Supermarket/Grocery

A lawsuit accusing a natural-foods grocer of overcharging customers has been revived.   On Friday, June 2, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City ordered Whole Foods Market to face a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing it of overcharging shoppers in New York City. The suit claims the chain overstated the weight of pre-packaged food in its supermarkets, according to Reuters.  

Retailers looking to bring customers in the door need to upgrade the shopping experience with added amenities.    That's according to JLL, whose new report examines how brick-and-mortar retailers can deliver in-store experiences and brand loyalty through added amenities.  The report, JLL’s Retail Amenities Guide, notes that  today's shoppers have countless options when it comes to where they can buy, leaving retailers with fewer opportunities to create brand converts.    

CVS Pharmacy opened its first store in the Centennial State.    CVS Pharmacy’s newest location resides in Parker, Colorado. It is the first of three stores slated to open in the greater Denver market this year.  

As retail operators return to work this week after what was hopefully a busy Memorial Day weekend for them, they should be encouraged by some rare good news out of Washington, D.C. The industry had some big wins last week on very important issues. Republican House leaders wisely decided to remove language from the popular CHOICE Act that would have repealed the debit card swipe fee reforms the industry fought hard to pass in 2010.  

Woolworths is taking steps to bolster its online shopping experience.   Woolworths South Africa, a division of Woolworths Proprietary Limited, is known for its vast assortment ranging from groceries, fresh produce and prepared food to clothing, beauty products, home goods and general merchandise. As the company entered into the world of omnichannel, it knew it had to deliver easy access to its merchandise, and provide a painless experience for online customers.  

Walmart is on fire in grocery and capturing a bigger share from traditional supermarkets.   That's according to Loop Capital analyst Andrew Wolf, who estimates Walmart currently has a 21.5% market share in the U.S. traditional grocery market, reported CNBC.   "Wal-Mart is taking back share from the traditional supermarket at an accelerating rate," Wolf said.  

The retail industry's two major organizations are applauding reports that the House will drop efforts to repeal debit card swipe reform.   

A decade from now, there’s not likely to be a shopping center — a successful one, at least — without click-and-pick meals, several fitness options, and healthy food and beverage purveyors.   That was the take of Phillips’ Edison’s VP of national accounts Michael Conway during a session at the RECon show. Some things all centers will soon provide, according to Conway: