I think the big news is the Ahold-Delhaize merger. I'm wondering if they will be able to get this through FTC scrutiny. My parents live in a south-central Pennsylvania town of about 30,000 including the surrounding area. The grocery landscape is two Giant-PA stores, two Food Lion stores, a Wal-Mart Supercenter, an independent and a Weis. There is also an Aldi and a Save-a-Lot though I don't consider them to be full line grocers. After the merger the combined Ahold-Delhaize will have more than 50 percent of physical stores and most likely the majority of grocery sales because of the strength of Giant-PA. There are other areas where the same thing will occur. I suspect a lot of divestitures but whom out there is in the buying and expanding mood? And what chain that is expanding and is interested isn't already in the northeast where Ahold and Delhaize overlap? I could see Kroger expanding further north since they already have Harris Teeter. Or maybe ShopRite wants to go further into the Baltimore and DC markets. But that is really about it. I'd love to see Publix or ShopRite come to the DC area where I live but why would either want the small Food Lion stores that are likely, in my opinion, to be divested. This whole merger is a puzzler to me because unless Ahold is looking to create some sort of discount chain there just isn't a lot of synergy between Ahold and Delhaize.
If Ahold wanted a discount chain, I don't think Delhaize would have dumped Bottom Dollar Food. They were trying to trim themselves as much as possible to look more presentable to Ahold (maybe others, but I think all along they were trying to woo Ahold). Maybe Ahold will keep Food Lion as a discount brand, but who knows?
The Northeast portion (that being Stop & Shop and Hannaford brands) is really not an issue. They only overlap in a couple areas (Hannaford has like 29 stores in MA, which overlap with Stop & Shop there, and there is a small section from Rhinebeck, NY south where both chains exist). Aside from that VT/NH/ME only have Hannaford, CT/RI and most of MA west of say Worcester only have S&S, NY north of Rhinebeck only has Hannaford.
I don't know the specifics on the MA overlap, as to what other stores are nearby, but I would assume Shaw's/Star at least. The only one I know in NY is that Rhinebeck/Red Hook area, where there are only 2 stores - S&S and Hannaford - that would seem to be a spot where they might be required to sell off one of the stores, but it could easily be to Price Chopper or ShopRite as neither is there but both are in surrounding areas. Further South where both exist I'd suspect there is either a PC/SR/A&P or such in the area also.
It does seem like the southern (Food Lion/Giant/Giant/Martins) areas would be the more problematic for combining.
It would be only problematic for the combined Food Lion/Giant [MD]/Giant[PA]/Martins in DE, MD, PA, VA, and WV. Food Lion is the only banner mentioned in NC and SC.
When they closed the Acme in Exton last year, the main reason (or so they say) was that the lease was expiring. What is strange is that they aren't even showing it as for lease. I found that odd when I was over that way last week. Then it got me thinking to look up the property management company and they are still showing it as leased. It makes me think that Acme is still holding this lease and closed a store that was still profitable (or so I heard). Plus it prevents someone else from going in there like they have done in other locations.
But what's the point to holding onto the lease for that reason (keep someone else out)? Wegmans I'm sure has no interest, Giant remodeled their store, can't envision either Pathmark or Superfresh expanding so the only one really left is Shop Rite.
There doesn't seem to be any info on the net of the northeastern PA Acme stores that closed in the early to mid 90's. Does anybody have any pics or info of the old East Stroudsburg/ Stroudsburg acme stores?
That cvs has the pitched roof still. The Stroudsburg store was torn down and rebuilt as a Weis. It's just to bad there was never any photos from when they were both still Acme's.
New word on abandoned Clifton store apparently puts Foodtown in the mix to take it over. Personally, I would prefer that. Some want Shoprite but there's four in that general area and no need for a fifth (Nutley, Brookdale, Belleville, Little Falls).
I doubt that's gonna happen, for two reasons: one, we've already got one, two, Trader Joe's is already over in that area and I don't think Aldi wants to compete with itself. :)
Mom and dad did some shopping at the new Wallington store this weekend...weren't impressed, which surprised me because of how much Inserra does to its stores.
