EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

Amazon planning major online grocery expansion

Earlier this month Reuters reported that Amazon is planning a major expansion of its online grocery service. According to the report, the expanded service will start in California and then possibly expand into 20 urban markets. And according to Globe Street, a national supermarket analyst says Amazon could be targeting 40 markets. Amazon is no stranger […]

BJ's opens 200th store, still way behind Costco and Sam's Club

BJ’s Wholesale Club opened its 200th store last week in Fayetteville, NC, which prompted me to see how many stores Costco and Sam’s Club have. Here’s a quick comparison: BJ’s – 200 stores in 15 states Costco – 627 total stores; 449 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 85 in Canada and 93 in other countries Sam’s Club – about […]

Whole Foods' inner city concept opens in Detroit

Whole Foods opened a 21,000 square foot store in Detroit last week that features lower prices and a larger selection of private-label items as compared to its standard stores, and frozen and prepackaged foods designed to appeal to budget-conscious shoppers. The store opening follows classes that the company has been offering in Detroit community centers […]

Whole Foods agrees to join Costco and Target in Lower Macungie

A representative from the Goldenberg Group announced last week that Whole Foods plans to join Costco and Target at the proposed Hamilton Crossings Shopping Center in Lower Macungie (Lehigh County). The 63-acre site of the proposed center is located between Hamilton Blvd. and the Route 222 Bypass. The developers, which include the Goldenberg Group and […]

Bed Bath & Beyond Still Growing & Increasing Sales

Good brief article on Bed, Bath & Beyond and their activity since 2008.  It provides history of store openings and their educated guess on this year’s count.   BBBY reported steady growth in its Q2 fiscal 2013 results despite the difficult retail environment. The company also raised its outlook for the entire year, which is […]

Costco to add 150 stores in five years

Since I just posted a story about how supermarkets have gained market share against warehouse clubs for grocery sales in the U.S. last year, and how the growth of warehouse clubs is slower than the growth of supermarkets, it makes perfect sense for me to now post a story on Costco’s aggressive growth plans. To […]

Report says supermarkets gained share on warehouse clubs last year

A study released last week by DSR Marketing System claimed that U.S. supermarkets gained market share against warehouse clubs (i.e. Costco, BJ’s) and superstores (i.e. Walmart, Target) in 2012. The study showed that supermarkets owned a 59.3% share of grocery sales, up 0.4% from 2011. At the same time, the share of grocery sales for […]

The Fresh Market posts sales, profit gains in Q1

The Fresh Market announced last week that it rebounded from a disappointing fourth quarter by posting strong sales, comps and profits in the company’s first quarter, which ended April 28. Sales for the quarter were $366.6 million, a 12.9% increase as compared to the same quarter one year ago. Comparable-store sales improved by 3%, and […]

Bi-Lo to buy three banners from Delhaize

Bi-Lo Holding, which operates Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie supermarket chains in eight southern states, announced yesterday that it has agreed to acquire Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid’s stores from Delhaize for $265 million. Delhaize owns Food Lion and Bottom Dollar Food, among others. According to a Supermarket News report, there are 165 stores included in the transaction […]

Cerberus reportedly looking at Harris Teeter

There were a number of reports last week speculating that Cerberus Capital Management may decide to expand its grocery business by bidding on existing supermarket chains. Cerberus led an investor group earlier this year in the purchase of several Supervalu banners, including Albertsons and Acme. Much of the recent speculation has focused on Harris Teeter, […]