Whole Foods CEO finds Amazon culture “challenging”
A Forbes story last month reported that Whole Foods CEO John Mackey is struggling with the Amazon culture, describing it as “challenging” in a recent speech. Mackey announced that he has scheduled a retreat to help him and other top Whole Foods executives better align with Amazon’s “higher purpose.” In a short period of time, […]
Whole Foods data breach hits Greater Philly area stores
It was reported about a month ago that Whole Foods had experienced a data breach where some customer credit and debit card info was hacked (Whole Foods announces credit and debit card hack). Shortly thereafter it was revealed that some stores in the Greater Philadelphia area were included in the breach. The cyber attack, which […]
Lidl opening first New Jersey store next week
Lidl’s first New Jersey store is slated to open in Vineland next Thursday, November 16. The German retailer has stores in 28 countries, and currently has 41 stores in five U.S. states. Several stores are slated for Pennsylvania, but none are expected to open this year.
Moody’s downgrades The Fresh Market
A Supermarket News story last month reported that The Fresh Market’s effort to increase store traffic through investments in price have not been successful, and same-store sales are expected to decline for the rest of the year. Supermarket News cited Moody’s Investor Service as the information source. Moody’s recently categorized The Fresh Market’s corporate family […]
Mixed reviews for Lidl so far
A recent story on fooddive.com reported that shoppers are giving Lidl’s new U.S. stores mixed reviews. The German grocer currently has 41 stores open in five states, with plans to establish at least 100 stores from New Jersey to Georgia by next summer (although multiple sources have reported delays in store openings due to slow sales). According to the […]
Vince ‘Jim’ Genuardi, supermarket pioneer, dead at 88
Vincent “Jim” Genuardi, who along with his brothers built the Genuardi’s Family Markets supermarket chain, died earlier this month. He was 88 years old. At its height, the Genuardi’s chain had 33 stores and 7,000 employees in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Genuardi’s daughter, Lisa Genuardi Wilson, said her father “was part of the committee […]
Walmart adding same-day and in-home delivery to select markets
Walmart announced last week that it acquired Parcel, a technology-enhanced delivery company with experience in same-day perishable delivery. The company plans to use Parcel to help fulfill orders through Jet and Walmart in New York City. Parcel uses routing algorithms, a fleet of vehicles and trained employees to sort, load and deliver packages to customers. […]
Target expanding “Restock” delivery service
Target announced last month that it plans to expand Target Restock, its next-day delivery service, to eight new markets, including Philadelphia. Target Restock allows customers to fill a shopping cart-sized box with household items and have it delivered the next day for $4.99. Over 15,000 household items, including baby products and cleaning supplies, are eligible […]
Kroger – Ahold merger rumors have started
Last week the Cincinnati Business Courier reported that an analyst report out of Europe speculated that Kroger was pursuing a merger with Ahold Delhaize (Giant, Food Lion, Stop & Shop, Peapod, among others). On Wednesday of last week, Supermarket News reported that it was not able to verify the substance of the claim. Analysts have talked […]
Whole Foods price reductions hit competitors hard
Thasos Group, a New York-based research firm, issued a report based on mobile phone location data that showed that Amazon’s lower prices at Whole Foods contributed to a 17 percent rise in foot traffic for Whole Foods stores the week of August 28, and that traffic remained modestly higher by mid-September. Amazon officially merged with […]