Walmart grocery comps rise as overall comps fall
Walmart announced yesterday that overall U.S. comparable-store sales, excluding fuel, for its fiscal first quarter were down by 1.2%. The company blames the decrease on smaller and slower-arriving tax returns, and unseasonable weather. Grocery sales were better than overall sales, as grocery comps were in the “low single-digits.” Similar comps were reported for the Neighborhood […]
Competitive grocery industry added 1,000 supermarkets in 2012
National brands like Walmart, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Aldi are adding stores, as are regional brands Giant, ShopRite and Wegmans. Last year saw the addition of approximately 1,000 supermarkets. “The grocery segment is always busy,” said Supermarket Site Analyst David J. Livingston in an interview with Shopping Centers Today. “Good, well-run grocers are immune […]
Philly’s fragmented market weeding out “losers”
A recent story in the Supermarket News says that Philadelphia’s grocery landscape is “largely being written by its losers.” And by losers Supermarket News means Genuardi’s, Acme and A&P (Pathmark, SuperFresh). Genuardi’s is down to one store, and the exit of the once mighty brand set the stage for Giant to compete with ShopRite as […]
Analysts optimistic about supermarket results
Last week Supermarket News published a story listing several reasons why supermarket analysts are optimistic about results for the first half of this year compared to the second half of last year. The reasons cited include the following: All the negative factors that impacted the first couple months of the year – like higher […]
Whole Foods to consider a larger range of store sizes
Whole Foods Co-CEO John Mackey said this week that the company may consider opening stores of “mixed sizes” in the future. Mackey said larger stores opened between 2007 and 2009 “are still competing strongly as they get older… and have higher long-term potential than smaller stores because they offer more parking, less spoilage and greater […]
Delhaize reports lower losses at Bottom Dollar
Delhaize Group announced first quarter earnings earlier this week and said the company’s performance in the U.S. was boosted in part by “lower losses at Bottom Dollar Food.” U.S. operating profit for Delhaize increased to $197 million for the quarter, a 14.1% increase compared to the same time period a year ago. Operating margins improved to […]
Fairway goes public, planning for steady expansion
Whole Foods rival Fairway went public last month and the 12-store grocery chain aims to open 300 stores across the country. The stores, located in New York City and the surrounding areas and known for its specialty foods, began as a family business in the 1930s as a fruit and vegetable stand. The founder’s grandson, […]
FreshDirect expands to more Philly suburbs; adds 90 new zip codes
Internet grocer FreshDirect announced yesterday that it has expanded service to more than 90 new zip codes that range from the Philadelphia area all the way to Long Island in New York. FreshDirect entered the Philadelphia market in October 2012 in limited areas, and expanded just three months ago to many surrounding suburban counties. Most […]
Supervalu to decentralize banners, focus on Save-A-Lot pricing
CEO Sam Duncan said this week that Supervalu’s focus would be to decentralize its retail banners, pricing at Save-A-Lot, and recharging its wholesale business. His comments came as the company announced its fiscal fourth quarter earnings, which were significantly affected by the costs associated with the recent sale of five banners to a group led […]
Weis Markets targeting Bedminster, PA for new store; to spend $135 million on CapEx this year
Last week Weis Markets presented its plans to the Bedminster Township planning commission for a 63,000 square foot supermarket and adjacent gas station at the corner of Routes 113 and 313 in Bucks County, not far from Doylestown. Meetings with the Board of Supervisors and the town’s municipal authority are planned for the coming months. […]