Large Chains

New York City -- Wakefern Food Corp., parent of the ShopRite supermarket chain, plans to introduce its PriceRite discount format in Maryland, opening a 37,000-sq.-ft. store in Woodlawn on March 13.

Wakefern operates 45 corporate PriceRite locations, which feature both private-label and national brands in a value format.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Robert Ingle, the founder and CEO of regional supermarket chain Ingles Markets, died March 6, the company announced Monday. He was 77.

The company's board of directors said Ingle will be succeeded by his son, Robert Ingle II, who has been Ingles chairman of the board since 2004.

Ingle, who founded the business in 1963, served as CEO since the company was incorporated in 1965, as well as president from 1965 until 1982.

Ingles Markets operates 203 supermarkets across six southeastern states.

Asheville, N.C. -- Ingles Markets announced Monday that its founder and CEO Robert P. Ingle died on Sunday at age 77.

Ingle founded the company in 1965 and served as chairman of the board from 1965 until May 2004 and thereafter has served as a director. He has served as CEO since 1965, and president from 1965 until 1982.

His son Robert P. Ingle II has been named his successor.
 

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Thursday beat analysts’ quarterly consensus, posting 46 cents in earnings per share (adjusted for a goodwill impairment charge) that exceeded consensus by 2 cents EPS with higher-than-expected identical-store sales lift of 3.8% (excluding fuel).

Same-store sales were particularly strong across natural food, bakery and deli/meat, Kroger chairman and CEO David Dillion told analysts during a conference call. “We were particularly pleased by sales growth in our drug and merchandise departments,” Dillon said.

Costco and BJ’s were out with quarterly results this week following the release of Sam’s Club results last week that included flat operating profits and a 2.7% same-store sales increase excluding gas. Those results, characterized by Sam’s Club president and CEO Brian Cornell as strong and very pleasing, are consistent with results out this week from club competitors. Both Costco and BJ’s reported quarterly results that were in-line with or beat analysts’ expectations.

Cincinnati -- Kroger Co. said Thursday that its fourth-quarter net income jumped 9.2% while sales rose 7.4%. It also announced that its board authorized a $1 billion stock repurchase plan.

Net income was $278.8 million, compared with $255.4 million in the year-ago period. Quarterly revenue rose to $19.9 billion, with same-store sales up 3.8%.

Kroger offered a cautious outlook for the current year, saying rising fuel costs are likely to take a bite out of household budgets.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix on Tuesday disclosed a 4.4% increase in its fourth-quarter sales, reaching $6.4 billion, while comparable-store sales for quarter also rose 3.2%.

Net earnings for the retailer totaled $342.1 million, compared with $284.2 million in the year-ago period, an increase of 20.4%. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter increased to 44 cents for 2010, up from 36 cents per share in 2009.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has entered Northern California with the opening of its first store in San Jose. The grocer also opened another Bay Area store in Danville today.

San Jose, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market on Wednesday celebrated the opening of its first locations in Northern California, in San Jose, and Danville.

The openings are the first of more than a dozen Fresh & Easy stores set to open early this year in Northern California. The chain, which opened its first stores in 2007, currently has 166 locations.