EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

Costco sales exceed $100 billion

Costco announced earlier this month that sales for the fiscal year ended September 1 were $102.9 billion, a 6% increase over the previous year and the first time sales ever reached $100 billion. Costco also reported that fresh foods had positive comp-store sales “in the high single digit range” for the month of August, with […]

Tesco paying Yucaipa to take on its Fresh & Easy grocery stores

Nearly three years ago I posted a story titled, “Who is Tesco and why should we care?” I pointed out that the world’s third largest retailer and dominant grocer in England had 168 Fresh & Easy grocery stores on the west coast of the United States, and had the capital to make itself a supermarket […]

Dollar Tree continues to add coolers, ramp up competition with food stores

Dollar Tree said last month that it would add coolers for frozen and refrigerated foods to 550 stores this year, which is more than it has ever added in one year. Coolers were added to 215 stores in the company’s second fiscal quarter, and it now has coolers in nearly 3,000 of its 4,842 locations. […]

Weis opens fourth New Jersey store

Last Monday Weis opened its fourth New Jersey store, this one on Route 206 in Hillsborough. The store is 55,200 square feet and features the usual departments plus an in-store pizza kitchen and online shopping. The company expects that the store will receive the EPA’s GreenChill Gold-Level Certification. That’s great for the environment, and if […]

Another New Jersey Pathmark to close

Supermarket News reported last week that the Pathmark store in Howell, NJ will close in October. According to union sources, the employees were notified the previous week. Parent company A&P announced in July that Pathmark stores would close in Cherry Hill, Camden and Edgewater.  A&P, which also includes Super Fresh, Waldbaum’s, The Food Emporium and Food […]

Fresh Grocer to join Wakefern, rebrand Drexel Hill store as ShopRite

The Fresh Grocer, an independent grocery chain with eight stores (six in PA), announced yesterday that it was joining the Wakefern cooperative and that its Drexel Hill, PA store would switch to the ShopRite banner. The seven other stores plan to retain the Fresh Grocer name. The Fresh Grocer, currently owned by Pat Burns and […]

Study reveals Trader Joe's as consumer's favorite grocery chain

As the result of a study of 6,600 consumers released last week by Market Force Information, Trader Joe’s was named North America’s favorite grocery store based on customer satisfaction. Publix and Whole Foods were second and third, respectively. All three chains received high marks for courteous staff, inviting atmosphere and high-quality produce. As far as […]

A&P hires Credit Suisse, may put itself up for sale

According to multiple reports, A&P, formally known as the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, has hired Credit Suisse to help review strategic alternatives that may include selling the company. A&P brands include Pathmark, which recently announced the closing of three stores in New Jersey, as well as Superfresh, Waldbaum’s, The Food Emporium and Food […]

Save-A-Lot sales down 1.6 percent in first quarter

Supervalu announced its earnings for the quarter that ended on June 15, and although the company posted a loss from continuing operations and sales declined as compared to the same quarter in 2012, their net income doubled. Shortly after the earnings were released, Supervalu’s stock jumped nine percent to hit a 52-week high. As for […]

ShopRite opens Lawnside, NJ store

ShopRite opened in Lawnside, NJ last weekend at the site of a former Pathmark. The 56,000 square foot store had been vacant for 15 months. The new supermarket is the second store owned by David and Renee Zallie. According to a number of reports, area residents expressed their excitement Sunday about having a grocery store […]