Convenience Stores

The rumors are true – Whole Foods Market and Instacart are taking their relationship to a new level.

The organic grocer and online delivery service officially announced a deepening of their partnership, which had been reported in the media for the past few weeks.

Whole Foods Market and online delivery service Instacart have big plans to make it easier for consumers nationwide to receive home deliveries from the nation’s leading retailer of natural and organic products.
 

Dollar General reported record sales and profits last year and plans to extend the streak in 2016 with 900 stores and an even greater number in subsequent years, according to the company’s new financial targets.

In 2015, Dollar General opened 730 new stores and remodeled or relocated 881 stores which combined with a 2.8% same store sales increase allowed it to grow total sales 7.7% to $20.4 billion. The company ended its fiscal year on Jan. 29, with 12,483 stores.

The CEO of Toys"R"Us says increases in same store sales and profit show that the company is on the right path toward strategic growth.

For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30, the company earned $276 million, up from $265 million a year earlier. Revenue fell 2.6% to $4.9 billion. Same store sales increased 2.3%.

The National Grocers Association held its annual meeting recently in Las Vegas and Candice Lastimado of Seattle-based Metropolitan Markets came away the big winner.

Supply chain issues are a potential threat for any retailer, but grocery chains need to be particularly vigilant in tracking products from source to shelf.

High-profile product recalls in recent years have resulted in brand damage, lawsuits, and even prison terms for executives of companies involved. While the source brands typically face more regulatory and legal ramifications, it is still wise for retailers of produce and other food items to invest in technologies that use automation to minimize the likelihood or impact of such events.

Michael Reed has been promoted to VP real estate for Stater Bros. Markets.

Reed joined Stater Bros. in 2014 as senior director of real estate, a position he held until his recent promotion. He will report to president and CEO Pete Van Helden.

Prior to Stater Bros., Reed served as real estate store development manager for Starbucks where he was responsible for growing the company’s Mid-West and Western Mountain regions.

Stater Bros. operates 168 supermarkets in California.