It's doubtful that I will be back out in the area anytime soon. Can't really make a special trip since I have no idea of the current condition of the store.
Recently, you were wondering about how many stores were closed prior to the starting of the blog. According to your own archived posts, Acme had 126 stores in mid-2009 and 130 in January of that year.
But if Wikipedia is right in the number of Acme stores transferred, SuperValu took in 134 Acme stores in summer 2006, which means they closed 8 in about 3 years. By February 2013, there were 112 stores just after Cerberus took over, which means in that 3 and a half years, 22 stores were closed, a substantial hit. With the last store count a few weeks ago, within two years, we're down to 108, meaning that Cerberus only closed 4, an average of 2 a year, which is less than either of SuperValu's averages.
With that ~200 number you were quoting earlier, while undoubtedly American Stores closed a number of stores in the 1990s without replacement (likely horribly dated ones), I would GUESS that it would be Albertsons that did a lot of the cuts in the early 2000s.
Remember, Albertsons was the one that basically tried to turn Acme into Albertsons in all but name the first time around, which may have turned off many shoppers...so it would be likely that in the early 2000s (roughly 2001-2005 here) several stores would've been cut loose as a result of Albertsons working off the problems from the American Stores buyout and a massive expansion of stores (many of which would end up being closed again)
Thanks for doing the math! Looks like the list in the Nov 25th post does in fact have all of the stores closed under SuperValu. Albertsons closed a lot of stores in the early 2000's. I've read articles criticizing them for closing too many and permanently damaging Acme's standing in the Philly market (which is exactly what happened). Surprisingly Alberstsons was able to increase Acme’s market share in the early 2000’s largely through remodeling a majority of the stores. Declines set back in when Alberstons began raising prices to increase profits. That absolutely turned shoppers off.
Update: a June 1998 Supermarket News article said that Acme operated 180 supermarkets (about a year before the merger). So if by mid-2006, that number had been reduced to 134, Albertsons (or American Stores, but mostly Albertsons) closed 46 stores in 8 years, or 5.75 a year. That's probably where the BIGGEST hit of lost Acmes came from.
One more question: is Acme Markets Inc. the original American Stores Inc.?
Prior to 1979, American Stores was Philadelphia-based, and in the 1980s, Acme Markets moved out of downtown Philadelphia and into their current location. Given that all American Stores owned at the time was Alpha Beta and Acme, I'm pretty sure Acme Markets IS the original American Stores that remained under the new company as a subsidiary. Is that right?
Anybody heard about Kings Food Markets now pulling grocery, dairy and frozen from Wakefern? It was in Supermarket news, but I'm kinda surprised that a chain like Kings would want to be tied to wakefern... from the standpoint they don't compete with ShopRite on price, its fine, but other independent chains that pull from wakefern are mostly out of their general marketing area, except for Red Apple Group and their banners, and they also use the ShopRite private label. Kings now doesn't use any private label so you don't see any shoprite labels on the shelves, and I think that would be odd if you go across the street to a Kings and see a ShopRite label. So many ShopRites are near a Kings... anybody have any thoughts about it?
So if they don't have any private label items (only name brands) does it really matter who they get their supplies from, as the customers would have no way of knowing? Probably they were able to work out a better deal with Wakefern then whoever they had used in the past, which would be good for them, either to offer better prices or keep the prices the same and make more money. I have seen the ShopRite label as you mention at a small chain in the greater Cleveland, OH area, but it seemed to be only on "long life" items like paper goods, which would also make sense as they could buy a large supply of those to make the transport costs lower.
I believe the reason Kings switched to Wakefern is because their former wholesaler, White Rose, went out of business. I also remember reading somewhere that the arrangement is only temporary, but I'm not sure. And Kings still has Kings storebrand items (although fewer than they used to).
I'm pretty sure Acme Markets, Inc. was always a subsidiary of ASC. When Skaggs bought the company, they adopted the name but little else. Many long-time Acme employees still refer to the 1979-1999 ASC as "Skaggs".
