EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

Walmart has quickly become the top online grocer in the U.S.

The world’s largest retailer is quickly becoming a big factor in online grocery shopping. In fact, consumer market researcher Packaged Facts said late last year that 23% of online grocery consumers cited Walmart as the retailer they use most for groceries. Amazon is the only retailer cited more often (38%). As far as in-store grocery […]

Retail Going to the Dogs?

I have the pleasure of working with two Mars affiliated companies, Blue Pearl Animal Hospital and Banfied Pet Hospital. This article mentions yet another affiliated company, Camp Bow Wow and I thought it was of real interest. These businesses are helping to change the face of retail real estate. Two Pet Daycare Franchises Battle for […]

Giant's Heirloom Market to open more Philly stores

Giant opened its first Heirloom Market in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood of Philadelphia less than two weeks ago, and according to the company, three more city locations will soon follow. An Heirloom Market store is scheduled to open this summer in University City, followed by stores in Northern Liberties and Queen Village. Giant’s small, urban […]

Sprouts to open 30 new stores in 2019

Sprouts Farmers Market announced earlier this month that it plans to open nine new stores in the second quarter of 2019. Overall, the company expects to open about 30 new stores for the year, the same as in 2018. The stores opening in the second quarter are in New Jersey (Marlton), Louisiana, Virginia, Florida (2), […]

Trader Joe's tops annual Retailer Preference Index

According to Dunnhumby’s second annual Retailer Preference Index (RPI), Trader Joe’s was the top grocery retailer, followed by Costco, Amazon, H-E-B and Wegmans. In a survey of 7,000 U.S. households, the RPI examined 56 grocery retailers to determine which companies have the strongest combination of consumer emotional sentiment and financial performance. Market Basket finished 6th, […]

Giant/Martin's and Stop & Shop to add robots that roam store aisles

Giant Food Stores announced earlier this month that each of its Giant/Martin’s and Stop & Shop stores will soon feature a 6-foot, 5-inch, 130-pound robot named Marty.  Marty will scan the aisles for fallen items, and will move around slowly enough for customers to take selfie’s with it, according to President Nicholas Bertram. The effort […]

Several supermarket opening and closings announced

It’s been a busy month for opening and closing announcements. Here’s a sampling. Openings: Trader Joe’s, Lidl, McCaffrey’s, Wegmans, Giant Heirloom Market Closings: Weis, Acme, ShopRite Trader Joe’s is pursuing plans to open a store across Arch Street from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, according to a company spokesperson. The store will reportedly be on the […]

The Winners in Retail, 2018

Walmart isn’t the only retailer already winning… By Lauren Thomas, CNBC In any competition, there are winners and losers. And among retailers competing for customers, the winners of 2018 beat their rivals by providing faster delivery, better online and mobile shopping options, and the trendiest products. Those who failed or were slow to adapt? Bon-Ton, […]

Kroger debuts self-driving delivery vehicles

Kroger announced that it has started using unmanned vehicles for online grocery deliveries. The services was launched at a Fry’s Food Store in Scottsdale, AZ. It follows a successful pilot with Nuro, a California-based robotics and artificial intelligence specialist. To use the service, customers shop for their groceries at FrysFood.com or via their mobile app, […]

Instacart and Whole Foods to end partnership

Instacart said earlier this month that it will “wind down” its nearly five-year old partnership with Whole Foods. Instacart plans to lay off 243 of its 1,415 Whole Foods personal shoppers. However, the company said it expects to place more than 75% of its affected personal shoppers in similar jobs at other retailers in their […]