EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

Whole Foods opening in big and small towns alike

Last month Whole Foods opened a store in Brooklyn, NY (population 2.6 million) and a store in Lincoln, Nebraska (population 260,000). This strategy – opening in large metro areas as well as small ones – is no coincidence, and Whole Foods says that nearly one-third of its new stores will open in small cities like […]

"Banner Churn" of 2013 may continue into 2014

Supermarket News published an informative year-end story about the many changes that took place this year in the food retail industry. They called it a year of “banner churn.” The article starts by pointing out that the “big three” made major moves. Kroger agreed to buy Harris Teeter, Safeway sold its Canada division and announced […]

Whole Foods to open seven new NJ stores

Amidst increased competition from Trader Joe’s, Fairway and Kings Food Market, Whole Foods plans to open seven new stores in New Jersey. According to Whole Foods, stores will open in Marlboro, Morristown, Cherry Hill, Parsippany, Clark, Closter and Newark. The Texas-based company currently operates 10 stores in the state. Whole Foods plans to open more than […]

Aldi plan calls for 650 new stores in five years

Aldi, the discount grocer that operates about 1,300 stores from the East Coast to Kansas, said last week it would accelerate store growth with a goal of 650 new stores in the next five years, and nearly 2,000 stores by 2018. Aldi’s plans call for approximately 130 new stores per year, compared to its pace of […]

Yucaipa to get Tesco's Fresh & Easy Market stores

Ron Burkle received court approval recently to allow his company, Yucaipa Cos., to take over about 150 Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market stores in California, Nevada and Arizona. Tesco, one of the largest and most successful grocery retailers in the world, could not make a profit with its first U.S. venture, and will now finance […]

Peapod opens Bucks County facility

Ahold announced last week that it’s Peapod division, which offers online shopping services in support of the Giant and Stop & Shop chains in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, has opened a facility in Coopersburg (Bucks County) that will allow the company to service Doylestown, Quakertown and Coopersburg. Peapod services the city of Philadelphia and many […]

Bottom Dollar has lowest prices in Philly region, according to study

According to a story on CBS Philly, researchers from the Delaware Valley Consumers’ Checkbook visited supermarkets across the Philadelphia region to see which retailer had the lowest prices. The shoppers compared prices on 151 items, including fresh produce, fresh meat, national brand prepared foods and dairy products. And the winner is… Bottom Dollar. The discount […]

Dick's Field & Stream vs. Cabela's

Dick’s is expanding its Field & Stream concept.  Should Cabela’s be concerned? Streetinsider.com Article At a analyst day yesterday, Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) laid out its plans for its new Field & Stream (F&S) store concept. The company is calling for ~55 stores and ~$750 million in sales by FY17. While some views this as […]

Office Depot & OfficeMax Merge

The merger took place Tuesday. Palm Beach Post Article

Kosherfest panel names best new kosher products

Kosherfest, the world’s largest kosher tradeshow, was held last week in New Jersey and the best new kosher products in 16 categories were selected by a panel of judges that included buyers from a number of supermarkets. Before you get all meshuge (pronounced meh-shoo-geh for those that have never been outside their farm), here are some […]