Interestingly, I recall reading that Acme was under the Jewel Companies division at one point.
Currently, as far as I can tell the American Stores Company name is now owned by CVS Health! Apparently that went with the drug store part in the breakup.
Kings was using White Rose as a distributor. White Rose went out of business, and the remnants were purchased by C&S, which supplies A&P, Stop & Shop, BJs. For price, or possibly other reasons, Kings made the deal with Wakefern for distribution. I don't find it strange. Wakefern made a conscious decision a few years back to market its distribution/warehousing product to any 3rd party retailers who wanted it. Their huge buying volume means they probably can compete quite well with C&S. Wakefern supplies Morten Williams, which carries the ShopRite brand as its house brand--and in the case of Jersey City, there is a ShopRite store within blocks. Both stores carry the ShopRite label as the store brand, but the banners are marketed in totally different ways. If there's one thing I have learned in this blog, it is that Wakefern is smart and executes excellently. They will make money where they know they have strengths. Besides this, stealing a customer like Kings from C&S Wholesalers means that C&S has that much less volume-buying-power, which, in turn, leads to higher prices at Stop & Shop, Pathmark, A&P....all of which compete with ShopRite, PriceRite and The Fresh Grocer. Smart.
I built a Minecaft ACME also. However, this one was modeled off the acme maple shade nj, with albertsons marketplace decor . I can send in pictures if you want. If possible can you not use my name.
Just want to make sure you guys saw the classic photos they posted in the Star Ledger/NJ.com of vintage supermarkets in NJ: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/12/vintage_photos_of_supermarkets_in_nj.html
Food Fair, Pantry Pride, Acme, Grand Union--and of course, A&P---they are all there! It was a pretty cool piece.
could you do food town in cedar knolls
ReplyDeleteIt's doubtful that I will be back out in the area anytime soon. Can't really make a special trip since I have no idea of the current condition of the store.
DeleteRecently, you were wondering about how many stores were closed prior to the starting of the blog. According to your own archived posts, Acme had 126 stores in mid-2009 and 130 in January of that year.
ReplyDeleteBut if Wikipedia is right in the number of Acme stores transferred, SuperValu took in 134 Acme stores in summer 2006, which means they closed 8 in about 3 years. By February 2013, there were 112 stores just after Cerberus took over, which means in that 3 and a half years, 22 stores were closed, a substantial hit. With the last store count a few weeks ago, within two years, we're down to 108, meaning that Cerberus only closed 4, an average of 2 a year, which is less than either of SuperValu's averages.
With that ~200 number you were quoting earlier, while undoubtedly American Stores closed a number of stores in the 1990s without replacement (likely horribly dated ones), I would GUESS that it would be Albertsons that did a lot of the cuts in the early 2000s.
Remember, Albertsons was the one that basically tried to turn Acme into Albertsons in all but name the first time around, which may have turned off many shoppers...so it would be likely that in the early 2000s (roughly 2001-2005 here) several stores would've been cut loose as a result of Albertsons working off the problems from the American Stores buyout and a massive expansion of stores (many of which would end up being closed again)
Just a theory.
Thanks for doing the math! Looks like the list in the Nov 25th post does in fact have all of the stores closed under SuperValu. Albertsons closed a lot of stores in the early 2000's. I've read articles criticizing them for closing too many and permanently damaging Acme's standing in the Philly market (which is exactly what happened). Surprisingly Alberstsons was able to increase Acme’s market share in the early 2000’s largely through remodeling a majority of the stores. Declines set back in when Alberstons began raising prices to increase profits. That absolutely turned shoppers off.
DeleteUpdate: a June 1998 Supermarket News article said that Acme operated 180 supermarkets (about a year before the merger). So if by mid-2006, that number had been reduced to 134, Albertsons (or American Stores, but mostly Albertsons) closed 46 stores in 8 years, or 5.75 a year. That's probably where the BIGGEST hit of lost Acmes came from.
