Large Chains

Schenectady, New York-based The Golub Corp. may be a smaller grocery retailer, but it’s taking a big approach to vendor collaboration.

The operator of more than 130 Price Chopper and Market 32 grocery stores in the Northeast has selected Park City Group’s Scan-based Trading solution to support a new go-to-market strategy for direct store delivery (DSD) vendors.

Albertsons is joining other major retailers in working with its suppliers toward a goal of sourcing only cage-free eggs for its store operations.

The company, among the first and largest in the conventional retail grocery sector to make such a commitment, is making the move not only as part of its ongoing commitment to animal welfare but also in response to customer buying habits.

Publix on Tuesday posted sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 of $8.2 billion, a 4.5% increase. Comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 increased 3.2%.

“I’m pleased to report another year with excellent results,” said CEO Ed Crenshaw. “Our associates deserve the credit for continuing to make us a leader in customer service.”

Publix’ sales for the fiscal year ended Dec. 26, 2015, were $32.4 billion, a 5.9% increase from last year’s $30.6 billion. Comparable-store sales for 2015 increased 4.2%.

Publix Super Markets hit a milestone in 2015 as it exceeded the $30 billion mark in annual sales and also racked up another impressive quarter.

The grocer reported that net earnings for the quarter ended Dec. 26, 2015, rose 15% to $521.1 million, from $453.3 million in the year ago period. For the full year, earnings rose some 13%, to $2 billion, compared to $1.7 billion last year.

Amazon is about to launch its biggest venture into food outside of the United States.
 
The online giant will deliver groceries to Amazon Prime Now and Amazon Pantry customers in the United Kingdom under a new wholesale supply deal it has struck with Morrisons, the U.K.’s fourth-largest supermarket chain.

Under the arrangement, Morrisons will supply fresh, frozen and non-perishable goods to Amazon customers, starting later this year.

Ahold on Monday announced that the King of the Netherlands has honored its request to use the predicate “Koninklijke” (“Royal”) after its intended merger with Delhaize Group.

Upon completion of the proposed merger, the statutory name of the combined company will be “Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V.”

Perhaps no other retailer is profiting as well from Americans' changing eating habits than Sprouts Farmers Market, which reported record sales and earnings for the fourth quarter.

The Arizona-based grocer said that same store sales during the period ended Jan. 3 rose 7.4%. Net income was $28.2 million and diluted earnings per share were 18 cents. Net sales were $3.59 billion, a 21% increase compared to reported net sales in 2014. Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.86, a 19% increase from 2014.

Perhaps no other retailer is profiting as well from Americans' changing eating habits than Sprouts Farmers Market, which reported record sales and earnings for the fourth quarter.

The Arizona-based grocer said that same-store sales during the period ended Jan. 3 rose 7.4%. Net income was $28.2 million and diluted earnings per share were 18 cents. Net sales were $3.59 billion, a 21% increase compared to reported net sales in 2014. Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.86, a 19% increase from 2014.

Whole Foods Market’s knack for recycling and showcasing local memorabilia is reflected in its just-opened store in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

The 47,500-sq.-ft supermarket features a reclaimed bowling alley wood cladding at the juice bar. (Milwaukee is home to the oldest certified bowling alley in the United States.) A firefly motif is incorporated throughout the space, which was constructed by Chicago-based Novak Construction. (Wauwatosa is named after the Native-American Potawatomi tribe’s word for firefly.)

Whole Foods Market has been offering deliveries via Instacart in select markets for about a year, but reportedly is significantly extending the scope of the deal.

According to Re/code, Whole Foods has at least in principle made an unspecified investment in Instacart. Whole Foods has also reportedly signed a five-year deal making Instacart its exclusive perishables delivery provider.