Sunflower Farmers Market, a rapidly growing value-priced organic and natural foods grocer in six Southwestern states, is set to open its first store in California in April 2011. While the concept is new to California, Mike Gilliland, the man behind the brand, is well known there. He established the popular Wild Oats supermarket in the…
Giant Eagle Welcomes Huntington
Huntington Bank has opened the first of its Giant Eagle in-store branches, part of an exclusive, 15-year agreement announced in September 2010 to install seven-day-a-week, full-service branches in at least 103 Giant Eagle supermarkets. “This is a true partnership between two companies that share a strong, long-held commitment to customer service, convenience, and the communities…
Market District Opens In Ohio
Inspired by the open-air markets of Europe and a passion for food, Giant Eagle Inc. opened its Kingsdale Market District food store-a 132,000 square-foot culinary, dining and shopping destination, on Oct. 14, in Columbus. The Kingsdale Market District, the fourth for the multi-format food retailer and first in Ohio, delivers central Ohio residents with a…
Rite Aid Partners With Save-A-Lot
Rite Aid Corp. plans to add discount Save-A-Lot groceries to 10 of its stores in and around Greenville, S.C., as it tests out a partnership with Supervalu Inc., the Associated Press reported. The stores are set to be remodeled by October, and renamed Save-A-Lot Food Stores/Rite Aid Pharmacy. Rite Aid will own and operate the…
Shell Leaps into Loyalty
At a Glance: Shell’s Fuel Rewards Program In an effort to bring value to its fuel customers and branded marketers, Shell Oil Products U.S., in July, launched its Grocery Rewards program with several of the nation’s largest supermarket brands in markets across the country. Customers earn one fuel point for every dollar spent at…
Granting Wishes in West Virginia
The West Virginia Oil Marketers and Grocers Association (OMEGA) and the West Virginia chapters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation kicked off their fundraising drive Monday at the Par Mar Convenience Store at 720 Division St. in Parkersburg, allowing community members to buy stars to help grant wishes of local children with life-threatening medical conditions, Newsandsentinel.com reported.…
Swiss Farms Adds Drive-Through Payment Transactions
Swiss Farms, the drive-through grocery store chain headquartered in Broomall, Pa., is adding a fully secure payment processing solution through Columbus IT and Mercury Payments Systems. The enhanced system is designed to meet Swiss Farms’ specific payment processing needs as it launched a national franchising expansion program. The chain needed to accept EBT cards and…
Why Product Assortment Delivers
More than 50% of U.S. consumers told The Nielsen Company they are likely to shop elsewhere if they notice a reduced selection of consumer packaged goods (CPG), while nearly half of retailers indicate continued plans to decrease assortment. So far, most consumers haven’t observed assortment changes with only 7% reporting a noticeable reduction in product…
Energy Sales Hold Strong
Familiarity with shifting consumer attitudes amidst a turbulent economy–and the willingness to make changes in the cooler if need be–could help retailers cash in big with isotonics and energy drinks this year. “If you’re intent on raising your share in that marketplace then I think you have to get in touch with who that user…
Kum & Go Expands Redbox Kiosks
Kum & Go plans to add Redbox DVD rental kiosks to more than 281 Kum & Go convenience stores nationwide this year. Redbox kiosks are currently installed at 26 Kum & Go stores in Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. “Redbox has made a positive impact on our stores and has been very popular…