October 18 – Amazon, Whole Foods Finds Ideal Market in Denver Proving once again that the Amazon-Whole Foods Market partnership is a force to be reckoned with, the retailer opens its latest grocery concept in Denver. From: Winsight Grocery Business
October 18 – Wegmans on the Move in Mid-Atlantic
In a major play for the Mid-Atlantic, Wegmans plans to open 10 stores and a massive $175 million distribution center in the region. From: Winsight Grocery Business
October 17 – Bed Bath & Beyond to Sell Christmas Tree Shops banner
Combined with a sale of its Linen Holdings business and a distribution center, the home goods retailer expects to generate some $250 million from the deals. From: Retail Dive
October 16 – At-Home Cocktail Trends a Retail Sales Winner
Independent Kitchenware retailers expect at-home Happy Hour cocktail and mocktail entertaining to continue into the holiday season, steadily reporting increasing demand for bar tools, wine accessories, glassware, and other accessories. From: Gourmet Insider
October 16 – Report: September Retail Sales Growth Topped Forecasts
US retail sales grew 1.9% in September over the previous month, beating economists’ forecasts and topping the 0.6% increase in August, according to the Commerce Department. Growth was fueled by higher spending on clothing, cars, sporting goods and hobbies. From: NRF Smartbrief
October 16 – ShopRite Testing Store-Within-a-Store Concept Shops
ShopRite will use three stores — one in New York and two in New Jersey — to test its new Fresh to Table concept shops, which will offer ready-to-cook, ready-to-heat and ready-to-eat meal options. The meal solutions store allows the grocer to showcase its rebranded Wholesome Pantry private brands and its Bowl & Basket offerings, while also featuring seasonal foods chosen by dietitians and chefs. From: Housewares Smartbrief
October 16 – Meijer Introduces Third Small-Format Grocery Store
Capital City Market, which opened Wednesday in Lansing, Michigan, mimics the open-air, market-style feel of Meijer’s other small-concept stores in the state. From: Grocery Dive
October 15 – Marshalls Aims To Bring Back The ‘Wow’ Of Shopping
Marshalls has launched a new initiative called, “Share Wow, Get Wow,” a program all about turning in-store finds that shoppers share on social media into real-life, feel-good stories. From HomeWorld Business
October 15 – Sur La Table Sets Virtual Celebrity Cooking Classes
Sur La Table has tapped Martha Stewart and chef Emeril Lagasse to kick off its new series of online celebrity chef cooking classes next month. From HomeWorld Business
October 15 – Belk Rolls Out Same Day Delivery Service
Expanding its omnichannel options, Belk has launched a same-day delivery service, where customers can place orders at Belk.com and have their purchases delivered to their doorstep that same day. From: HomeWorld Business
October 15 – SpartanNash Leases Massive Md. Food Warehouse, Sparking More Amazon Speculation
The same week SpartanNash announced a 7-year distribution with Amazon, an affiliate of the wholesaler inked a 7-year lease at a former US Foods facility near Washington but has not disclosed specific plans for it. From: Winsight Grocery Business
October 14 – Meijer Opens Small-Format Location at Capital City Market in Lansing
The 37,000-square-foot store includes Meijer and national-brand products; an estimated 3,000 local artisan items, and a Ferris coffee shop. The Lansing store is the 3rd Small-Format location, in addition to the Grand Rapid’s Bridge Street Market and Woodward Corner Market in Royal Oak. From: Progressive Grocer
October 14 – Acme Markets Plans to Acquire Kings Food Market and Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market
Upscale Kings and Balducci’s will retain their premium gourmet banners and become part of Albertson’s Mid-Atlantic division. From: Supermarket News
October 13 – Hy-Vee Now Aims to Go ‘Beyond the Bag,’ Too
Hy-Vee Inc. has signed on to the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag as supporting partners, alongside founding partners CVS Health, Target and Walmart, as well as The Kroger Co., Walgreens and Dick’s Sporting Goods. From: Progressive Grocer
October 13 – Winn-Dixie Makes a Mark on Florida
Southeastern Grocers is opening 4 new stores on Nov. 11. From: Progressive Grocer
October 12 – Retailers Brace for More Pandemic Trouble
An uneasy economy and relentless disease outbreak are threatening a repeat of the second quarter as the holidays approach. From: Retail Dive
October 12 – Cooks on Main Celebrates 10th Anniversary
The North Dakota gourmet housewares retailer will be hosting a virtual holiday showcase with an array of goods, special pricing, demonstrations, and an exclusive cooking class with Andrew Zimmern. From: Gourmet Insider
October 9 – US Retailers Kick Off Early Holiday Shopping Season
