Retail Watchers

Not sure that extending Hy-Vee trucks along I-80 another couple hours from their furthest east extent now would work very well (isn't most of Hy-Vee's distribution along I-35 between Osceola and West Des Moines)

Honestly, it would be kind of malpractice-y for any competitor to NOT go after Kroger in their uninvolved-with-Albertsons markets (while they're distracted). If Meijer (for instance) isn't taking this opportunity to go for the jugular in Michigan/Indiana and go after them while distracted with poten...

Just visited Palm Springs RA---what I've got to think is a high-volume store. From the entry, store looks great--fully stocked. As you walk down the diagonal aisle toward the pharmacy, there are some out-of-stocks in various categories but appears more to be specific manufacturers (i.e. impending re...

Exactly right. Franchisors have the power to mandate anything and everything they want....at the risk of pissing off their franchisees (and the neighboring franchisees). It is a balancing act, done initially at a very local level by the local zone reps but ultimately decided at the corporate level. ...

Did notice a (Hilco) "all sales final, acceptable tenders are" poster up at the MCM store in Palm Springs; no posted discounts, they still had fresh plants on racks outside (bedding plants/etc).

When I mentioned time sensitivity, I was talking more about the orders for shelf-stable and hardy produce type stuff (imagining orders for coffee/break room/etc plus a bag of apples and a 5# bag of tangerines for the fruit bowl on the counter) rather than meal catering (which does need to happen on-...

anything to add a stop for the delivery truck---particularly for offices there is likely less sensitivity to exact timing (anytime in the afternoon versus narrow windows for individual orders)

Michigan is sensible as well--leaving in Detroit Southland/Briarwood/Twelve Oaks/Somerset/Oakland. Lakeside/Partridge Creek is the only questionable hole left---Lakeside is already slated for a (senior) housing project (somewhat similar to Northland just 7 years later)...Partridge Creek which is abo...

Vons Palm Springs moved back to 10p close...I just presumed it was a typical end-of-season move.

Thanks for posting the Free Press article. TBH the tone of the article kind of matches how the reception for the closing RA stores seems to have been for RA throughout Michigan--it's not "oh noes....RA on it's way out"; rather "oh, the local RA is closing, here might be why, the next ...