EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

Safeway's Blackhawk Launches in Tesco

From Supermarket News: Safeway’s Blackhawk Network subsidiary has launched its gift-card services in more than 600 Tesco stores in the United Kingdom, the parties said Wednesday.“It is an honor to work with one of the leading retailers in the world,” Jim Strabo, managing director of Blackhawk Network Europe, said in a statement. “Tesco is known […]

Shoppers Crowd the Malls in Christmas Countdown

The article below from the AP is another in what has been a stream of positive stories about holiday retail sales, with one industry analyst saying “it’s the first normal Christmas in three years.” Here are a few sales figures from the October 31 through December 18, 2010 time period as compared to the same period a year ago: Clothing – […]

Rite Aid Bullish on Save-A-Lot Combos

A&P Seeks to ‘Right-Size’ in Chapter 11

This story from Supermarket News provides a good summary of what’s going on with A&P right now, coupled with some interesting company history. For example: “Founded by entrepreneurs George Gilman and George Huntington Hartford in the 1850s, the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company was once the largest food retailer in the U.S., operating more […]

Proposed Rule Would Cap Debit Interchange

The banking world is understandably upset about this rule, as it will cost them billions in fees. If that’s the case, it’s a good bet they will try to make up the lost income in other areas. Will we see the end of free checking? Could ATM fees possibly go higher? And with retailers paying […]

Safeway, Food Lion and Stop & Shop may bid for A&P stores

From NJ.com: Retailers Safeway, Food Lion, Stop & Shop may bid for A&P supermarket chain after Chapter 11 filing Perhaps Food Lion and Stop & Shop make sense for certain New Jersey A&P sites (and PA sites as well for Food Lion, which is owned by the same company as Bottom Dollar), but I would think it’s a stretch […]

U.S. holiday sales may rise faster than anticipated

From Bloomberg: U.S. holiday sales may rise faster than anticipated, industry index shows

Grocer A&P files for Chapter 11 reorganization

In its filing, A&P listed about $2.5 billion in assets and $3.2 billion in liabilities. All 395 stores, including the Pathmark and Super Fresh stores in the Philadelphia area, are “fully stocked and open for business.” Grocer A&P files for Chapter 11 reorganization

Wegmans Opens In-Store Fast Casual Restaurant

First of all, this fast casual restaurant has an executive chef, who says they’ll have “great cheeseburgers, beer and wine on draft, great ice cream and frozen custard.” Sounds good to me! I was in Downingtown yesterday so I stopped in to Wegmans for lunch. I had a nice conversation with the woman who made […]

New York ICSC show had a positive vibe

The link below is an article by Larry Lichtenauer about the New York ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) event held earlier this week. There were approximately 6200 real estate professionals in attendance, including brokers, retailers, REITS, etc. The atmosphere was definitely more positive this year than last. How do I know? That’s because people […]