Convenience Stores

Kroger unveiling new concept in Seattle
A new retail brand called Main & Vine is entering Kroger’s extensive store portfolio soon and it could spell more trouble for Whole Foods and other competitors.

A Web site for the new concept is filled with beautiful photos of fresh products and bills the store as a place, “where eating is healthy, affordable and fun!” The site does not offer an indication of when the store will open other than soon.
Will Bridgestone beat latest Icahn offer for Pep Boys?
Auto chain Pep Boys announced Monday that a $16.50 per share takeover bid by activist investor Carl Icahn is a "superior offer" to a rival proposal by Bridgestone Retail Operations in September.

It's just the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of who gets to acquire Pep Boys, which has 800 locations in 35 states.

Pep Boys says it now prefers to take the offer from Icahn Enterprises and that Tokyo's Bridgestone Corp. has until Wednesday to up its bid.

Analysis: Retailers disrupt mobile payment space

Unconfirmed media reports indicate Target is in the early stages of developing its own mobile payment solution.
Report: Walmart could learn a lot about mobile payments from Starbucks

As Walmart prepares to launch its Walmart Pay mobile pay solution, the discounter should study Starbucks’ success in the mobile payments area, according to a report by TheStreet.

Starbucks rolled out its mobile wallet in 2011, and mobile payment now accounts for 21% of all transactions in U.S. company-owned stores. If Walmart wants to get even close to those numbers, it will have to follow Starbucks’ lead and make sure that its mobile payment solution provides a real value to consumers.
Bfresh, Boston (and Fairfield, Connecticut)

The emphasis is on fresh foods and convenience at bfresh, a new, urban-scale supermarket concept from Ahold’s Fresh Formats division.

Designed by Scandinavian design agency Blink, bfresh is part neighborhood grocery store, part food hall and part restaurant. The stores, which average about 9,000 sq. ft., have a modern look and a streamlined, simple layout. Digital price tags enhance the contemporary feel.
Rite Aid Q3 revenues up 21.8%, calls special meeting to decide WBA merger

Rite Aid on Thursday reported revenues of $8.2 billion, up 21.8%, for its fiscal third quarter ended Nov. 28, 2015.
Old Kmart becomes new Cub format

Supervalu’s Cub Foods division reimagined a former Kmart location in central Minnesota for a new format featuring a massive liquor store.
CVS Health enterprise on solid footing; raises midpoint of earnings outlook

At its annual Analyst Day in New York Wednesday morning, CVS Health raised the midpoint of its earnings outlook for 2016.
A&P bankruptcy pushes central New Jersey retail vacancy rate up

The demise of The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. elevated the retail vacancy rate along central New Jersey’s major shopping corridors to 8.8% from 7.5% in 2014.

That’s according to the latest study by R.J. Brunelli & Co. Despite the uptick, the region’s 2015 vacancy factor remained a healthy distance from the 10.2% recorded in 2013 and the eight-year high of 10.5% set in 2011, but was well above the period’s low point of 4.8% posted in 2008.
Dick's Sporting Goods to backfill former J.C. Penney space at Cumberland Mall

Vineland, N.J. -- PREIT announced its plans to open a Dick's Sporting Goods at Cumberland Mall in Vineland, New Jersey. The sports and fitness retailer will occupy the former J.C. Penney Department Store space in a 50,000 sq. ft. location.

“This transaction demonstrates PREIT's continued success in replacing anchors with in-demand retailers,” states Joseph F. Coradino, CEO for PREIT "The addition of Dick's Sporting Goods will improve the merchandise mix and solidify the tenant roster at Cumberland Mall.”
Schnucks Markets names new chief merchant

Schnucks Markets on Monday named industry veteran Mark Doiron its new chief merchant. Doiron, who has more than 25 years of experience in the food and grocery industries, will be responsible for procurement and merchandising throughout Schnucks’ 99 supermarkets. He serves on the company’s senior management team and reports to Schnucks chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck.
Target phases out Pharmacy Rewards program

This month, Target began contacting its Pharmacy Rewards members to informing them that the company was ending the rewards program because CVS/pharmacy will bring its own program when it replaces the pharmacies in Target stores as part of a deal between the two companies announced this summer.