EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

Acme Cuts 900 Part-Time Workers

According to Acme, clerks and baggers who work about 12-16 hours per week will be the people who lose their part-time jobs. There is no doubt Acme President Dan Sanders and his staff are working hard to right the ship. Cutting workers won’t make their efforts to improve customer service any easier, but it certainly […]

Starbucks is now the No. 3 U.S. restaurant chain

MSNBC reported today that Starbucks has surpassed Burger King and Wendy’s to become the third largest restaurant chain in the U.S., based on domestic sales. McDonald’s and Subway are first and second, respectively. Full disclosure: Equity Retail Brokers represents Starbucks in the Greater Philadelphia market, but there is no direct evidence (just rumors) that this […]

Depending on who you believe, Acme or ShopRite tops the Philly market

Supermarket News published an article yesterday that provides Supervalu’s up-to-date grocery sales market share positions in 10 markets relative to a year ago. According to their numbers, Acme’s sales and market share are falling in the Philadelphia region “like peppers on an overstuffed cheesesteak.” The numbers are based on a study by Metro Market Studies, […]

A&P Seeks to Sell 25 Super Fresh Stores in MD, DE and DC

The Supermarket News story below reports that A&P will sell 25 Super Fresh stores in the next two months. The bulk of the stores (22 of the 25) are in Maryland, primarily in the Baltimore market, while two are in Washington D.C. and one is in Delaware. According to the story, A&P said Super Fresh […]

More than ever, owners should expect more from their leasing agents

A couple weeks ago I wrote an article that appeared in the “Spotlight on Retail Experts” section of the Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Journal. Here’s what I wrote:   More than ever, owners should expect more from their leasing agents   It’s nice to reminisce about the good ‘ol days when an agent could put up […]

Save-A-Lot's plans include growth and flexibility

A Supermarket News article earlier this week detailed Save-A-Lot’s widely publicized plans to double their store count to 2,400 by 2015. According to Save-A-Lot President and CEO Bill Shaner, the hard discount format is underdeveloped in the U.S., especially as compared to Europe and South America. Now is the opportunity to build market share, he […]

Retail sales and vacancy rates at odds in recent reports, but wait...

Sales: According to Thomson Reuters data on 25 major chains, retail sales in the U.S. increased 1.7% in March, despite a late Easter, high unemployment and rising gasoline prices. Analysts had expected that sales would fall 0.7%. And according to a story in The Wall Street Journal, U.S. retailers expect solid spring sales, despite gas prices, inflation […]

Mark Bittman hails food and grocery efforts in Philly

Mark Bittman blogs for The New York Times in a column called Opinionator, and a couple days ago he wrote an interesting piece on the increase in supermarkets and food options in the city of Philadelphia. In fact, he called Philly one of the most progressive cities in the country when it comes to food. […]

Bottom Dollar may be expanding to Pittsburgh

The Supermarket News article below states that Bottom Dollar may be expanding to Pittsburgh with as many as 11 stores. They are an established brand in the Philadelphia market now after opening 18 stores in the last year, although many people have commented on the lack of cars in some of their parking lots during […]

Aldi vs. Walmart, Part II

Shortly after blogging yesterday about The New York Times‘ piece on Aldi’s and Walmart’s move to urban areas, I read a brief analysis about the two retailers. A Gerson Lehrman Group expert contributor wrote that Aldi has quietly drawn the battle lines for market share against Walmart’s new small format initiative. The author believes Aldi […]