Supermarket/Grocery

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway has announced the appointment of T. Gary Rogers to the company's board of directors. The company's board of directors will expand from nine to 10 members with this new appointment.

"Gary's vast experience as a supplier to the grocery industry, his business acumen and experience as a director will be great assets to the board," said Safeway chairman, resident and CEO, Steve Burd. "We are pleased he is joining our board."

CHiCAGO --  Walmart has succeeded in bringing its smaller format store concept to Chicago, helping to make the case that the retailer can find success in more urban markets, including New York, which has thus far eluded the retailer. The company announced that it has secured locations in West Englewood for a Walmart Market and Walmart Express store.  According to the company, West Englewood is in the heart of a food desert and one of Chicago’s most underserved communities. 

Salisbury, N.C. -- Delhaize America said Monday it plans to convert all of its Bloom stores in North and South Carolina to the Food Lion banner, with the exception of one Bloom store in Mauldin, S.C., that will close.

According to a report by Supermarket News, the 15 Bloom locations in the Charlotte and Greenville, S.C., markets will be converted "as quickly as possible."

Arlington, Va. -- In response to legislation introduced on Tuesday by Montana senator Jon Tester to reopen critical reforms of the debit payments market, the Retail Industry Leaders Association issued the following statement:

“Despite the American people’s repeated disapproval of bank bailouts, the Tester bill is just that, this time at the expense of retailers and their consumers,” said Katherine Lugar, executive VP for public affairs, RILA.

Walker, Mich. -- Meijer announced Monday it will invest $75 million to remodel 10 stores in Michigan and Ohio.

Eight of the stores slated for renovation are in Michigan and two are in Ohio.

“We are pleased to reinforce our commitment to these communities,” said CEO Hank Meijer. “Our customers expect high standards from us, and our investment in these stores will ensure they continue to receive our best.”

Target recently filed its annual report on form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Here’s a look at some interesting facts and figures contained in the document:

• Target employed 355,000 “team members,” last year, a figure that swells to 400,000 during the holidays.

• The company operated 37 distribution centers, including four food distribution centers and maintains 27 international sourcing offices in 18 countries

MATTHEWS, N.C. -- Family Dollar today showed why dollar stores are such a hot commodity right now by reporting a comparable-store sales increase of 5.1% for the second quarter ended Feb. 26. Net sales for the quarter increased 8.3% to $2.26 billion from $2.09 billion last year. According to the company warmer weathr earlier in the year as well as strong performance in its consumable and seasonal categories helped drive sales. 

By Steve Cole, [email protected]

It doesn’t take much convincing to realize that we are in a Golden Age of the shopper. Retailers are no longer in charge of the information, pushing out what they want, when they want, to influence shoppers and win sales. Instead, shoppers today seek out the information themselves, much of it online, before they ever set foot in a store. In other words, they’re thinking for themselves. The horror!