties, locally-sourced items and a variety of craft beers, fine wines and spirits.

The location will have FastLanes, a self-service checkout option, and online ordering with curbside pickup available at shop.fareway.com.

“This is a significant win for Story City. There was a lot of hard work and dedication from the Story Economic Development Corporation over the past two years to get us here today,” said Story Economic Development Corporation President Tyler Frederiksen.

“This happened while working with amazing partners, which include the Story City Mayor and Council and the Ames EDC. We look forward to having Fareway be part of the Story City community and continuing the mission of Story City, the best place to live, work, and do business.”

Fareway Stores Inc. operates 135 stores in a seven-state region. The stores are known for its meat departments, farm-fresh produce and curbside delivery customer service. Fareway is a family-owned business, recognized as a top 10 employer in Iowa and has more than 12,000 employees.

For more independent store news by The Shelby Report, click here.

The post Fareway Shares Plans To Build Store In Story City, IA appeared first on Shelby Report.

The new location expands CTown Supermarkets’ store count within New York City neighborhoods, where the brand was established in 1975. Founded as “true neighborhood supermarkets,” all CTown locations are independently-owned and -operated, giving each the freedom and flexibility to customize the shopping experience for their local communities.

“I am extremely excited and proud to be opening my first CTown store here in Manhattan,” said John Sanchez, store owner. “My goal is to provide the community with affordable food and be their go-to supermarket.”

Customers will find a selection of meats, grocery, produce, dairy, frozen, deli and organic and natural products at this location.

“We’re very proud of this new CTown store and proud of John and his team. We are happy to support them on this journey,” said Dennis Wallin, EVP of new business development at Alpha 1 Marketing, the in-house marketing agency that supports the CTown brand. “We are excited to see the success of this store and the reaction of the of Spanish Harlem community.”  

Krasdale Foods is a 115-year-old family-owned business providing grocery distribution, merchandising and marketing services to independent grocery store owners, helping to build and sustain multiple generations of successful enterprises.

With its base of operations in New York, Krasdale has grown throughout the Northeast and Florida with supermarket and grocery store banners that include CTown, Bravo, Aim, Market Fresh, Shop Smart Food Markets and Stop 1 Food Mart.

Created in 1993, Alpha 1 Marketing, an affiliate of Krasdale Foods, is a full-service marketing, merchandising and retail technology solutions company. Alpha 1 provides best-in-class services to independent grocery store owners in the New York Metro and Florida markets.

As owners of the CTown, Bravo and AIM banners, Alpha1’s programs enhance brand image, increase market penetration and assist independent store owners with the tools needed for success in all areas of store operations and consumer engagement.

The post CTown Supermarkets Opens New Location In Manhattan, NY appeared first on Shelby Report.

OrderInsite’s automated technology will help the grocer implement an action plan at a corporate level so pharmacies in the impacted regions can focus on customers. It’s important for pharmacies to have the necessary medications available in advance of customers starting their hurricane preparations.

This technology provides predictive analytics, quick adjustments for re-ordering and drug forecasting so Publix knows which prescription medications to fast-track to which stores. It also allows Publix to update the action plan in real time if a storm changes its path.

“We are happy to support Publix and provide a customized solution that allows its pharmacists to prepare ahead of a natural disaster like a hurricane,” said George Lazenby, CEO of OrderInsite.

“It’s important that Publix customers have access to their medications when they need them and it’s rewarding to be a part of their overall plan so communities are better prepared for the unknown.”

Publix operates more than 1,200 pharmacies across seven states in the Southeast that are impacted during hurricane season.

“We are always striving to provide the best quality service to our customers and that means being prepared for extreme weather events like a hurricane,” said Dain Rusk, Publix VP of pharmacy.

“OrderInsite’s expertise and support help our pharmacies be well-equipped to navigate these unpredicted challenges. Their advanced systems allow us to make informed decisions quickly prioritizing the necessary prescription drugs that our customers need.”

For more information, visit GetOrderInsite.com or publix.com/pharmacy.

The post Publix Pharmacies, OrderInsite Solutions Partner For Hurricane Season appeared first on Shelby Report.

Kessler will provide leadership and expertise to operating companies through Northeast Shared Services and report to Frank Curci, CEO of Northeast Grocery Inc.

He will spearhead the development and execution of the company’s technology roadmap to align with business goals. Kessler will direct the IT functions of the companies and work with all areas of the business to identify opportunities to leverage technology to improve efficiency.

“We are thrilled that Scott is joining us as EVP and CIO. His knowledge and experience with leading both IT integrations and modernizations are unparalleled,” Curci said. “More importantly, his ability to motivate and inspire teams to achieve sustainable results makes him the perfect fit for our leadership team.”

Kessler previously served as EVP/CIO at BJ’s Wholesale Club, where he provided strategic guidance on leveraging technology to achieve desired business outcomes, including omni-channel, merchandising, demand planning, supply chain, logistics, customer loyalty, financial management and business operations. He has held similar senior level management roles at Belk, GSI Commerce and Accenture.

“I’m excited to guide the integration to completion and lead the strategic roadmap for technology solutions that enhance the way we engage with customers, optimize operations, and empower data-driven decision-making,” Kessler said.

