Analysis by Inmar Inc. of 2016 coupon activity reveals an ongoing “promotional transposition,” with paperless, digital coupons beginning to overtake traditional paper coupons in popularity. Inmar’s analysis shows that, among the more than 2.2 billion coupons redeemed by shoppers last year, the share of redemption captured by offers that shoppers load directly to their retailer […]
Category: Corporate Store News
Southeastern Grocers Streamlines Private Label Brands
The Bi-Lo, Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery banners, all owned by Southeastern Grocers (SEG), are merging their own brand products into a single, uniform brand featuring a new label. It allows SEG to provide more value, choice and differentiation to its customers, according to the Jacksonville, Florida-based company. SEG calls the move the company’s “largest-ever transformation of […]
Costco Buyers Share Plans, Successes At FISMC Luncheon
Executives and associates from Costco Wholesale’s Los Angeles-area buying office were the guests of honor at the Food Industries Sales Managers’ Club of Los Angeles luncheon on Jan. 25. Sarah Wehling, VP/GM for the Los Angeles regional buying office, introduced four guest speakers for the event—buyers in different categories. Wehling herself oversees the buying of […]
WinCo Foods Opens DC In Denton, Texas
WinCo Foods opened a new distribution center on Tuesday—an 800,000-s.f. facility in Denton, Texas. The $135 million DC is located at 300 S. Western Boulevard. Boise, Idaho-based WinCo opened its first Texas stores in 2014 and now operates nine units in the state. The new DC, which will support stores in Texas and Oklahoma, includes […]
Fareway Stores Promotes Eight
Fareway Stores on Tuesday announced eight promotions during the Boone,-Iowa-based company’s quarterly managers meeting. The company did not provide the employees’ previous roles. • SVP-procurement: Aaron J. Irlbeck • SVP-merchandising: Michael J. McCormick • VP-engineering: Matthew J. Sherwood • VP-direct store delivery: Thomas J. Laven • VP-warehouse and trucking operations: Wesley D. Bass • VP-produce […]
Supervalu Aids Hunger Relief With $1M In Donations
Supervalu says that its Supervalu Foundation will donate $1 million to 34 nonprofits that provide hunger and food-related relief to those in need in local communities across the country. The $1 million in donations will benefit local communities in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Recipient organizations include local food bank affiliates of Feeding […]
Food Lion Reveals Ralph W. Ketner Store Manager Excellence Award Winners
Food Lion has named five store managers as divisional award winners, making them eligible for its Ralph W. Ketner Store Manager of the Year Award to be presented later this month. These awards, named for Food Lion’s co-founder who died last year, recognize and honor exceptional store managers who the grocery chain says enrich the […]
Whole Foods Closing Nine Stores In Five Regions
Whole Foods Market said during its earnings call Wednesday that it will close nine stores in the second quarter. According to John Mackey, co-founder and CEO, the company has been moderating its lease signings and capital expenditures over the last two years. “We are also continually evaluating stores on a case-by-case basis, balancing the age, […]
Kroger Buys Murray’s Cheese, Including NYC Flagship Shop
The Kroger Co. has purchased Murray’s Cheese, as well as its flagship location on Bleecker Street in New York City. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “For cheese lovers and connoisseurs, it doesn’t get more authentic than Murray’s,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO. “Our customers are excited to buy the unique […]
Ingles’ First Quarter Same-Store Sales Up 1.8 Percent
Ingles Markets on Thursday reported higher sales and net income for the three months ended Dec. 24, 2016, compared with the same three months in the prior year. Total sales rose 3.3 percent over the comparative quarters. Net income totaled $13.8 million for the company’s first quarter of fiscal 2017 vs. $13.0 million in the […]
Albertsons Touts Accomplishments On Two-Year Anniversary Of Safeway Acquisition
Albertsons Cos. says it has grown its workforce by 10 percent, creating 26,000 jobs, since it acquired Safeway two years ago. In addition, the grocery chain says it has built or acquired 174 locations; increased healthy food and financial donations; and elevated its commitment to sustainability. “We added an exceptional class of talented employees to […]
As Merger Agreement Is Extended, Walgreens Must Divest More Stores In Order To Acquire Rite Aid
Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid Corp. on Monday have extended their previously announced definitive merger agreement under which Walgreens Boots Alliance will acquire Rite Aid. The agreement extends the time period in which the companies can obtain regulatory approval to merge from Jan. 27 to July 31, 2017. Under the terms of the amendment, […]
Kroger Names New President For Mid-Atlantic Division As Fey Readies To Retire
The Kroger Co.’s Mid-Atlantic Division President Joe Fey will retire Feb. 10 after more than four decades with the grocer. Jerry Clontz, currently SVP of operations for the company’s Harris Teeter subsidiary, will succeed him. The supermarket chain’s Mid-Atlantic Division is based in Roanoke, Virginia; it includes the Richmond, Roanoke, Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach areas of […]
Price Chopper Becomes Kansas City Royals’ New Grocery Sponsor
The Kansas City Royals have picked up a new long-term sponsor in Price Chopper, and the supermarket chain now is the “Official Grocer of the Kansas City Royals.” The news comes after an announcement in December that Hy-Vee did not renew its contract with the Major League Baseball team following a 15-year sponsorship. To celebrate […]
Save-A-Lot Shuttering Operations In California, Nevada
Save-A-Lot will close all of its stores in California and Nevada. The company, which Supervalu sold to an affiliate of Onex Corp. for $1.365 billion in cash in December, said in a statement Jan. 19 that the decision was made “after rigorous review and analysis.” Thirteen corporate locations, a retailer-owned store and the company’s Rancho distribution […]
Big Red, Kroger And Weber Kicked Up Summer Sales
Austin, Texas-based beverage company Big Red reports that its “100 Days of BBQ” summer retail promotion and marketing campaign in Kroger stores in Louisville, Kentucky—with help from Weber—generated a 15.7 percent sales increase in dollars. The goal? A 10 percent increase. Big Red hosted Weber Mobile Grill Academy classes at the Kroger stores as part of […]
The Fresh Market Launches New Website
North Carolina-based The Fresh Market has introduced a new website, featuring easier navigation and making “it easy to find the information you want, no matter where you are or how you’re browsing,” according to the grocer. Some of the site’s features include easy access to view top weekly specials and pricing on “Fresh Deals,” the […]
Southeastern Grocers Taps Former Ahold USA Leader To Lead Pharmacy Operations
Southeastern Grocers has hired Gayle Shields as the company’s new VP of pharmacy. Shields will be responsible for overseeing the day-to- day and strategic operations of the company’s several hundred pharmacy locations throughout the Southeast. For nearly 30 years, Shields has worked in the pharmacy industry in various positions for Allied Health, Maxor National Pharmacy […]
Confectionery Chiefs From Kroger, Walgreens To Receive Leadership Awards
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) will recognize Christina Groth of The Kroger Co. and Brian Rinker from The Walgreen Co. as recipients of the 2017 Confectionery Leadership Awards. The award celebrates the honorees’ contributions to the category through their effective business collaboration, category management best practices and innovations in merchandising confectionery products in-store. Groth, VP, […]
Supervalu Sees Rise In Wholesale Segment As Retail Sales Continue To Falter
Supervalu’s third quarter wholesale sales increased slightly vs. a year ago, but its retail segment continued to struggle. Total net sales within the wholesale segment increased 0.2 percent, to $1.91 billion from $1.90 billion a year ago. New business is outpacing lost business, the company said. Retail identical store sales were negative 5.7 percent, dropping […]
