FINAST UNITS PUSH POWER PRICE PLAN

LISA A. TIBBITTS

MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Finast here is aggressively rolling out and promoting an everyday-low-price strategy throughout its 39 Finast stores.

The Power Price Deals program cuts the prices on some 1,000 to 1,500 grocery, perishable and health and beauty care items for a period of two weeks to two months. The temporary price reductions on that set of products are then discontinued and another group is discounted.

This initiative is an extension of the Power Price program that began in March last year. At that time, about 6,000 stockkeeping units in 10 categories ranging from detergents to dairy saw temporary price reductions.

The retailer is launching an expansive advertising campaign to support the program -- centered around the theme that Finast associates are the "People Who Save You Money." Mass media advertising, as well as in-store messages, are part of the Power Price Deals push.

Finast operates supermarkets throughout northeastern Ohio. In addition to its Finast stores, the company also operates one Pick-N-Pay Supermarket.