Supermarket/Grocery

Janney Montgomery Scott analyst David Strasser downgraded shares of Target to neutral from buy on Monday. In doing so he cited some familiar concerns about the challenging competitive environment, rising input costs and anticipated difficulties passing through price increases to cash-strapped shoppers thereby negatively affecting gross margins.

Quincy, Mass. -- Stop & Shop Supermarket has opened a store in Andover, Mass., that offers a variety of high-tech shopping solutions, including Check It! self checkout lanes, and Scan It! hand held devices that allow customers to scan and bag groceries while they shop. Customers can also pre-order deli items at designated Order It! kiosks.

Allendale, N.J. -- Video screens delivering marketing messages and other media at the shelf level have been installed in nine Bloom grocery stores in the Washington, D.C., area.

New York City -- Massmart, now majority owned by Wal-Mart Stores, said on Sunday it aims to create 15,000 jobs in the next five years. The company also said it plans to expand its procurement of food and consumer goods by an additional $8.74 billion during the same period.

“Massmart intends to leverage Wal-Mart's global expertise in working directly with local farmers to encourage the cultivation of safe, high-quality fresh produce," Massmart CEO Grant Pattison said in the statement.

The monthly pricing survey Credit Suisse conducts at Walmart stores and various competitors in Chicago and Dallas market reveals the company continues to offer the lowest prices. That’s the good news for consumers; the bad news is Walmart, like every other company, is passing through increased product costs to shoppers.

Walmart attracted nearly 33.6 million unique visitors to its website in May, earning the company the 29th spot on comScore’s monthly ranking of the top 50 U.S. web properties. That sounds like a lot of traffic, but 7th ranked Amazon.com drew nearly three times that level with 94.9 million unique visitors. Other notable, retail-oriented companies and their rank included 13th ranked Apple, with 70.3 million unique visitors, 14th ranked eBay, with 67.2 million unique visitors and 20th ranked Craigslist, with 51.8 million unique visitors.

CINCINNATI — Kroger CEO David Dillon said the company will continue to focus on customer loyalty, after reporting last week that it saw identical-store sales increase for 30 consecutive quarters.

During its shareholders meeting on Thursday, Dillon said the company will build its future growth around its Customer 1st strategy, which emphasizes "[our] people, products, prices and the shopping experience."

Los Angeles -- X Team International said that Los Angeles-based partner Cypress Retail Group has completed a lease for the first full-service 24 Hour Fitness SuperSport in North Hollywood, Calif.

Chicago -- Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management Inc. said that Skechers recently signed a lease for 8,690 sq. ft. at Burbank Station in Chicago's west suburbs.

The new store is slated to open in the fall.

Burbank Station is a 303,566-sq.-ft. suburban retail center anchored by Food 4 Less, Sports Authority, Babies “R” Us, Office Max, PetSmart and HomeGoods.
 

SAN FRANCISCO  — Fresh & Easy today opened its San Francisco store. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, U.S. Health and Human Services Regional Director Herb Schultz, executives from Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market and dozens of neighborhood leaders were on hand to celebrate the event. The store, is located in the Outer Richmond District at 32nd Avenue & Clement Street.