Lidl preparing for entry into U.S. market
A Supermarket News story reported last week that German retailer Lidl is ramping up for its entry into the U.S. market by establishing new U.S. offices, advertising job openings and meeting with suppliers in Europe to determine their ability to distribute to the new stores. Although Lidl parent company Schwarz Group confirmed 2018 as the […]
Dollar General plans for aggressive expansion
Dollar General announced in March that it achieved record results and plans to accelerate its store expansion plan by opening 730 new stores in 2015 and remodeling 875 others. The company opened 700 news stores in 2014. The announcement came shortly after Dollar General’s failed attempt to acquire Family Dollar, with whom Dollar Tree reached […]
Traditional supermarkets continue to lose market share
An article in the February issue of Shopping Centers Today reported on the affect grocery discounters are having on the supermarket industry, stating that traditional supermarkets are losing market share “thanks to a rapidly advancing horde of competitors seeking to outdo them on price, convenience and quality.” The article quoted an analyst from JLL who said […]
Save-A-Lot to add 7 stores in PA, NJ
Save-A-Lot announced that it will add seven new stores in PA and NJ. Three of the stores – two in North Philly and one in the Northeast – will be in Philadelphia. Stores will also be added in Norristown and Lebanon, PA, as well as Lindenwold and Bridgeton, NJ. The stores will range in size […]
Aldi to reopen 30 of 66 Bottom Dollar stores
Aldi announced last Friday that it will reopen 30 of the 66 Bottom Dollar stores it acquired from Delhaize. Aldi purchased the stores late last year for $15 million. Here are the stores that will reopen under the Aldi banner: New Jersey: Bellmawr Bordentown Cherry Hill East Windsor Edgewater Park Glassboro Lumberton Trenton Woodbury Pennsylvania: […]
Ahold to layoff 120 employees
Ahold (Giant) announced yesterday that its restructuring plan would likely result in the elimination of 120 jobs at its support offices in Carlisle, PA and Quincy, MA. The company said the layoffs would not affect workers at its stores; rather, employees in marketing, human resources and legal would be let go.
Giant Eagle to close Good Cents stores in PA, OH
Giant Eagle said last week that it plans to close all eight of its Good Cents discount grocery stores. The decision follows Food Lion’s closure of all Bottom Dollar stores last year, which leaves Aldi and Save-A-Lot as the lone discount supermarket chains in the Western PA and Northeastern OH markets. The company cited “numerous […]
Walmart slowing down growth of Neighborhood Market’s smaller format stores
Walmart’s US CEO Greg Foran said in an earnings conference call last week that the company would open 10-15 of the small format Neighborhood Markets this year, then hold off on further investment in the concept until results can be studied. As of January 30, Walmart operated 88 of the smaller-format stores, which are typically […]
Target to test new approach to food
Target CEO Brian Cornell said on Tuesday that the company plans to transition “from grocery, which is transactional, to food, which is more personal and inspirational.” This new approach will be tested this summer in Chicago, where the plan is serving as a pilot for the chain’s new strategy. Cornell also said that customers are […]
Whole Foods reaches records sales in first quarter
Whole Foods announced last month that it had a record first quarter, with sales reaching $4.7 billion. That sales figure amounts to average weekly sales per store of $724,000, or sales per gross square foot of nearly $1,000. Co-CEO Walter Robb said the strong numbers were due to its customers’ positive response to the company’s […]