“Our commitment to harnessing digital and AI-powered solutions will unlock new possibilities, elevate customer satisfaction, and position us to deliver exceptional value while propelling us towards a future of unparalleled success.”

Northeast Grocery Inc. is the parent company of Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Friendly Markets, which operate nearly 300 supermarkets across New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire and has more than 30,000 employees.

For additional information, visit pricechopper.com and topsmarkets.com.

The post Northeast Grocery Inc. Appoints Kessler As New CIO appeared first on Shelby Report.

“Our new location will serve as the gateway to the Norwalk Central development in the heart of the city and we want to thank city officials for their commitment to growth with Fareway,” said Reynolds W. Cramer, CEO.

“We look forward to continuing to serve area residents with a larger, updated shopping experience with improved access and aesthetics.”

Site work has begun, with anticipated construction completion in early 2024. The new, larger store will feature a modern look, with additional natural lighting and improved aesthetics, better access and parking and energy efficiencies, such as rooftop solar panels.

“Fareway has been a longstanding and valuable asset to the community of Norwalk,” said Tom Phillips, mayor.

“We are grateful for their commitment to Norwalk, the high-quality goods and services they provide, and the investment they’re making that will benefit all residents and visitors for years to come. This new Fareway store will be a great cornerstone for the entryway into Norwalk Central.”

The new location will provide customers with fresh meat, a butcher counter, farm-fresh produce, competitive prices and services, including carryout.

In addition, the new store will continue to offer FastLanes, a self-service checkout option, and curbside pick-up, available at shop.fareway.com.

“All around our city, you can see Fareway’s impact,” said Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce President Travis Stanley.

“Fareway not only provides Norwalk with groceries, but they help create a wonderful community by sponsoring events, providing space for numerous fundraisers, donating to local causes, and making you feel at home every time you enter. We are so proud to have Fareway as a long-time Chamber member, and we are excited to see their impact grow.”

Also, Fareway has partnered with the City of Norwalk and Heartland Sports Properties on multi-year, exclusive naming rights opportunities at Norwalk Central Sports Campus. The outdoor turf fields will be known as “Fareway Fields” and the indoor basketball/volleyball court at the fieldhouse will be named “Fareway Court.”

Fareway Stores Inc. is a growing Midwest grocery company, operating 135 stores in a seven-state region. Fareway is a family-owned business, recognized as a top 10 employer in Iowa and has more than 12,000 employees.

The post Fareway Breaks Ground On Store In Norwalk, IA appeared first on Shelby Report.

Since 2019, Tony the Tiger and Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes have embarked on a mission to give more kids access to the benefits of sports with the launch of Mission Tiger, an initiative to help save middle schools sports. Meijer and Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes are joining forces to bring the mission to the Michigan community by helping fund the purchase of new sports equipment at Waverly Middle School through DonorsChoose.

“At Meijer, our mission is to enrich lives in the communities we serve, and as a family company, supporting kids is so important to us,” said Calli Schmid, VP of merchandising.

“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and Mission Tiger to make a larger local impact and help children have more opportunities to take part in school sports.”

Representatives from both companies will attend a school assembly at Waverly Middle School, where students will celebrate the donation with a teacher versus student basketball game and receive Mission Tiger jerseys and goodie bags.

“Tony and Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes have always believed in the power of sport. When we learned that middle school sports are disappearing, we knew something needed to be done,” said Amy Davis, VP sales account at Kellogg Co.

“We are thrilled to announce this donation to help support local middle school sports, thanks to support from Meijer. Together, we can help all kids play like tigers.”

Since it began, Mission Tiger has helped more than 1 million kids across the country by repaving courts, refurbishing sports facilities, providing new training equipment and more. Fans can help schools in their communities by joining the mission, grabbing a box of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and uploading their receipt to MissionTiger.com to spark a $2 donation to DonorsChoose.

Mission Tiger is part of Kellogg’s Better Days Promise strategy, which aims to create better days for 3 billion people by 2030.

For more information about the companies, visit meijer.com or kelloggcompany.com.

The post Meijer, Kellogg Partner On Middle School Sports Donation appeared first on Shelby Report.

The 29,425-square-foot store offers departments for grocery, dairy, frozen food, seafood, meat and fresh produce, as well as a bakery and deli.

The reopening provided the grocer an opportunity to give back to the community. Boxed lunches were provided to residents and construction crews working to rebuild homes and infrastructure on the island. The first customers received care packages filled with nonperishable essential items, such as storage bags, plastic cutlery, napkins, plates and cups. 

“Last year’s storm still impacts many residents, and we know how important it is to provide them with these basic but important items,” said Lindsey Willis, media relations manager.

“Our customers and communities we serve are at the heart of all we do. As our community continues to rebuild, we are honored and privileged to serve our customers and welcome them back to their Publix store.”

Darryll Yarick will continue to serve as store manager. He has worked at Publix for 18 years and has been at the Fort Myers Beach location for five years. Yarick joins the majority of his stores’ employees returning to their store to continue serving the community. 

The post Publix Reopens Hurricane-Impacted Store In Fort Myers Beach, FL appeared first on Shelby Report.