Retail Watchers

What's even funnier is that the gift card operation offered in Fred Meyer, Kroger, Albertson's and other supermarkets is operated by Safeway (via their Blackhawk Marketing division). Safeway made a big investment in the technology that allows these cards to work at so many different stores and makes...

Kroger writing down Ralphs goodwill resulted in Kroger showing a 3rd quarter loss, but it revalues Ralphs to the current market. Given the state of the SoCal real estate market, all SoCal retailers are likely overpaying on leases given the present value of the property. The goodwill write down seem...

What is the condition of the Pavilions that is going to also be closing after this replacement is done? It's in good shape. The problem is it has very high rent. Originally there was a very successful Market Basket on the property that became a Ralphs. When the lease expired the owners of the prope...

I queston the ROI on most of these remodel programs. It is very evident Safeway's supposed success while doing lifestyle remodels was coming from drastic shelf price increases. I think in regards to Safeway it would be more accurate to say that the ROI came from increased margins as a result of bet...

I think SV-Albertsons is doing well, staying competitive with the Staters and Vons Pavilions. I'm not sure what you would base that on. Albertson's has lost more market share than any other major chain in the last couple of years in Southern California, falling from 2nd to 4th in market share (Ralp...

For what it's worth I can not distinguish between posts I have already read and those that I haven't. The graphics are so similar it's almost impossible to tell the difference. Otherwise, nice improvement.

Supervalu would only sell Albertson's SoCal or Acme to raise cash, certainly not because either division is chronically unprofitable. Both operations have great real estate and have been profitable in the recent past. The problem with both operations has been mismanagement by SVU. But, both chains c...

From my own personal experience I would say they did their research right and have the correct format that can counter program, if you will, against traditional supermarkets, supercenters and club stores. But where they have really gone wrong is execution. From what I have seen the stores are poorly...

Stater Brothers would be a good fit for Kroger, but the duplication of locations would be a deterrent and its likely that the FTC would not go for such a transaction in Southern California. Not only would the FTC not go for it but Stater Bros wouldn't go for it, either. Staters has been repositioni...

Your analysis is spot on krogerclerk. IMO it all comes down to execution and strategy. Dallas/Fort Worth comes to mind, as well, as another market where Albertson's had a huge lead in market share and lost it in just a couple of years and is now third in the market and falling fast. While it's certa...