Laurel, MT IGA transferred to Albertsons

[retailfanmitchell019]

Some Kroger divisions supply long-distance stores. Smiths supplies a lot of long-distance Stores: the MT Smiths, Gillette WY Smiths, Reno Smiths, Albuquerque Smiths, all qualify as "long distance stores." Ralphs on the other hand- Paso Robles and Fresno were too far for them to keep operating... really depends on the division.

Where was the distribution center for Buttrey?

Buttrey's distro was in Great Falls, their hq town. Albertsons closed it right after buying Buttrey (yet they had offices in Great Falls for a while).

[storewanderer]

Some Kroger divisions supply long-distance stores. Smiths supplies a lot of long-distance Stores: the MT Smiths, Gillette WY Smiths, Reno Smiths, Albuquerque Smiths, all qualify as "long distance stores." Ralphs on the other hand- Paso Robles and Fresno were too far for them to keep operating... really depends on the division.

Where was the distribution center for Buttrey?

Buttrey's distro was in Great Falls, their hq town. Albertsons closed it right after buying Buttrey (yet they had offices in Great Falls for a while).

I find it interesting Albertsons found it more efficient to supply from Salt Lake City than keep a small distribution in Great Falls. Associated Food Stores did that too many years ago closing a MT warehouse and moving everything to Salt Lake City.

I'm not sure if UNFI/Supervalu has a MT warehouse or not. URM is positioned to supply MT better with warehouse(s?) in Spokane area but still a long trek.

[pseudo3d]

https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/al ... ings-store
https://archive.is/wpkBD

They mention in this article that the Laurel store (the former IGA) will "break ground" soon and open in October.

I'm confused about the break ground part. I wonder if there was an issue with the old building in Laurel and they are having to do a brand new store there.

Maybe...a lot of areas have some sort of code that any sort of renovations have to be this, that, and the other, and the whole thing ends up becoming so expensive that the whole building has to be practically gutted and just to start over from scratch.

I can't imagine Laurel, MT having strict code like that though.

[retailfanmitchell019]

I'm not sure if UNFI/Supervalu has a MT warehouse or not. URM is positioned to supply MT better with warehouse(s?) in Spokane area but still a long trek.

UNFI does indeed have a warehouse in Billings: https://www.unfi.com/central-locations-mobile
I wouldn't be surprised if this were used to supply Albertsons/SpinCo in MT.

[retailfanmitchell019]

New Billings Albertsons finally open: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Alber ... 11k9zfp29d
Layout looks similar to the Albertsons in Wildomar, CA.
No Osco signs though...

[storewanderer]

New Billings Albertsons finally open: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Alber ... 11k9zfp29d
Layout looks similar to the Albertsons in Wildomar, CA.
No Osco signs though...

Powell finally opened too.
Albertsons banner.

[retailfanmitchell019]

Powell finally opened too.
Albertsons banner.

I wonder how those two independents feel... One of them AWG, the other AFS.

[storewanderer]

Powell finally opened too.
Albertsons banner.

I wonder how those two independents feel... One of them AWG, the other AFS.

I suspect they got some bump in business when Shopko closed but Shopko was so weak on consumables, maybe not. This will easily take that bump in business away and more. The Albertsons is undersized though so that may allow the two independents to eek it out. Cost to operate there in WY is also quite low. We don't know if these two independents own their buildings and have no debt and just sit there and operate, etc.

[SamSpade]

New Billings Albertsons finally open: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Alber ... 11k9zfp29d
Layout looks similar to the Albertsons in Wildomar, CA.
No Osco signs though...

Powell finally opened too.
Albertsons banner.

https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/a ... are,74958?
Interesting question with this latest opening - looks like "Butcher Block" will remain with Albertsons stores. I don't believe any Safeway meat counters have seen this term applied, though I certainly do *not* know.

[rwsandiego]

New Billings Albertsons finally open: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Alber ... 11k9zfp29d
Layout looks similar to the Albertsons in Wildomar, CA.
No Osco signs though...

Powell finally opened too.
Albertsons banner.

https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/a ... are,74958?
Interesting question with this latest opening - looks like "Butcher Block" will remain with Albertsons stores. I don't believe any Safeway meat counters have seen this term applied, though I certainly do *not* know.

At least one Safeway, a relatively new store in Queen Creek, AZ (far East Valley suburb of Phoenix) calls the meat department the "Butcher Block.