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The Shelby Report of the West • MARCH 2015
Sales & Marketing
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OPERATIONS
GMDC Announces Board Changes for 2015 The Global Market Development Center (GMDC), headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has made changes to its board of directors, including the appointment of Dewayne Rabon of Bi-Lo Holdings Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida, as new board chairman. GMDC’s board of directors comprises leaders representing retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and service companies of the general merchandise (GM) and health/beauty/wellness (HBW) industries. In addition to Rabon, GMDC’s 2015 board officers include: • Immediate Past Chairman—Bill Anderson, H-E-B • Vice Chairman—Stephen Davis, Weis Markets • Secretary/Treasurer—Timothy Buskey, AmerisourceBergen • Dave McConnell, GMDC CEO. Newly appointed directors include: • Tom Duffy of Nielsen, co-chair of the Education Leadership Council • Dave Baer of Wakefern Food Corp., co-chair of GM Advisory Board • Dave Sutton of Valu Merchandisers Co., GM Advisory Board liaison • Rick Cicero of C&S Wholesale Grocers, Member Advisory Board liaison • Cheri Taylor of Kinney Drug, HBW Advisory Board liaison • Dan Sullivan of TBM Consulting, ex-officio.
Patrick Spear, president of GMDC, says he looks forward to joining both new and returning board members for the new year. “I am thrilled to report GMDC’s board leadership enhancements with the addition of these world-class industry executives,” he said. “2015 is looking to be an exciting year for GMDC, its members and associates as we work to develop new opportunities and build upon our existing business model.” Retiring from the board of directors are Pat Kiernan of Day/ Kiernan & Associates; Mike Botterman of 99 Cents Only Stores; Dan Funk of Associated Wholesale Grocers; and Kathy Williams, formerly of Raley’s Family of Fine Stores. “More than ever, GMDC retailers are looking to the association and its leadership for product discovery opportunities and innovation at our conferences,” said Spear. “By leveraging opportunities for first-mover advantages that build higher margins, we are activating business growth in this highly competitive marketplace.” GMDC is the global trade association dedicated to serving GM and HBW retailers, wholesalers and suppliers. GMDC promotes critical connectivity to grow and expand member companies by uniting members through business-building events and opportunities, and enriching their thinking through education and training; consumer and business insights; and information resources. Visit gmdc.org for more information.
Dewayne Rabon Bi-Lo Holdings
Patrick Spear GMDC President
The Pulse of the Independent Grocer
December Sales Up 4.93% in West Contributed by Mark Ehleben FMS Solutions • marke@fmssolutions.com
In the last month of 2014, independent grocers in the West reported their same-store sales were up 4.93 percent compared to December 2013. It was the seventh straight month of positive sales for the West, dating back to June 2014. The region well outpaced the nation as a whole, which saw its sales decrease 0.4 percent in December. With the strong month to close out 2014, the West was able to overcome the pace of food-athome inflation, which has increased 3.7 percent in the past 12 months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ December consumer price index report. No other region was able to surpass the increase in food-at-home prices. Food prices increased 0.3 percent in December 2014 alone. Individual categories that showed increases were dairy (+0.6 percent), fruits/vegetables (+0.4 percent), meat/poultry/fish/eggs (+0.3 percent), other (+0.3 percent) and cereal/bakery (+0.2 percent). The lone category that decreased in price was non-alcoholic beverages, which saw its prices decline 0.4 percent in December.
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Despite a quickening pace of food-at-home prices, the overall consumer price index fell 0.4 percent in December due to the plummeting price of gasoline. Gas fell 9.1 percent in December alone and has now fallen 20.5 percent in the past 12 months. The index for all items has increased just 0.8 percent in the past 12 months. In employment news, December saw a nice increase of 252,000 jobs and a decline in the unemployment rate to 5.6 percent. Every sector of the economy saw an increase in jobs, with categories like construction and education/healthcare leading the charge with 48,000 new jobs each. October and November’s job totals were also revised upwards by 50,000. While most of this report was great to see, showing that the economy continues to steadily add jobs, the one bit of bad news was seeing that the labor force declined by 273,000 workers. Despite the blemish, December’s unemployment report was a nice way to close out 2014.
2/5/15 11:01 AM