NEW YORK — Only four of the 25 food-retailing stocks tracked by SN showed a decline in 2010, and most were up in double digits for the year, based on trading through mid-day on Dec. 31.
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Winn-Dixie Stores fell about 30% for the year, leading all decliners, and was followed by Minneapolis-based Supervalu, which fell about 25% for the year. Both had pricing, margin and same-store sales issues during the year.
Other decliners were Los Angeles-based Arden Group, parent of the upscale Gelson's Markets chain, down 11.4%, and Brussels-based Delhaize Group, down about 3.8%.
The top gainer was Whole Foods Market, Austin, Texas, which increased about 84%; followed by BJ's Wholesale, the Natick, Mass.-based club retailer that is the subject of buyout talk, up about 47%; and Matthews, N.C.-based Ruddick Corp, parent of the Harris Teeter chain, which rose about 43% for the year.
The two largest traditional chains, Kroger Co. and Safeway, were both up in single digits in 2010, at about 9% and 6%, respectively.
