BURD HONORED BY U.S. LABOR DEPT.
PLEASANTON, Calif. — Steve Burd, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Safeway here, was presented last week with the 2008 SPIRIT award by the U.S. Labor Department, recognizing Safeway's leadership in furthering employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Abbott was named a co-winner at a ceremony in Washington. Safeway employs nearly 10,000 people with intellectual and physical disabilities, including hearing and sight impairments.
FOOD LION UNVEILS VA. RENOVATIONS
SALISBURY, N.C. — Forty-three stores renovated by Food Lion in Virginia celebrated grand reopenings last week, the retailer here said. The renovations included 15 stores in the Charlottesville market and 28 stores in the Richmond market, Food Lion said. The stores feature new meat, deli and produce departments, an expanded wine selection, as well as Western Union and Coinstar services, Rug Doctor rentals and floral departments.
BROOKSHIRE TO LAUNCH ‘FRESH’ STORE
TYLER, Texas — Brookshire Grocery Co. said that it would develop a new concept store — to be known as Fresh by Brookshire's — near its headquarters here. The store, which will anchor a new shopping center, is expected to open late next year. The retailer in a statement said Fresh by Brookshire's “will offer food varieties and shopping experiences not available elsewhere in the region,” but did not provide further detail. Brookshire operates more than 150 stores under the Brookshire's, ALPS, Super 1 and Ole Foods names.
VILLAGE BOOSTS SALES, PROFITS IN Q4
SPRINGFIELD, N.J. — Improved sales and lower expenses helped drive profits up by 9% to $6.9 million during the fourth quarter for Village Super Market here, the ShopRite operator said. Sales of $298 million for the quarter increased 10.7% compared with the same period a year ago, and same-store sales increased by 3.6%. Food-price inflation, along with the closing of one competitor and increased sales from replacement stores, helped drive the sales increase. While transaction size and count were up, Village acknowledged that shoppers were buying more sale items and trading down due to concerns over the economy.
NATURAL GROCER PLANS DC LOCATION
RICHMOND, Va. — Ellwood Thompson's Local Market, the largest independent natural grocery in Virginia, is expanding into Washington, D.C. The company said it has signed a lease for a 15,000-square-foot store in the DC USA development at 14th and Irving streets, scheduled to open next fall. Ellwood Thompson's, which has operated a single store in Richmond for nearly 20 years, will emphasize products found within a 100-mile radius of the store.