If you're interested, I snapped a few photos of the former Leonia Acme. No interior shots (it's now a CVS, and I know they hate in-store photography), but I got a few good shots of the exterior.
I keep seeing commercials on tv for 25 new Aldi stores in the Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey market. Obviously former Bottom Dollar locations.
Also don't forget Lidl is entering the US market. They are building an HQ and a distribution center in northern VA. I think they would be in a good position to take over any Food Lions that need to be divested. Unless they are going to build all their stores from the ground up.
Does anybody know about the Rhinebeck, NY Stop & Shop? What's going on inside, I went there yesterday to pick up some groceries and the store was completely mixed up. Dairy near shampoo? Canned near shampoo? Deli IN produce?
Work just started on the old Lionville Genuardis as well. I wonder if it is the same tenant. According to the manager at the former Audubon store, a store called Keller's Korean Market bought the 50-year lease for the whole store. Last I saw, it was still all G's inside, and was being repainted.
The NY Post said today that A&P will file a prepackaged bankruptcy, with stores going to Kroger (I guess Harris Teeter?), Acme, Ahold and others. They specifically mentioned 80 stores earmarked for Acme...which would be pretty amazing. My one caveat is that this is the notoriously inaccurate and crappy Post. It will be sad to see A&P finally go but at least it's replacements will breathe new life into the industry around here.
I think the big news is the Ahold-Delhaize merger. I'm wondering if they will be able to get this through FTC scrutiny. My parents live in a south-central Pennsylvania town of about 30,000 including the surrounding area. The grocery landscape is two Giant-PA stores, two Food Lion stores, a Wal-Mart Supercenter, an independent and a Weis. There is also an Aldi and a Save-a-Lot though I don't consider them to be full line grocers. After the merger the combined Ahold-Delhaize will have more than 50 percent of physical stores and most likely the majority of grocery sales because of the strength of Giant-PA. There are other areas where the same thing will occur. I suspect a lot of divestitures but whom out there is in the buying and expanding mood? And what chain that is expanding and is interested isn't already in the northeast where Ahold and Delhaize overlap? I could see Kroger expanding further north since they already have Harris Teeter. Or maybe ShopRite wants to go further into the Baltimore and DC markets. But that is really about it. I'd love to see Publix or ShopRite come to the DC area where I live but why would either want the small Food Lion stores that are likely, in my opinion, to be divested. This whole merger is a puzzler to me because unless Ahold is looking to create some sort of discount chain there just isn't a lot of synergy between Ahold and Delhaize.
ReplyDeleteIf Ahold wanted a discount chain, I don't think Delhaize would have dumped Bottom Dollar Food. They were trying to trim themselves as much as possible to look more presentable to Ahold (maybe others, but I think all along they were trying to woo Ahold). Maybe Ahold will keep Food Lion as a discount brand, but who knows?
DeleteThe Northeast portion (that being Stop & Shop and Hannaford brands) is really not an issue. They only overlap in a couple areas (Hannaford has like 29 stores in MA, which overlap with Stop & Shop there, and there is a small section from Rhinebeck, NY south where both chains exist).
DeleteAside from that VT/NH/ME only have Hannaford, CT/RI and most of MA west of say Worcester only have S&S, NY north of Rhinebeck only has Hannaford.
I don't know the specifics on the MA overlap, as to what other stores are nearby, but I would assume Shaw's/Star at least.
The only one I know in NY is that Rhinebeck/Red Hook area, where there are only 2 stores - S&S and Hannaford - that would seem to be a spot where they might be required to sell off one of the stores, but it could easily be to Price Chopper or ShopRite as neither is there but both are in surrounding areas. Further South where both exist I'd suspect there is either a PC/SR/A&P or such in the area also.
It does seem like the southern (Food Lion/Giant/Giant/Martins) areas would be the more problematic for combining.
