Convenience Stores

Canada-based convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard posted net earnings of $287 million in the third quarter of its fiscal year, up 4.7% from the previous-year period.   Same-store merchandise sales fell by a point in Europe, but were up 1.9% in the U.S. Same-store gasoline sales volumes rose 2.8% stateside.   Couche-Tard’s global rebranding of its Circle K stores proceeded at a quick pace during the quarter, with more than 1,000 U.S. stores completed.  

An online giant and the world’s biggest retailer claim the top two positions in a study that ranks retail companies by their brand value.   Amazon ranked as the world’s most valuable retail brand in the annual study by valuation and strategy consultancy Brand Finance. The company’s brand value, $106.4 billion, is nearly double that of Walmart ($62.2 billion), which ranked as the second most valuable retail brand. (An explanation of the ranking is provided at the end of article.)    

Six months after launching home delivery, Meijer is expanding its breadth.   The grocery and general merchandise retailer is getting ready to offer home delivery across its six-state footprint, starting with Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 29, and Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Indiana in April. Meijer also plans to continue rolling out the service to major markets in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, the grocer said.   

Amazon is extending its Prime Now offerings to San Francisco members.   San Francisco Prime Now members can now get their hands on their favorite beauty, pet and grocery products in two hours or less.   Through partnerships with Peninsula Beauty, Pet Food Express and Sprouts Farmers Market, Prime members in neighborhoods spanning Oakland to San Francisco to San Jose can now shop tens of thousands of beauty and pet supplies, as well as healthy grocery products.   

RadioShack Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, its second filing in just over two years.   The electronics retailer said it would close approximately 200 stores, and evaluate options on the remaining 1,300 locations.      General Wireless Operations Inc. acquired the then-bankrupt RadioShack in April 2015, with a plan to turnaround the struggling company by co-branding the bulk of the stores with wireless carrier Sprint.   

A new retailer aimed at Hispanic customers is expanding its footprint in South Florida.    Fresco y Más on March 8 opened five stores in Miami, and Hialeah, Florida, bringing its total store count to 11 locations. The banner is the latest concept from Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie.  

Walgreens Boots Alliance is considering a move that would force the Federal Trade Commission to vote on its planned merger with Rite Aid within 30 days.   Walgreens is considering declaring that it has “certified compliance” in its application, which would mean that the drugstore chain believes it has given regulators substantially all the information they need to make a decision, The New York Post reported.

Supermarkets and fast-casual restaurant brands took the top positions in an annual ranking of customer experience. Publix, Chick-fil-A, and H-E-B earned top three positions in Temkin Group’s 2017 Temkin Experience Ratings, a cross-industry benchmark of customer experience. Publix had a score of 84%, closely followed by Chick-fil-A and H-E-B, which both scored 83% in the seventh annual rating.

Dunkin’ Donuts is growing its footprint in Alabama and Mississippi.   The chain signed development agreements with two franchise groups to develop 17 locations throughout the two states during the next several years.   Existing franchisee Birmingham Donut Holdings plans to develop nine new Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama.  The group currently operates 34 restaurants throughout Alabama and Florida.   

Vestar has been retained as the property manager for Plaza Paseo Real, a grocery-anchored property in Carlsbad, California. With the addition of the 147,848-sq.-ft. center, Vestar will be managing more than 2 million sq. ft. or retail space in the San Diego area.   The center off Interstate 5 is anchored by Von's Pavilion and Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas and also houses Wells Fargo, Supercuts, GNC, Laseraway, and Tin Leaf Fresh Kitchen.