Costco spends $22 million to privatize liquor sales in Washington
A ballot measure that would allow grocery stores and warehouse clubs to sell liquor in Washington state beginning June 1, 2012 passed earlier this week. A bill that will allow the privatization of liquor sales in Pennsylvania has been talked about for some time, but many feel it’s unlikely such a measure will pass here […]
Supervalu trying to connect via social media
When thinking of supermarkets at the forefront of something – customer service, competitive pricing, new formats, etc. – we typically think ShopRite, Wegmans, Whole Foods, and perhaps even Walmart. But Supervalu? As it relates to social media, yes. As Supermarket News Editor-in-Chief David Orgel reported yesterday, Supervalu is proactively embracing Facebook, Twitter and even Yammer, a […]
Whole Foods, Wakefern reach sales milestones; A&P has deal to exit bankruptcy
Whole Foods Market announced earlier this week that sales for the fiscal year ending September 25 rose 12.2% compared to the previous year and passed the $10 billion mark. During the fiscal year comparable-store sales rose 8.4% and net income increased 39.4% to over $343 million. For the fourth quarter, the company’s sales rose 12.2% compared […]
Amazon launches online grocery business through Soap.com
Amazon.com announced earlier this week that it has launched an online grocery business through Quidsi, an online retailer the company purchased last year for $545 million. The website is Soap.com, which sells “everyday essentials” and currently has about 7,000 grocery products. According to Quidsi, the number of grocery products will increase to 10,000 in a […]
Supervalu slows pace for new Save-A-Lot stores
In a conference call with analysts and investors last week, Supervalu CEO Craig Herkert said the company plans to revise the pace of new Save-A-Lot store openings in the near term. Rather than the 160 new stores that were previously announced for the current fiscal year, Herkert said they expect to add 80 or 90 […]
Supervalu surprise – 2nd quarter profit!
Supervalu (Acme, Save-A-Lot) announced last week that it posted a $60 million profit for its second quarter, compared to a $1.47 billion loss for the same quarter a year ago. President and CEO Craig Heckert cited game-themed promotions that were successfully tested in Philadelphia-area Acme stores as a contributor to the company’s success. Despite the profit, […]
ShopRite expanding to Northern New York and Maryland
As Food Trade News declared in its annual Market Study issue, ShopRite has become the dominant grocery retailer in Northern New Jersey, the Delaware Valley and Greater Philadelphia. And as the Supermarket News reported last week, ShopRite is now competing in new markets. In recent weeks the company opened its first store in the Albany, […]
New Walmart Supercenter in Springfield, PA goes head-to-head with Giant
A 112,133 square foot Walmart Supercenter opened last week in Springfield, PA’s Marple Crossroads Shopping Center. The store employs approximately 300 people and features more than 30 merchandise departments, including a full grocery section with fresh produce, meats, dairy products, a deli and bakery. According to Walmart’s website, the average wage for full-time hourly associates in Pennsylvania […]
Weis Markets on a roll as sales continue to increase
Weis Markets reported last week that third quarter sales jumped 6% to $678.6 million and same-store sales increased 6.5% compared to the same period a year ago. In addition, the company’s third quarter earnings per share increased to $0.63 (from $0.61) and net income for the period was up 4.1% to $17 million. Weis Markets […]
Safeway announces quarterly earnings, beats the street
Safeway’s (Genuardi’s) third quarter earnings of .38 cents per share beat analysts’ estimates by three cents. The company, which released its earnings last week, credited positive sales momentum and cost control measures when discussing its results. Safeway, which has stores under the Safeway, Vons and Dominick’s banners, also owns Genuardi’s here in the Greater Philadelphia […]