Supermarket/Grocery

By Jeff Weidauer, VP of marketing and strategy, Vestcom International

Healthy is hip. That’s the message coming from most media outlets, as well as consumers in general. Overall interest among Americans in healthful meal options is at an all-time high. Yet, at the same time, some healthy-focused retailers are struggling. Whole Foods Market has seen its growth slowing and has issued lower target guidance to shareholders. Smaller companies like Fresh Market are even resorting to closing stores. What’s going on?

Richmond, Va. — Divaris Real Estate has leased shopping center space in Richmond to two retailers and a restaurant: Family Dollar, Wilson Lee Interiors and Hanako.

Family Dollar renewed its lease for 7,150 sq. ft. in the Divaris-leased and –managed Midlothian Crossing. Divaris represented the landlord, Midlothian Associates, in the transaction.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Safeway Inc. has entered into a memorandum of understanding to settle the consolidated class action pending in Delaware state court filed on behalf of alleged Safeway stockholders against Safeway in connection with Safeway's proposed merger with an affiliate of AB Acquisition LLC. The proposed settlement includes moving the expiration date of Safeway’s “poison pill” shareholder rights plan three months ahead to June 19, 2014.

City of Commerce, Calif. — 99 Cents Only Stores LLC reported net income of $9.57 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, up from $897,000 in the same quarter a year earlier. 

Net sales rose $477.9 million, up 7% from $445.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. 

Newell Rubbermaid president and CEO Michael Polk has joined the board of directors of Colgate-Palmolive. The move comes a little more than a month after the CPG company’s shareholders elected a slate of 10 directors.

BOULDER, Colo. — More shoppers are purchasing private label (store brand) products in 2014 compared to the prior year. According to a recent study of more than 6,200 consumers by Market Force Information, 98% of shoppers purchase private label food items or cleaning products at least some of the time, on the rise from 96% in 2013. 

Roundy’s Supermarkets executive Kathy Hession has received an unconventional accolade for her long-running contributions to the floral industry.

London, U.K. — Online grocery shoppers tend to buy fewer impulse purchases online than in store, resulting in smaller basket sizes. A recent survey of 1,154 online grocery shoppers from EDigitalResearch found that 29% of respondents feel that they make far fewer impulse purchases online than in store.