ReplyDeleteOne more question: is Acme Markets Inc. the original American Stores Inc.?
ReplyDeletePrior to 1979, American Stores was Philadelphia-based, and in the 1980s, Acme Markets moved out of downtown Philadelphia and into their current location. Given that all American Stores owned at the time was Alpha Beta and Acme, I'm pretty sure Acme Markets IS the original American Stores that remained under the new company as a subsidiary. Is that right?
Legacy American Stores [1917-1979] was in the 1960's until 1974 Acme Markets, Inc.
DeleteAnybody heard about Kings Food Markets now pulling grocery, dairy and frozen from Wakefern? It was in Supermarket news, but I'm kinda surprised that a chain like Kings would want to be tied to wakefern... from the standpoint they don't compete with ShopRite on price, its fine, but other independent chains that pull from wakefern are mostly out of their general marketing area, except for Red Apple Group and their banners, and they also use the ShopRite private label. Kings now doesn't use any private label so you don't see any shoprite labels on the shelves, and I think that would be odd if you go across the street to a Kings and see a ShopRite label. So many ShopRites are near a Kings... anybody have any thoughts about it?
ReplyDeleteSo if they don't have any private label items (only name brands) does it really matter who they get their supplies from, as the customers would have no way of knowing?
DeleteProbably they were able to work out a better deal with Wakefern then whoever they had used in the past, which would be good for them, either to offer better prices or keep the prices the same and make more money.
I have seen the ShopRite label as you mention at a small chain in the greater Cleveland, OH area, but it seemed to be only on "long life" items like paper goods, which would also make sense as they could buy a large supply of those to make the transport costs lower.
I believe the reason Kings switched to Wakefern is because their former wholesaler, White Rose, went out of business. I also remember reading somewhere that the arrangement is only temporary, but I'm not sure. And Kings still has Kings storebrand items (although fewer than they used to).
DeleteI'm pretty sure Acme Markets, Inc. was always a subsidiary of ASC. When Skaggs bought the company, they adopted the name but little else. Many long-time Acme employees still refer to the 1979-1999 ASC as "Skaggs".
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, I recall reading that Acme was under the Jewel Companies division at one point.
Currently, as far as I can tell the American Stores Company name is now owned by CVS Health! Apparently that went with the drug store part in the breakup.
Kings was using White Rose as a distributor. White Rose went out of business, and the remnants were purchased by C&S, which supplies A&P, Stop & Shop, BJs. For price, or possibly other reasons, Kings made the deal with Wakefern for distribution. I don't find it strange. Wakefern made a conscious decision a few years back to market its distribution/warehousing product to any 3rd party retailers who wanted it. Their huge buying volume means they probably can compete quite well with C&S. Wakefern supplies Morten Williams, which carries the ShopRite brand as its house brand--and in the case of Jersey City, there is a ShopRite store within blocks. Both stores carry the ShopRite label as the store brand, but the banners are marketed in totally different ways. If there's one thing I have learned in this blog, it is that Wakefern is smart and executes excellently. They will make money where they know they have strengths. Besides this, stealing a customer like Kings from C&S Wholesalers means that C&S has that much less volume-buying-power, which, in turn, leads to higher prices at Stop & Shop, Pathmark, A&P....all of which compete with ShopRite, PriceRite and The Fresh Grocer. Smart.
ReplyDeleteI built a Minecaft ACME also. However, this one was modeled off the acme maple shade nj, with albertsons marketplace decor . I can send in pictures if you want. If possible can you not use my name.
ReplyDeleteJust want to make sure you guys saw the classic photos they posted in the Star Ledger/NJ.com of vintage supermarkets in NJ:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/12/vintage_photos_of_supermarkets_in_nj.html
Food Fair, Pantry Pride, Acme, Grand Union--and of course, A&P---they are all there!
It was a pretty cool piece.
I saw that article and those photos to which Dave alluded, and they were really fantastic! Thank you for the link!
Delete