EQUITY RETAIL BLOG

Is Target next for Amazon?

A former analyst who followed Apple closely and was known for his accuracy in predicting their financial performance over the years made news recently by forecasting that Amazon will buy Target in 2018. “Target is the ideal offline partner for Amazon for two reasons, shared demographic and manageable but comprehensive store count,” said Loup Venture […]

"The Death of Retail Is Greatly Exaggerated"

This article is from The Robin Report (The Robin Report Article) and was written by Shelley E. Kohan.  Shelley’s accounting of the current and evolving retail world is, frankly, the best I have read to date.  So much so, I thought it was worth posting and sending to friends in the industry.  The easy story […]

Discount grocers are getting it right... here's how

Earlier this month Supermarket News listed six reasons that discount grocers continue to grow, and provided the following background. Ten years ago, two-thirds of U.S. shoppers reported that supermarkets were their primary grocery channel, as per the Food Marketing Institute’s 2016 U.S. Grocery Shopping Trends Report. However, in 2016, only 49% of U.S. shoppers said that supermarkets […]

Report finds that grocery shoppers visit multiple stores

A report from Acosta found that 76% of shoppers visit multiple stores each week for groceries, and most of these consumers shop around to find cheaper products. In addition, 37% visit other stores to ensure they have fresh food, and 33% do so because they can’t find all the brands they like at one location. […]

Costco online sales up 43.5%

Costco reported earlier this month that its online sales increased 43.5% compared to the same quarter last year, largely due to website improvements, the ability for shoppers to buy items online and pick them up at the store, and the recent launch of new delivery options. In addition, the company reported that it continues to […]

Wakefern introduces Price Rite Marketplace

The Wakefern Food Corp cooperative launched a rebranding of the Price Rite banner and unveiled its first fully rebranded store under the new Price Rite Marketplace name in Secane, PA last month. According to a story in Supermarket News, the store is brighter and includes new signage, a whitewashed wood backdrop, and various new offerings. […]

Sprouts willing to acquire or be acquired

Sprouts CEO Amin Maredia said earlier this month that the company is open to acquisition talks, and at the same time is open to purchasing another business. “This is an interesting time to be looking at M&A from both perspectives,” said Maredia. “There’s certainly one element we can control, which is looking for interesting opportunities […]

Target acquires Shipt, plans same-day delivery

Target announced earlier this month that it plans to acquire Shipt, an Instacart competitor that currently serves 72 US markets and delivers products to customers from supermarket chains including H-E-B, Harris Teeter and Meijer, among others. Target has agreed to pay $550 million for the company and expects to roll out same-day delivery services to […]

Lidl shifting strategy, may consider leasing, smaller stores

Lidl announced earlier this month that it is changing its real estate strategy and may now consider leasing sites, and opening stores in the 10,000 to 21,000 square foot range. Up until now the company has said it would only purchase properties where it would construct 36,000 square foot stores. William Harwood, Lidl’s director of […]

Ahold suspends Bfresh small format concept

Published reports last month stated that Ahold Delhaize, the parent company for Giant, Food Lion and Stop & Shop, is suspending its small-format Bfresh brand and will not open Bfresh stores in Philadelphia, as previously announced. The company still plans to make use of the spaces it has leased, though. In addition, Ahold’s 3,700 SF […]