EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

Valu King to compete with Bottom Dollar in Pittsburgh

Giant Eagle, the Pittsburgh, PA-based supermarket, said on Monday its discount grocery brand Valu King will expand into the Pittsburgh market. According to the company’s website, Valu King has four stores in Ohio and three in Pennsylvania. The PA stores are in Johnstown and Erie (2). Bottom Dollar, a Delhaize brand that currently has 27 […]

Occupancy and rents are up at shopping centers

Good news from Reis, Inc., a research company that tracks shopping centers. In the three months ending June 30, occupied space rose by a net 2.06 million square feet, the third largest addition since the first quarter of 2008. Shopping center vacancies dropped for a second consecutive quarter. Vacancies are now at 10.8%, down from […]

Led by Whole Foods, food retailers ahead of Dow Jones pace

Supermarket News tracks the stock prices of food retailers, and they reported last Friday that Whole Foods Market was the industry leader for the first half of the year with a 37.69% gain in price. The Fresh Market, a similar store to Whole Foods in that it’s a high-end market, was next with a 34.41% […]

2012 Top 100 Retailers

Great list from Stores’ web site.  Check it out.   Stores.org Article

Supervalu cutting marketing positions

Supervalu (Acme, Save-A-Lot in Greater Philly) announced yesterday it is cutting 39 marketing positions. The company did not specify whether the employees losing their jobs are based at the Eden Prairie, MN headquarters, located elsewhere or a combination of the two. Supervalu has been in the news lately due to the speculation that it’s a […]

Family Dollar to sell more refrigerated and frozen foods

Family Dollar reported yesterday that they plan to continue to increase their assortment of food offered for sale, including a greater selection of refrigerated and frozen foods. Largely as a result of the company’s partnership with McLane Co., Family Dollar said it added 150 food SKUs in February and expects to add 250 more by […]

Keep a Watchful Eye on JCPenney

President Michael Francis, formerly of Target, left JCPenney after only eight months in the wake of the failed effort to update pricing, product offerings, and store formats. Reuters Article JCPenney President Michael Francis Steps Down After Just 8 Months JCPenney president Michael Francis is leaving the company, effective today. CEO Ron Johnson will take up his responsibilities, which included […]

Giant conversion of 15 Genuardi's stores to start this week

The 15 Genuardi’s stores sold to Giant (and approved by the Federal Trade Commission) will all be converted by the end of July. Here’s the schedule: Phase 1 – stores to close June 28 and re-open July 8 West Chester Huntingdon Valley Jamison Kennett Square North Wales Phase 2 – stores to close July 5 […]

Market Study: ShopRite, Giant tops again in Greater Philly sales

I received the highly anticipated Market Study issue of the Food Trade News last week.  As usual, there was an incredible amount of information about the supermarket industry in the PA, NJ and DE markets. The headline was that ShopRite remains a strong leader (based on total sales) in the 55-county market area that stretches […]

Bernie Kenny turning Delaware ShopRite business over to son Chris

After more than 50 years in the supermarket business and 12 years as the chief executive of Delaware Supermarkets Inc., Bernard Kenny is stepping down. His son, Chris Kenny, will become CEO while Bernard will remain active as chairman. Delaware Supermarkets currently has five stores under the ShopRite (Wakefern) brand, and has a 15% share […]