Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News
Sponsored By
WGB Week in Review: A Fresh Start
Amazon's new store, and other fresh starts in the industry. Amazon’s long-awaited foray into the physical grocery store space became a reality this week when the dot-com giant’s first Amazon Fresh store opened for business near Los Angeles—the first of what industry sources believe could be hundreds of such stores to be on their way in the months and years to come. The significant new competitor was far from the only fresh start in the industry, as reflected in stories reported the week of Aug. 24 by WGB.
1 Min Read
Photograph courtesy Amazon
Amazon Opens Long-Awaited Fresh Store, Heralding Another New Industry Era
By Jon Springer on 08/27/2020
Determined to crack one of the last bastions of U.S. commerce, the first Amazon Fresh grocery concept opens in California and to an industry that has long anticipated this day.
Sweeping Changes at Giant Highlight New Branding Message
By Jon Springer on 08/24/2020
The “For Today’s Table” branding platform includes a comprehensive reset of store decor, assortments and advertising, designed to consolidate momentum at the Ahold Delhaize USA brands.
Nick Bertram, president, The Giant Co.
“For Today’s Table is grounded in our strong belief that gathering around the table for a meal with your family to make meaningful connections is now more important than ever.”
Sprouts Grows a New Brand Identity
By Jon Springer on 08/21/2020
A new logo and slogan have joined an ongoing go-to-market transformation for the Phoenix-based fresh foods retailer.
Jack Sinclair, CEO, Sprouts Farmers Market
“I think it'll be very clear that it’s targeting the kind of customers that we know will respond to our offer when we put that clearly in front of them.”
Whole Foods to Open Ideal Market in Denver
By Jennifer Strailey on 08/26/2020
The eagerly anticipated reopening of a Whole Foods Market in Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood will launch as Ideal Market.
Fresh Thyme Unveils ‘Refined, Sharpened’ New Logo
By Kristina Hurtig on 08/27/2020
Along with the new logo, the specialty retailer will debut a new “This Is Real” advertising campaign on Aug. 30 that highlights the diversity and uniqueness of the Fresh Thyme customer.
Kings/Balducci's Files Chapter 11 to Facilitate Sale
By Jon Springer on 08/24/2020
Suffering pre-COVID sales declines and deep debt, the chain will market a $75 million acquisition offer in bankruptcy court
$8.6 Million
Net loss on sales of $589.4 million at KB Holdings in the 52 weeks ending July 25
Walmart, Amazon Prove Online Grocery Is Not the Future, Study Shows
By Jennifer Strailey on 08/25/2020
Walmart may have outpaced Amazon to become the No. 1 online grocer, but it doesn't change the fundamentals behind food and beverage e-commerce that make it "economically unsustainable" in its current form, according to a new survey from TABS Analytics.
Kurt Jetta, founder and chief analyst, TABS Analytics
“The paradigm [Amazon and others] have bought into with next- or same-day delivery is so self-destructive.”
Lidl Sets Next Growth Spurt; 2 Stores to Close
By Jon Springer on 08/25/2020
The discounter said it would invest $500 million to grow its U.S. store base by 50% by the end of next year; two first-generation "glass palaces" are closing.
8
Remaining Lidl stores of the 10 that opened on its U.S. debut on June 15, 2017
7 Ways Technology Is Reinventing Shopping at Walmart
By Jon Springer on 08/26/2020
In an investor conference this week, Walmart's Tom Ward discussed how COVID-19 accelerated a change in consumer behavior that the big retailer has long been preparing for.
Tom Ward, SVP, consumer product, Walmart
“Who would have guessed previously that if you wanted to receive a delivery, you'd want it to be left on your doorstep without any contact with the delivery driver? That’s not something we'd have ever anticipated.”
5 Consumer Insights From Dunnhumby’s Latest COVID-19 Study
By Kristina Hurtig on 08/26/2020
Shoppers surveyed in wave four of the Consumer Pulse Survey express worry over rising food prices and store safety.
29%
Dunnhumby’s latest “Worry Index” for the U.S., which charts consumer coronavirus concern, up from 6% and nearing the high of 30% in March.
Kroger Appoints Dan Moore to Lead Ruler Foods
By Jon Springer on 08/25/2020
The Ralphs veteran succeeds Dustin Goodpaster at the hard discount division as Dustin Goodpaster takes Mid-Atlantic operations post.
Dollar Chains Tout Profit Growth in Q2, Even as Trips Decline
By Jon Springer on 08/27/2020
Rival discounters Dollar Tree and Dollar General said shoppers visited less often, but bought more high-margin items when they did, in respective Q2s.
18.8%
Comparable-store sales gain at Dollar General in its fiscal second quarter