A growing number of US retailers are creating new holiday shopping traditions in the pandemic era, with some launching Black Friday-like deals this weekend. Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon are planning sales events next week, as are Gap’s namesake, Old Navy and Banana Republic banners. From: NRF Smartbrief
October 9 – Target to Keep Corporate Offices Largely Empty Until June
Most of the 8,500 employees who typically work at Target’s headquarters and other offices in Minneapolis will continue to work remotely until at least June, the retailer said. Human resources chief Melissa Kremer said the company plans to create a hybrid employment model for the future that will allow for more flexible working arrangements. From: NRF Smartbrief
October 9 – Amazon to Take A Stake in SpartanNash
A stock warrant in connection to a supply agreement gives Amazon—reportedly on the verge of a major grocery store expansion—the potential to acquire nearly 14% of the food wholesaler for $96 million over time. From: Winsight Grocery Business
October 9 – Earth Fare Reopens Stores
Betsy Bevis, Director of Marketing for Earth Fare, says the company has had “quick and fast” openings for 13 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and Michigan over 15 weeks, and plans to reopen more. From: Progressive Grocer
October 8 – Rite Aid to Pay $95M for Seattle-Based Bartell Drugs
Rite Aid will buy Bartell Drugs, a 67-store regional pharmacy chain founded in Seattle 130 years ago, for $95 million, the companies said. Rite Aid, which operates 2,400 stores in 18 states, will keep the Bartell banner on the stores and has no plans to cut any of Bartell’s 1,600 employees after the deal closes. From: NRF Smartbrief[CC1]
October 8 – Dollar General Testing Popshelf Retail Concept
Dollar General is rolling out its newest retail store concept, popshelf, which looks to compete with retailers such as Five Below. The company said the new store aims to engage consumers with a fun, affordable shopping experience where they can find on-trend seasonal and home décor, housewares, health and beauty, home cleaning supplies, party goods, entertaining needs and more, with approximately 95% of items priced at $5 or less. The first two popshelf locations open near Nashville, Tennessee, this fall, in the Hendersonville and Clarksville communities. Current plans call for approximately 30 locations in various markets by the end of… From: HomeWorld Business
October 8 – Costco Posts Double-Digit September Comp Gains
With consumers continuing to favor the company in a market influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Costco posted a 16.9% net sales increase for the five-week fiscal month of September ended October 5 to $16.84 billion. From: HomeWorld Business
October 8 – Retailers Thrive During the Pandemic
BJ’s Wholesale, Chewy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lululemon and Target report Q2 sales records and more. New Memberships soar at BJ’s and Chewy, while Dick’s and Lululemon capitalize on casualization and at-home sports trends. From: Retail Dive
October 8 – Sam’s Club Hiring 2000 to Accommodate On-line Order Fulfillment
Many new hires will work at new high-tech fulfillment center in Perris, California, outside of Los Angeles. New program “Ship from Club” will ship orders directly to members’ homes. From: Progressive Grocer
October 7 – IKEA to Grow by 50 New Stores Worldwide in 2020
IKEA will open 50 new stores around the world this year as it continues to bet on brick-and-mortar retail, despite the rise of e-commerce. The retailer said its online sales grew 45% compared to August 2019, and consumers returned to reopened stores to outfit their repurposed kitchens and bedrooms. From: NRF Smartbrief
October 7 – Bed Bath & Beyond Sees Sales Up for First Time in 4 Years
Digital sales and pursuit of private brands will push the retailer’s resurgence going forward. From: Store Brands Today
October 6 – Wegmans in the Midst of Mid-Atlantic Expansion
Wegmans is targeting the mid-Atlantic states for an expansion that will include at least 10 new stores and a $175 million distribution center in Ashland, Va. Wegmans will open its 13th Virginia store in Tysons on Nov. 4, with additional sites planned in Virginia as well as Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. From: NRF Smartbrief
October 6 – Aldi Prepares to Open Extra-Large Store in Philadelphia
The new 25,000-square-foot supermarket, which will anchor a residential real estate project, will be 50% larger than a typical U.S. Aldi location. From: Grocery Dive
October 5 – Walmart, Sam’s Club Hear Small Business Pitches
The number of small businesses applying to pitch to Walmart during the retailer’s yearly Open Call event last week grew 44% and buyers for Walmart and Sam’s Club were able to schedule 67% more sessions by holding the event online, CEO Doug McMillon said. More than 175 of the approximately 850 companies that participated were chosen to move on to the next round in the process to lead to securing product space on Walmart’s shelves. From: NRF Smartbrief
October 5 – Trader Joe’s Keeps Growing in N.J.
