Instacart and Whole Foods to end partnership
Instacart said earlier this month that it will “wind down” its nearly five-year old partnership with Whole Foods. Instacart plans to lay off 243 of its 1,415 Whole Foods personal shoppers. However, the company said it expects to place more than 75% of its affected personal shoppers in similar jobs at other retailers in their […]
Grocery Outlet to open 40 new stores in 2019
Grocery Outlet, the California-based discount food retailer, has quietly ramped up its growth as competitors like Aldi and Lidl are making much more industry noise. Earlier this year the company opened its 300th store, and 40 new stores are expected for 2019. Grocery Outlet, which purchased Amelia’s stores in Greater Philadelphia a few years ago, […]
Lidl opening first store in Pennsylvania
Lidl announced that its first Pennsylvania store will open next week in Folsom. The company, which operates about 10,000 stores in 29 countries, has 59 operating U.S. stores throughout New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Lidl announced earlier this month that it plans to purchase 27 Best Supermarkets, mostly in […]
Costco and Target are primed for growth, experts say
According to participants in Supermarket News‘ 23rd annual Financial Analysts’ Roundtable, warehouse clubs, specifically Costco, may be primed for a growth surge. Wolfe Research Managing Director Scott Mushkin said that Costco’s broad mix of offerings make it a big draw. “Costco, over time, has created more and more reasons to pay for that membership,” Mushkin […]
Study reveals that Whole Foods’ prices have not improved under Amazon
A study conducted by Senior Analyst Chuck Grom from Gordon Haskett in New York found that prices at Whole Foods haven’t changed much in the year since it was purchased, despite Amazon’s promise of lower prices. As published in a September story by Forbes.com, in seven pricing studies of a basket of 108 items over […]
Whole Foods to finally open in Newtown Square, PA
Long after the Whole Foods building was constructed at Ellis Preserve in Newtown Square, PA, it was announced that the store would open in January. Steve Spaeder, from Ellis Preserve developer Equus Capital Partners, said Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods delayed the opening by a year and a half.
Lidl to acquire 27 Best Market stores in New York and New Jersey
Lidl announced today that it plans to purchase 27 Best Market supermarkets in New York and New Jersey for an undisclosed amount. Twenty four of the Best Market stores are located in Long Island. The deal is expected to close early next year, and all of the acquired stores will be converted to the Lidl […]
Walmart adds online delivery service in select Philly markets
According to a company news release, Walmart began online grocery delivery service late last month to Philadelphia and select suburbs, including King of Prussia, Warminster, Kennett Square, West Berlin and Cinnaminson. Customers in these areas can shop for items on Walmart’s website and choose a delivery time, including same-day delivery for an added fee. Walmart […]
Business is booming at first Amazon Go stores
Initial reports about the Amazon Go store concept have been positive, and sales appear strong. In fact, advisory firm Brick Meets Click estimated that sales per square foot at the Seattle store are about $2,700. That’s nearly $5 million in annual sales for an 1,800 square foot, cashierless store. According to Brick Meets Click, “Amazon […]
Lidl willing to lease sites, build smaller stores
Following an initial growth period that fell short of expectations, Lidl once again has a full head of steam as it searches for sites in Greater Philadelphia and beyond. When the German retailer began looking for sites a few years ago, it would only purchase property that could accommodate its 36,000 square foot freestanding prototype. […]