Baker's, Tops Stores Launch Dry Cleaning

DAN ALAIMO

CINCINNATI — Two supermarket banners have opened their first dry cleaning and laundry operations run by Dress For Success Cleaners, Santa Ana, Calif.

Baker's, a Dillon Stores format of Kroger Co. here, opened its first Dress For Success location this month, and Supermarket Management, Buffalo, N.Y., a three-store franchisee of Tops Markets of Giant Food Stores, Carlisle, Pa., an Ahold division, launched the service last week, said Bruce Stegmaier, chief operating officer of Dress for Success.

Dress For Success licenses the concept to retailers, and coordinates the pickup and delivery of cleaning services. The retailers provide the space — usually 100 to 150 square feet at the customer-service counter — as well as investment in the in-store module and cooperative advertising, and labor. Retailers share 20% of the net profits, Stegmaier said.

“It's just another opportunity to give added value to the customer,” said Clay Brasher, assistant director of real estate, Baker's.

Dress For Success plans for a second Baker's store in four to eight weeks, a second Ralphs store in June and 10 more Giant Eagle stores this year. Dress For Success also operates in other Kroger divisions, Marsh, Safeway's Vons stores, Publix, and Albertsons LLC and Albertsons Supervalu stores, Stegmaier said. The company is now in almost 300 supermarkets, and expects to add 40 to 50 stores per year, he said.