Trader Joe’s is continuing its expansion in New Jersey, opening a 12,500-square-foot store in Freehold on Friday. The grocer, which also recently added a site in California and has stores on the way in Florida, Virginia, Indiana and Arizona, is planning to replace its store in Wayne, N.J., with a larger location and add a new 14,000-square-foot store in Bayonne, N.J. From: Winsight Grocery
October 5 – How Retailers Plan to Address Black Friday in Pandemic
Black Friday’s traditional role as the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season had been waning in importance even before the pandemic as merchants launched more deals earlier and online. This year, retailers including Home Depot, Target and Walmart will spread the deals out over longer periods, and some, such as Lululemon Athletica, will open more pop-up shops in an effort to avoid crowding. From: CNBC
October 5 – QuikTrip Sets Its Sights on Tennessee
Construction on the 8,200-square-foot c-store in Chattanooga could begin in May 2021. From: Convenience Store News
October 5 – KeHE Distributors Signs Deal With National Co+op Grocers
The agreement fortifies NCG’s supply chain capability. From: Progressive Grocer
October 4 – Target, Walmart Plan Online Sales on Amazon’s Prime Day
There are going to be lots of deals to choose from in October. From: Retail Recap SmartBrief
October 3 – Fresh Thyme to Close 3 Remaining Nebraska Stores
After opening five stores in four years in the Cornhusker State, the company is now pulling out of the area as it and other specialty grocers make strategic adjustments. From: Grocery Dive
October 3 – Southeastern Grocers Prepares for an IPO
The supermarket chain, which has filed a draft registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is contemplating going public less than three years after emerging from bankruptcy. From: Grocery Dive
October 2 – S&P Global Ratings Sees Slow Recovery Ahead for Neiman Marcus
The pandemic and the recession threaten to undermine the department store retailer’s recovery well into next year, according to a note released Thursday. From: Retail Dive
October 2 – Walmart Selling Asda Supermarket Business
Walmart is selling Asda, the company’s wholly-owned U.K. business, for an enterprise value of £6.8 billion, on a debt-free and cash-free basis. The company is selling the chain to the Issa brothers, founders, and co-CEOs of EG Group, a global convenience retailer, and investment funds managed by TDR Capital, a private equity firm. Under the new ownership structure, the Issa brothers and TDR Capital are acquiring a majority ownership stake in Asda. Walmart said it will retain an equity investment in the business, with an ongoing commercial relationship and a seat on the board.
From: HomeWorld Business
October 1 – Why a Hyper-\Vigilant Grocer Threw a Grand Opening Party in the Middle of the Pandemic
After months of struggling with product shortages, LaBonne’s Markets wanted to celebrate its improving ability to meet customer demand.
From: Grocery Dive
October 1 – Marcel’s Culinary Experience Featured In Local Media
Marcel’s Culinary Experience, an independent gourmet housewares store located in Glen Ellyn, IL was recently featured in Glen Ellyn Living Magazine, a local media outlet. From: Gourmet Insider
October 1 –Is Costco’s Winning Streak at Risk Without Curbside Pickup?
Retailers leaned on the fulfillment service when the pandemic hit. Eight experts discuss the future implications for the club retailer.
From: Retail Dive
October 1 – Big Lots Delivers Financial Update with Comp, Earnings Gains
As part of a financial preview, Big Lots has provided an update on expected results for the third quarter of fiscal 2020, which includes a forecasted mid-teen gain in comparable sales. From HomeWorld Business
October 1 – Digital Sales Propel Bed Bath & Beyond Q2
Bed Bath & Beyond turned a profit in the second quarter while making comparable-store sales gains buoyed by a significant digital comp increase. From: HomeWorld Business
October 1 – Meijer Summit Eyes Supplier Diversity
Including store brand partnerships, Meijer’s Supplier Diversity Summit is aimed at giving diverse-owned businesses an opportunity to get their products in front of Meijer merchants and potentially onto the chain’s shelves. From Store Brands Today
October 1 – Walmart Redesigns Stores With a Digital Touch
The retailer unveiled a look at a new store design that is synced to the Walmart app for a more omnichannel experience. From Store Brands Today
October 1 – Schnucks Expands Its Robotic Workforce
Grocer partners with Simbe to deploy Tally for inventory insights. From: Progressive Grocer
