EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

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, […]

ShopRite expanding to Northern New York and Maryland

As Food Trade News declared in its annual Market Study issue, ShopRite has become the dominant grocery retailer in Northern New Jersey, the Delaware Valley and Greater Philadelphia. And as the Supermarket News reported last week, ShopRite is now competing in new markets. In recent weeks the company opened its first store in the Albany, […]

New Walmart Supercenter in Springfield, PA goes head-to-head with Giant

A 112,133 square foot Walmart Supercenter opened last week in Springfield, PA’s Marple Crossroads Shopping Center. The store employs approximately 300 people and features more than 30 merchandise departments, including a full grocery section with fresh produce, meats, dairy products, a deli and bakery. According to Walmart’s website, the average wage for full-time hourly associates in Pennsylvania […]

Weis Markets on a roll as sales continue to increase

Weis Markets reported last week that third quarter sales jumped 6% to $678.6 million and same-store sales increased 6.5% compared to the same period a year ago. In addition, the company’s third quarter earnings per share increased to $0.63 (from $0.61) and net income for the period was up 4.1% to $17 million. Weis Markets […]

Safeway announces quarterly earnings, beats the street

Safeway’s (Genuardi’s) third quarter earnings of .38 cents per share beat analysts’ estimates by three cents. The company, which released its earnings last week, credited positive sales momentum and cost control measures when discussing its results. Safeway, which has stores under the Safeway, Vons and Dominick’s banners, also owns Genuardi’s here in the Greater Philadelphia […]

Gap to Close More Than 100 Stores

Gap is planning to close more than 100 stores by the end of 2013.   Business First Article Clothing retailer The Gap Inc. plans to close more than 100 more of its namesake stores in the United States by the end of 2013. The move is part of a plan to reduce the company’s total […]

Walmart calling on experts to keep their shelves stocked

Not only is Walmart suffering from declining sales, but they are also having trouble keeping their shelves stocked in an efficient manner. A Bloomberg News story last week reported that the world’s largest retailer has hired consultants to “walk the aisles and track whether hundreds of items are in stock.” A combination of more products […]