CHECKOUT DIVIDERS GIVE RALPHS, RETAILERS A CLEAN BREAK

ADAM BLAIR

COMPTON, Calif. -- Brightly colored checkout lane dividers that are replaced on a regular basis help maintain the image of a clean store environment, according to retailers including Ralphs Grocery Co. here, Pathmark Stores, Woodbridge, N.J., and the Southern California division of Lucky Stores, San Leandro, Calif.

The lane dividers are emblazoned with advertising messages and a variety of products. They are collected and replaced on a regular basis by a third-party marketing company.

The dividers are in a total of 1,600 stores nationwide, according to a source familiar with the situation.

"We try to keep all our stores as clean as possible, from the parking lots through the entire store," said Terry O'Neil, manager of corporate communications at Ralphs. The dividers have been installed in nearly 400 Ralphs and Food 4 Less stores in a rollout that began this summer, he added.

"They are changed every 60 to 90 days" said O'Neil. Pathmark began installing the dividers chainwide last month, and they are now in all 132 stores, said Rich Savner, the retailer's director of public affairs.

Lucky Stores began introducing the dividers last month, and plans a chainwide rollout to all 268 stores in its Southern California division, according to Judy Decker, vice president of public relations for the retailer. Lucky is a division of American Stores, Salt Lake City.

The dividers are from Alpine Promotions, San Diego.