Discount grocer Aldi currently has nearly 1,700 stores in 35 states, with plans to reach 2,500 stores by 2022. Part of that expansion includes “exploring opportunities in Arizona as well as multiple other markets from coast to coast,” according to Aldi spokesperson Liz Ruggles. Ruggles adds that, while specific information is not yet available about […]
Category: Industry News
Harveys Opening Seven New Florida Stores Today
Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Bi-Lo, Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie stores, will unveil seven new Harveys Supermarket stores in Central, West and North Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 2. The openings signal an expansion into new markets for Harveys Supermarket with four new Central Florida locations in Orlando, Cocoa and Ocala, along with […]
Superior Grocers Installs DMV Self-Service Kiosks At 10 Stores
Superior Grocers, one of Southern California’s largest independent supermarket chains, has partnered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles to offer DMV services at 10 Superior Grocers locations. New DMV Self-Service kiosk terminals have been installed and are now available at Superior Grocers stores in Los Angeles, Lynwood, Cudahy, El Monte, Baldwin Park and other […]
Remodeled Food 4 Less In South L.A.’s Harvard Heights Making Debut Wednesday
Food 4 Less will host a grand reopening of its latest remodeled store at 1717 South Western Avenue in South Los Angeles’ Harvard Heights neighborhood on Wednesday, Aug. 2. The 39,000-s.f. store’s renovation features a new exterior design, new interior décor, refreshed center store, new service deli/bakery offerings and an expanded produce department. The store […]
Family-Owned GES Has A Hit With Edwards Cash Saver
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest When the ownership of longtime community grocer Knight’s Super Foods in Beebe, Arkansas, changed hands from one family to another early this year, there likely was some apprehension in the community. The Knight family had been very active in Beebe. People knew and trusted them. Paul Rowton was sensitive to those feelings. […]
Earth Fare’s 42nd Store Will Make August Debut In Florida
Specialty grocer Earth Fare will open its newest Florida store on Aug. 23 in Mandarin. The unit, at 11700 San Jose Boulevard, will mark the 42nd Earth Fare location nationwide and the second in the Jacksonville area. The chain operates other Florida stores in Ocala, Gainesville, Tallahassee and Seminole. “Almost three years ago, Jacksonville welcomed […]
Oliver’s Market Reaffirms Its Focus On Community With Launch Of ESOP
by Alissa Marchat/staff writer Oliver’s Market, Sonoma County’s largest locally owned and independent grocer, in early June celebrated the sale of 43 percent of the company to employees through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The company also registered with the state of California as a social purpose corporation, allowing leadership to consider employees, the […]
Best Practices For Supermarket Advertising Budget Allocation
To entice consumers to shop in-store or online, supermarkets must set aside a budget for advertising. With a range of 0.02-4.0 percent, food retailers spend an average of 1.25 percent of sales (excluding pharmacy and gasoline dollars) on advertising. The recently released “2017 Promotional and Advertising Practices Study Among U.S. Grocery Retailers,” published by Aptaris […]
House Advances National Menu Labeling Bill
The National Grocers Association (NGA) on Thursday praised the House Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act (House Resolution 772). The bipartisan bill, introduced by U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) and Tony Cardenas (D-California), would clarify the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final rule on menu labeling to “create […]
The Fresh Market Refreshing 11 Atlanta-Area Stores
Eleven Atlanta-area The Fresh Market stores will unveil the specialty grocer’s refreshed look and offerings on Aug. 9. Stores will include an expanded selection of fresh food that furthers the brand’s “long-standing dedication to offering top-quality, unique and small-batch items,” according the chain. Additionally, the stores will feature an interactive sampling station designed to inspire […]
‘Tally’ Robot To Audit Shelves At Three Schnucks Stores
Schnuck Markets is turning to a high-tech partner to help maintain an “exceptional” shopping experience: an aisle-roving robot named Tally. Schnucks and Simbe Robotics will collaborate to test-pilot Tally at three St. Louis metro area stores beginning July 31. During the six-week pilot, Tally will be charged with scanning store aisles three times a day […]
Brookshire Brothers Joins Topco Associates
Topco Associates on Wednesday said that Lufkin, Texas-based Brookshire Brothers has joined its membership. “Brookshire Brothers’ philosophy of innovation and commitment to serving customers’ needs makes it a great addition to Topco’s membership, especially as we drive new ways to advance as one in the marketplace. We look forward to helping them leverage Topco’s platform […]
Smart & Final Posts 2Q Same-Store Sales Growth
On July 25, Smart & Final Stores reported financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended June 18, achieving both net and comparable-store increases. Net sales were up 3.9 percent to $1.08 billion, and comparable store sales were up 1.3 percent during the quarter at Smart & Final, which operates 314 grocery and foodservice stores […]
Langer Farms Ramps Up California-Grown Apple Cider Line
Family-owned Langer Juice Co. Inc., based in City of Industry, California, is building on the latest addition to its lineup of juices. The company began testing an apple cider under its new Langer Farms brand last year and launched it this year. Soon, Langer Farms will begin peak production of its Unfiltered Apple Cider, according […]
Insights: Coborn’s Succeeds As E-Commerce Differentiator
How can an independent grocer succeed in an increasingly crowded e-commerce market? For St. Cloud, Minnesota-based Coborn’s, the winning formula includes boosting its e-commerce investment, differentiating from competitors, training delivery drivers to engage consumers and even making friends with customers’ dogs. Recent National Grocers Association (NGA) research underscored the importance of boosting e-commerce strategies. The […]
Report: Kroger Spending $20M To Renovate Seven Former Marsh Stores
The Kroger Co. has closed on its purchase of 11 former Marsh stores and plans to spend $20 million to renovate and reopen seven of them, the Indianapolis Business Journal reports. Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. and Fresh Encounter Inc., another Ohio-based grocer, in June agreed to buy 26 of Marsh Supermarkets’ 44 stores. Indianapolis-based Marsh Supermarkets filed […]
Rouses Is Official Supermarket Of The New Orleans Saints
Rouses Markets has entered into a multi-year partnership with the New Orleans Saints to become the official supermarket of the NFL team. The Louisiana-based grocery chain will kick off this year’s football season by being an associate partner of the 2017 New Orleans Saints Training Camp presented by Verizon. Rouses will provide an area for Saints […]
Pack Expo Showcase To Feature Award-Winning Packaging Designs
Highlighting top packaging designs from around the globe, The Showcase of Packaging Innovations, sponsored by The Dow Chemical Co., will return to Pack Expo Las Vegas (Sept. 25–27; Las Vegas Convention Center), according to Pack Expo producer, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. The packages featured in the showcase are winning entries from […]
Two Safeway Pharmacies Impacted By Chain’s Settlement Regarding Controlled Substances Act
Safeway, an Albertsons Cos. banner, has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington to settle a 2014 investigation into Safeway’s compliance with the Controlled Substances Act. The investigation focused on compliance with record-keeping and reporting […]
AWG Closing Fort Worth Division
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) on Tuesday announced the sale and future closure of its Fort Worth, Texas, Division. In a communication to its member-retailers, AWG said, “To continue to maintain the lowest possible cost of operation, AWG has made the determination to consolidate the remaining Fort Worth business into our more efficient and productive Oklahoma […]
