Renewed appeal into NSW man's killing

A public appeal with a $100,000 reward has been renewed eight years after the killing of an elderly Newcastle shop owner, with police saying he may have been targeted.

Frank Newbery, 87, was found slumped behind a counter with severe head injuries at his take-away and grocery store, Frank's Ham & Beef, in Cooks Hill, Newcastle in 2007.

Mr Newbery died shortly after arriving at hospital.

Police initially believed it was a "robbery gone wrong" but addressing the media on Tuesday, Detective Inspector Peter Mahon said Mr Newbery may have been targeted.

"Frank was a prominent member of society... we are looking at it as it maybe a personal attack on Frank himself," Detective Inspector Mahon told Fairfax Media.