Convenience Stores

New York City -- Safeway will combat an aggressive crop of new rivals with an expansion that includes nine stores in the West, of which six will be in the San Francisco Bay area, according to the Oakland Tribune.

The chain plans to open stores in Pleasanton, Castro Valley, El Cerrito, Campbell, Los Gatos and Burlingame. It also is working to obtain city approvals for stores in Pleasant Hill, Emeryville and Berkeley, the report said, and is eyeing a new store in the Oakland hills.

New York City -- The City Council of San Diego repealed strict limits on new retail supercenters Tuesday amid concerns over the cost of a ballot measure forced by a Walmart-led petition drive, the Associated Press reported.

The 7-1 vote came less than two months after the council required retailers such as Walmart to study how so-called "big-box" stores would affect the economy and traffic. Opponents of the measure said it amounted to a ban.

LOS ANGELES — Kroger banners Ralphs and Food 4 Less/Foods Co have kicked off their respective charitable campaigns to benefit children in the markets they serve.

New York City -- Barneys Co-Op, in Brooklyn, N.Y., won top honors in Chain Store Age’s 29th annual Store of the Year Retail Design Competition, which attracted entries from around the globe. Taking inspiration from the avant-garde art galleries that abound in the area, the 9,400-sq.-ft. store is in-tune with the emerging character of the neighborhood while being respectful of Brooklyn’s history. The space has a hip, upscale industrial look that feels right at home in the locale.

West Palm Beach, Fla. -- Boca Raton, Fla.-based Woolbright Development announced that it has acquired Village Commons shopping center, located in West Palm Beach, Fla. 

Woolbright will oversee the center’s leasing, property management, construction management, marketing and promotions.

A monthly pricing survey conducted by Credit Suisse in December shows that Walmart remains the lowest price on a basket of 60 products across two major markets, Target is closer than ever and is actually less expensive for those who take advantage of the 5% Rewards program.

Target took the 21st spot out of a list of 46 retailers ranked for their customer service. Zappos.com took the top spot followed by Amazon.com and LL Bean. Walmart was ranked 27.

Other retailers in the top ten include Overstock.com (4), JCPenney (6) and Kohl's (7).

This just sounds problematic. To better serve cash constrained customers and compete with dollar stores, the company wants to flow less expensive smaller pack sizes to stores during the middle and the end of the month when customers have less money while larger packs sizes would be on store shelves at those times right after customers have been paid.

ITASCA, Ill. -- Jewel-Osco, a Supervalu-owned company, announced that Keith Nielsen, Jewel-Osco president, has informed the company of his retirement effective at the end of the fiscal year (Feb. 28).

Nielsen’s successor will be Brian Huff, SVP specialty retail for Supervalu. Huff will transition into the position beginning Feb. 7. All operations and business strategies will continue as normal.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Less than three months after joining Walmart’s merchandising organization as an executive VP, Duncan Mac Naughton on Friday was elevated to the role of chief merchandising officer for the U.S. stores division.