It would be only problematic for the combined Food Lion/Giant [MD]/Giant[PA]/Martins in DE, MD, PA, VA, and WV. Food Lion is the only banner mentioned in NC and SC.
DeleteIn the Massachusetts area that Stop and Shop and Hannaford overlap, the dominant store is Market Basket
DeleteWhen they closed the Acme in Exton last year, the main reason (or so they say) was that the lease was expiring. What is strange is that they aren't even showing it as for lease. I found that odd when I was over that way last week. Then it got me thinking to look up the property management company and they are still showing it as leased. It makes me think that Acme is still holding this lease and closed a store that was still profitable (or so I heard). Plus it prevents someone else from going in there like they have done in other locations.
ReplyDeleteBut what's the point to holding onto the lease for that reason (keep someone else out)? Wegmans I'm sure has no interest, Giant remodeled their store, can't envision either Pathmark or Superfresh expanding so the only one really left is Shop Rite.
DeleteThere doesn't seem to be any info on the net of the northeastern PA Acme stores that closed in the early to mid 90's. Does anybody have any pics or info of the old East Stroudsburg/ Stroudsburg acme stores?
ReplyDeleteThe East Stroudsburg store is now a CVS.
DeleteThat cvs has the pitched roof still. The Stroudsburg store was torn down and rebuilt as a Weis. It's just to bad there was never any photos from when they were both still Acme's.
DeleteThat Acme was also in its day a 33M Super Saver.
DeleteNew word on abandoned Clifton store apparently puts Foodtown in the mix to take it over. Personally, I would prefer that. Some want Shoprite but there's four in that general area and no need for a fifth (Nutley, Brookdale, Belleville, Little Falls).
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the new Wallington//Carlstadt S/R also!
DeleteI would love to see an ALDI in the old Clifton Acme!
I doubt that's gonna happen, for two reasons: one, we've already got one, two, Trader Joe's is already over in that area and I don't think Aldi wants to compete with itself. :)
DeleteMom and dad did some shopping at the new Wallington store this weekend...weren't impressed, which surprised me because of how much Inserra does to its stores.
If you're interested, I snapped a few photos of the former Leonia Acme. No interior shots (it's now a CVS, and I know they hate in-store photography), but I got a few good shots of the exterior.
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing commercials on tv for 25 new Aldi stores in the Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey market. Obviously former Bottom Dollar locations.
ReplyDeleteAlso don't forget Lidl is entering the US market. They are building an HQ and a distribution center in northern VA. I think they would be in a good position to take over any Food Lions that need to be divested. Unless they are going to build all their stores from the ground up.
This is hardly surprising, but yet another Centennial A&P store is closing. This time the location happens to be in Katonah, NY.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody know about the Rhinebeck, NY Stop & Shop? What's going on inside, I went there yesterday to pick up some groceries and the store was completely mixed up. Dairy near shampoo? Canned near shampoo? Deli IN produce?
ReplyDeleteThe Egg Harbor Genuardis was bought by a company called JRs Fresh Market. It sounds like they just started working on it.
ReplyDeleteWork just started on the old Lionville Genuardis as well. I wonder if it is the same tenant. According to the manager at the former Audubon store, a store called Keller's Korean Market bought the 50-year lease for the whole store. Last I saw, it was still all G's inside, and was being repainted.
DeleteThe NY Post said today that A&P will file a prepackaged bankruptcy, with stores going to Kroger (I guess Harris Teeter?), Acme, Ahold and others. They specifically mentioned 80 stores earmarked for Acme...which would be pretty amazing. My one caveat is that this is the notoriously inaccurate and crappy Post. It will be sad to see A&P finally go but at least it's replacements will breathe new life into the industry around here.
ReplyDeleteWould you please cover the Newtown Square Acme soon? It seriously is in danger of closing due to Whole Foods building across the street.
ReplyDeleteIt will not be closing. An extensive remodel is about to get started at that store. I may wait until the remodel is done to cover the store.
Delete