EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

New Store Announcements, November 1-15

  Bed Bath & Beyond – Clarksville, TN, 23,000 SF Bed Bath & Beyond – Roseville, MN BJ’s – Pittfield, MA, 84,000 SF Books A Million – Charleston, SC Books A Million – Sandusky, OH Books A Million – South Portland, ME Books A Million – Waterford, CT Books A Million – York, PA Buy […]

Supervalu seen by many as prime takeover target

In the last week I’ve seen the following headlines and stories: Supervalu rumored as takeover target as groceries consolidate (Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal) Grocery M&A to rise; Supervalu seen as target (Reuters) Albertsons on its last legs? (LAobserved.com) According to Thomson Reuters data, dealmaking in the grocery sector is up 34% this year […]

Costco spends $22 million to privatize liquor sales in Washington

A ballot measure that would allow grocery stores and warehouse clubs to sell liquor in Washington state beginning June 1, 2012 passed earlier this week. A bill that will allow the privatization of liquor sales in Pennsylvania has been talked about for some time, but many feel it’s unlikely such a measure will pass here […]

Supervalu trying to connect via social media

When thinking of supermarkets at the forefront of something – customer service, competitive pricing, new formats, etc. – we typically think ShopRite, Wegmans, Whole Foods, and perhaps even Walmart. But Supervalu? As it relates to social media, yes. As Supermarket News Editor-in-Chief David Orgel reported yesterday, Supervalu is proactively embracing Facebook, Twitter and even Yammer, a […]

A Round of Applause for Toys R Us

Toys R Us has done what many thought impossible; turn the company around and return it to a successful viable retailer.  Jerry Storch (CEO) and company did it in the face of a terrible economy and increasing pressures from Walmart, Target and Amazon.   The company is cutting costs, buying some of its competitors, and […]

Whole Foods, Wakefern reach sales milestones; A&P has deal to exit bankruptcy

Whole Foods Market announced earlier this week that sales for the fiscal year ending September 25 rose 12.2% compared to the previous year and passed the $10 billion mark. During the fiscal year comparable-store sales rose 8.4% and net income increased 39.4% to over $343 million. For the fourth quarter, the company’s sales rose 12.2% compared […]

Amazon launches online grocery business through Soap.com

Amazon.com announced earlier this week that it has launched an online grocery business through Quidsi, an online retailer the company purchased last year for $545 million. The website is Soap.com, which sells “everyday essentials” and currently has about 7,000 grocery products. According to Quidsi, the number of grocery products will increase to 10,000 in a […]

October 2011 New Store Announcements

BJ’s Wholesale Club – Burlington, NC Books A Million – Auburn, ME Books A Million – Bangor, ME Books A Million – Butler, PA Books a Million – Charleston, SC Books A Million – Monaca, PA Books A Million – Portland, ME Books A Million – Rapid City, SD Books A Million – Waterford, CT […]

Supervalu slows pace for new Save-A-Lot stores

In a conference call with analysts and investors last week, Supervalu CEO Craig Herkert said the company plans to revise the pace of new Save-A-Lot store openings in the near term. Rather than the 160 new stores that were previously announced for the current fiscal year, Herkert said they expect to add 80 or 90 […]

Supervalu surprise - 2nd quarter profit!

Supervalu (Acme, Save-A-Lot) announced last week that it posted a $60 million profit for its second quarter, compared to a $1.47 billion loss for the same quarter a year ago. President and CEO Craig Heckert cited game-themed promotions that were successfully tested in Philadelphia-area Acme stores as a contributor to the company’s success. Despite the profit, […]