Publix

Grocery-anchored centers respond to changing consumer tastes and consolidation

As supermarket tenants are challenged to meet the needs of an increasingly diversified and sophisticated consumer base, and given the significant trend toward consolidation, landlords are tasked with delivering top-notch grocery-anchored centers — with a diminishing number of anchors from which to choose.

Add in growing pressure on the grocery segment from competitors in the mass merchandise, discount and even dollar store verticals, plus small — but real — grocery in

Cincinnati -- Phillips Edison/ARC Grovery Center REIT II, announced the acquisition of two grocery-anchored shopping centers, Lake Washington Crossing and MetroWest Village. These acquisitions expand the company's portfolio to include the state of Florida.

Lake Washington Crossing is a Publix grocery store-anchored shopping center located in Melbourne, Florida, approximately 35 miles east of Orlando. Other national and regional tenants featured at the 118,698 sq.-ft. shopping center include Sally Beauty, Pizza Hut, KFC and H&R Block.

Lakeland, Fla. – Net earnings at Publix Super Markets slightly increased to $404.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 from $400.1 million in the year-ago period.

Net sales rose about 7% to $7.5 billion from $7 billion, aided by the shift of the Easter holiday to the second quarter of the current fiscal year from the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. Same-store sales rose 6.3%.

Publix Super Markets and Weis Markets reported respectable second quarter sales growth, but profits were harder to come by.

Publix, the nation’s fifth largest supermarket chain, said sales for its second quarter increased 6.6% to $7.5 billion, with 1.3% of the gain related to the timing of Easter. Same store sales increased 6.3%. Despite the top line improvement, Publix said profits increased slightly less than 1% to $404.1 million from $400.9 million while earnings per share increased by a penny to 52 cents.

Portland, Oregon -- The Green Building Initiative announced a wave of Green Globes certifications for new supermarkets across the nation. The properties include New Seasons Markets in Oregon, and Whole Foods Market, Price Chopper, Aldi’s, Harris Teeter, Wegmans, and Publix stores across the country.
 

Time Inc.’s ALL YOU media property is looking for individuals worthy of the distinction of being called “America’s Smartest Shopper,” and is relying on a range of digital methods to aid in the search.

New York – The 2014 Harris Poll EquiTrend (EQ) study, which measures brand equity for more than 1,500 brands across 170 categories, finds traditional grocery store brands rank highest overall in three of the four regions surveyed. The EQ index examines three key factors of brand equity: familiarity, quality and purchase consideration.

Minneapolis -- Free standing Insert (FSI) coupon activity increased 3.4% t based on coupons dropped during the first six months of 2014 versus the year ago period, according to Marx, a Kantar Media solution. Coupons dropped within non-food categories increased 8.2% to represent 65% of the 158 billion FSI coupons distributed during this period.