EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

A&P Seeks To Reward Employees with $6.8M Incentive Plan

A&P wants to retain key employees while it operates under chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, so, pending the court’s permission, it plans to reward its 146 salaried employees with up to $6.8 million (approx $46,500 per employee). This plan is sure to make headlines, as initial public reaction will be negative. But the fact of the […]

Walmart, Target, 800 pound gorillas and traditional grocers

According to a report published by the Gerson Lehrman Group, we will see a dramatic decline in the number of traditional grocers over the next 5-10 years, in large part due to the continued market share growth of Walmart and Target. The report states that Walmart currently owns 33% of the grocery channel, and in 10 […]

Supermarket News' Top 50 Independent and Small-Chain Supermarket Operators

The Supermarket News compiled a list of the top 50 independent and small-chain supermarket operators whose volumes fall below $1 billion. Tops on the list is Fareway Stores, an Iowa chain that operates 96 stores and has sales of $950 million (2009). All but seven companies on the list work with distributors. Of those operators […]

Indian Remains Unearthed At Future Safeway Site

Contractors deal with all sorts of headaches. In this case, their headache came in the form of, well… heads. Last week, construction of a Safeway supermarket in Pleasanton, CA – home of Safeway’s corporate headquarters – was halted after a team of archaeologists uncovered a trove of American Indian remains. In fact, 19 sets of […]

Borders files for bankruptcy, will close 200 stores

The bankruptcy list continues to grow, with Borders the latest to fall. The second-biggest U.S. book chain announced it will close 200 stores immediately, with another 75 to follow if concessions aren’t won from landlords. Borders listed debt of $1.29 billion and assets of $1.28 billion as of December 25. The 200 stores closing immediately […]

Super Fresh and Pathmark closing 10 more stores

Bankrupt A&P said this morning that they plan to close 10 stores in Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware over the next couple months. Below is the list of stores to close. According to the president of the meat cutters’ union, which stands to lose 240 jobs, more closings may be on the way. Pathmark Saucon […]

Blockbuster may put itself up for sale

Grocery-anchored shopping centers are filled with Blockbuster stores, many of which are now vacant. The company’s latest move – after failing to come up with a plan to exit bankruptcy that investors can agree on – is to put itself up for sale. The following Wall Street Journal story has the details: Blockbuster Heads Towards […]

Whole Foods to Open 5 'Wellness Clubs'

Whole Foods plans to open “wellness clubs” at five stores this year, including one in Princeton, to help educate consumers about healthier lifestyles. Whole Foods to Open 5 ‘Wellness Clubs’

Whole Foods Identical Store Sales Up 9.1%

These are good times for Whole Foods… Whole Foods ID Sales Up 9.1%

Top grocery retailers from a different perspective

Below is an interesting story published on Seeking Alpha, a web site that bills itself as “the premier website for actionable stock market opinion and analysis, and vibrant, intelligent finance discussion.” The author, Rich Shea from Shea Marketing, comes up with his top grocery retailers based on current consumer shopping trends, margins, future growth and stock […]