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WGB Week in Review: Automation and Amazon
Amazon's new store; a look back at Q2 financials A pause in the earnings season provided a moment to assess the same-store sales leaderboards for another terrific quarter for food retailers while reminders of the challenges and opportunities ahead were everywhere, from Amazon's first published sales flyer to H-E-B's big commitment to autonomy, here are the top stories of the week of Sept. 14 as reported in WGB.
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H-E-B storefrontPhotograph courtesy of H-E-B
H-E-B Goes Micro With AutoStore Rollout
By Jon Springer on 09/15/2020
The retailer is deploying microfulfillement centers in partnership with Swisslog featuring the first U.S. grocery deployment of AutoStore's robotic mini-warehouses.
Amazon Goes Bananas in Woodland Opening
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By Jon Springer on 09/17/2020
Amazon Fresh has a long fight ahead to be a significant contender in U.S. grocery, but its first store opens with a provocative pricing punch.
$4.97
Everyday price for rotisserie chickens at the new Amazon Fresh store
Neil Stern, senior partner, McMillan Doolittle, on Amazon Fresh's store growth speculation
“Whatever you think is coming, it’s probably 10x more than that.”
Will ShopRite Continue Its North Jersey Reign?
By Jennifer Strailey on 09/11/2020
With Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Amazon, Aldi and Lidl setting up shop in northern New Jersey, competition is heating up for the region’s No. 1 grocer.
Matt Casey, Matthew P. Casey & Associates, on simmering competition in Northern New Jersey
“I believe this market is already incredibly competitive. The bottom line is this is business as usual, and everyone wants a bigger piece of the pie.”
For Kroger, Back to a ‘New Normal’
By Jon Springer on 09/11/2020
Officials of the retailer said they gained "greater clarity" and market share in the second quarter behind heavy volumes but a resumption of regular practices in areas like promotions and efficiencies.
127%
Digital sales growth in Kroger's second quarter
Can Supermarkets Turn a Sudden Sales Spike Into Future Strength?
By Jon Springer on 09/14/2020
Basket Economics: Six months into the pandemic, the supermarket is proving its resiliency, and with the right moves, can birth a prosperous new era.
26.5%
Weis Markets' ex-fuel comparable store sales in the fiscal second quarter, the highest among reporting companies in the industry
Jet Foods Set to Open in Chicagoland, Announces More Stores
By Kat Martin on 09/15/2020
Nat Caputo is behind a new chain of stores in Chicagoland, the first set to open soon.
Trader Joe’s Strategic Seasonal Product Launch
By Jennifer Strailey on 09/16/2020
While the start of the pandemic saw retailers struggling to keep toilet paper and meat on the shelves, the new challenge is to ensure a full assortment of pumpkin spice is in stock.
6 Tech Insights From Walmart’s U.S. CEO
By Kristina Hurtig on 09/16/2020
John Furner sounds off on the initiatives that prove the retailer “thinks like a startup.”
John Furner, CEO, Walmart U.S.
"When you start with a commercial mindset and a mobile mindset first, then we're able to put things at scale that feel like they were developed just recently."
Tony Sarsam Named CEO at SpartanNash
By Jon Springer on 09/14/2020
The former CEO of Borden Dairy and longtime Pepsi and Nestle executive will succeed interim CEO Dennis Eidson, completing a yearlong search for the Michigan-based retailer and distributor.
Wegmans’ N.C. Entry Is Its ‘Fastest and Most Aggressive’
By Jennifer Strailey on 09/16/2020
The retailer's expansion plans for North Carolina are running at full steam, with four additional locations planned for a total of six stores in the state.
Ralph Uttaro, SVP Real Estate, Wegmans Food Markets
“When we visited the Raleigh-Durham area in 2014, we quickly saw that the area had everything we were looking for. With the population expanding rapidly, we saw the potential for it to become a multi-store market. Our timing was perfect, as multiple real estate opportunities quickly presented themselves.”
What's Ahead for Grocery Hot Bars and Salad Bars?
By Mike Eardley on 09/16/2020
The pandemic has effectively shut down centerpieces of the fresh department, putting industry ingenuity to the test, the author says.
Just 20% of Consumers Are Confident Their Food Is Safe: Study
By Kristina Hurtig on 09/16/2020
Zebra, which conducted the Food Safety Supply Chain Vision Study, says technology can help win back trust.
5 Things to Learn From Grocery Outlet
By Jon Springer on 09/11/2020
From why it's not rushing to e-commerce to what it's learning from Chick-fil-A, CEO Eric Lindberg muses on the unique and fast-growing discount model.
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