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Lidl still sees untapped potential in the U.S.

Grocerydive.com published an article earlier this week about Lidl’s troubled history in the U.S. and the changes being made by the discount grocer to better suit the American consumer. These changes include new leadership and their approach to merchandising. New leadership – last summer Lidl US hired its first American CEO, and earlier this year […]

Aldi and Lidl have differences - read about them here!

The website EatThis.com, AKA Eat This, Not That!, published an article last week citing the major differences between German-based discount retailers Aldi and Lidl. Here’s a summary. Footprint: Although the two retailers have similar business models, Aldi has been in the U.S. far longer than Lidl. Aldi’s first American store opened in 1976 and now […]

Dollar Tree announced that it has initiated a “formal review of strategic alternatives” for the Family Dollar brand that could include a sale, spinoff, or other disposition of the business. The company has retained J.P. Morgan Securities as its financial advisor. “Dollar Tree has been on a multi-year journey to help the company fully achieve […]

Stop & Shop to close some stores

Ahold Delaize announced last week that it will close an unspecified number of Stop & Shop stores. Company CEO JJ Fleeman said an evaluation of Stop & Shop’s overall portfolio had been completed and underperforming stores will be shut down. There are nearly 400 Stop & Shop locations operating today in the U.S. Ahold Delaize […]

Walmart opening larger Neighborhood Market stores

Walmart recently unveiled a bigger Neighborhood Market format and has committed to opening or converting more than 150 stores in the next five years. Two stores have already opened under the new initiative – a Florida Neighborhood Market expanded by about 17,000 square feet, and a 57,000 square foot new store was constructed in Atlanta. […]

Whole Foods to open 30 stores per year

Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel said earlier this month that the company is moving forward with its plan to open 30 stores a year, some of which will be smaller format stores that range in size from 7,000 to 14,000 square feet. In March the Amazon-owned chain, with 530 stores in the United States, England, […]

Grocery Outlet reports increased sales but stock falls on technology disruption

Grocery Outlet’s stock tumbled last week after the company lowered its earnings forecast due to unexpected disruptions in the implementation of new technology. The stock price fell 22% Tuesday to $20.16 by mid-morning, and ended the week at $20.89. The discount grocer reported that net sales were up 7.4% to $1.04 billion for the first […]

Kroger adds stores to divestiture list as it tries to gain support for Albertsons merger

In an effort to appease regulators who have sued to block its proposed $24.6 billion merger with Albertsons, Kroger announced yesterday that it has updated its plan to divest hundreds of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers. Kroger’s new plan calls for the divestiture of 579 stores, which is 166 more than originally proposed. Company Chairman […]

Amazon to abandon cashierless payments in grocery stores

Amazon announced that in a response to customer feedback it is discontinuing its “Just Walk Out” technology at Amazon Fresh grocery stores in the U.S. The “Just Walk Out” technology uses artificial intelligence to enable shoppers to take items off the shelf, walk out of the store, and have the bill charged directly to their […]

FTC claims larger grocers used pandemic to increase profits

The Federal Trade Commission released a report last week accusing large grocers like Walmart, Amazon and Kroger of using pandemic-era supply chain disruptions “as an opportunity to further raise prices and increase their profits, which remain elevated today.” The report also claims that consumers were hit with skyrocketing prices for groceries and shortages on products […]