News Briefs

Home discount retailer Big Lots Inc. has expanded its offering of campus living essentials for students starting or returning to college this fall. As such, the company has modified its store space to include a “back-to-campus center” where students and their families can find deals on everything needed for a dorm room or apartment, including furniture, décor, bedding, food and snacks, laundry and cleaning products, beauty and personal care items, and school supplies.

“Whether you’re moving into a new dorm, apartment or home, Big Lots is the place to go to cross everything off your shopping list, plus a few surprising extras, at bargain prices,” said Big Lots President and CEO Bruce Thorn. “This year, we’ve expanded our already unmatched selection of campus living essentials and treasures, plus grouped them in a convenient ‘store-within-a-store’ where you can find and compare items and styles to outfit your unique living space.”

Big Lots’ back-to-campus center features vignettes displaying combinations of furniture, décor, appliances and other essentials. The items are grouped in collections, including Big Lots exclusives from Real Living and Broyhill that fit a range of personalities, with gender-neutral options available. Customers can also shop Big Lots’ back-to-campus online. 

With more than 400 Big Lots retail stores located near U.S. college and university campuses, students can take advantage of various same-day and two-day delivery options, including through new partnerships with Shipt and Instacart.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots Inc. operates 1,438 stores in 47 states, as well as an e-commerce platform with expanded capabilities via BOPIS, curbside pickup, Instacart and same-day delivery across thousands of items. The company is No. 52 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America. Birmingham, Ala.-based Shipt is a wholly owned subsidiary Minneapolis-based Target Corp., which is No. 6 on The PG 100.

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. has posted an increase in its second-quarter profit and revenues as drug store sales boosted the company's margins and discount grocery store sales grew.

Canada's largest grocery and pharmacy chain says its net income available to common shareholders was $387 million or $1.16 per diluted share, a 3.2% increase from $375 million or $1.09 per share a year ago (all monetary values in this brief are in Canadian dollars).

Adjusted profits for the three months ended June 18 was $566 million or $1.69 per diluted share, up from $464 million or $1.35 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2021.

Revenues were $12.85 billion, an increase of $356 million or 2.9% compared with $12.49 billion in the prior year quarter.

Food same-store sales increased 0.9% and pharmacy same-store sales increased 5.6%.

Galen G. Weston, Loblaw chairman and president, said customers recognized the value, quality and convenience of the company's diverse store formats, store brands such as No Name and the PC Optimum loyalty program.

"In the quarter we also continued to pursue our strategic growth agenda, with the completion of our acquisition of Lifemark Health Group, bolstering our healthcare services offering and furthering our purpose to help Canadians Live Life Well."

[Read more: "Loblaw Transforms Itself Again"]

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. operates more than 2,400 corporate, franchised and associate-owned stores across Canada – including more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty – with 190,000-plus full- and part-time employees, making it one of the country’s largest private-sector employers. The Brampton, Ontario-based company is No. 11 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America. 

[For more Canadian grocery news, check out Progressive Grocer's sister publication: Canadian Grocery]

Hannaford Supermarkets has completed a revamp of five stores across its footprint. At the midway point of 2022, the grocer shared that is has refreshed locations in Townsend, Mass., Leominster, Mass., Burlington, Vt., Brandon, Vt., and Rotterdam, N.Y.

The makeovers include aesthetic updates as well as changes to services and assortments. Shoppers at those stores can access a broader selection of grab-and-go meal options and more local, organic and gluten-free products.

As part of the new layouts, some pharmacy areas have been expanded, and online grocery pickup and delivery have changed. To make the shopping experience speedier and more convenient, Hannaford added more self-checkout kiosks to two of the locations.  

“At Hannaford, we know that the needs and desires of our customers are constantly evolving and that our stores and services should do the same,” said Todd Bullen, VP of retail operations. “This series of enhancements is focused on introducing features that make shopping our stores an even easier and more enjoyable experience for our customers, while continuing to provide them with the same quality, fresh products that are synonymous with Hannaford.”

Along with the store enhancements, the grocer is bolstering community ties. To mark the completion of the renovations, Hannaford donated a total of $14,000 to local non-profit organizations, including hunger relief and child and family development groups, in the affected service areas.

Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford operates 184 stores in five Northeast states, employing nearly 30,000 associates. Parent company Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of Zaandam, Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize, is No. 10 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.

Wishing to provide customers with contactless shopping options, Tops Markets LLC is continuing the expansion of its Tops Shop + Scan app. The feature, already available at 24 of the grocer’s locations, is now expanding to four additional New York stores: 150 Niagara Street, Tonawanda; 301 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda; 1900 Clinton Avenue South, Rochester; and 3507 Mt. Read Boulevard, Greece.

By simply using their phones, Tops customers can scan and then bag items as they shop. While shopping, users will see a running total and watch their savings and rewards automatically apply. When finished, they just visit any pay station for an expedited checkout enabling customers to get in and out of the store quickly.

“The expansion of this innovative new technology is essential to continue to keep our communities safe,” said Jill Sirica, manager, digital marketing. “It’s so easy to use. All you need to do is download the Tops Shop + Scan app, connect to our free in-store Wi-Fi, enter your Tops BonusPlus card number, and you are ready to shop. Our hope is to continue the momentum and add additional locations in the near future.”

The app can also be used at New York Tops stores in Alden, Amherst, Arcade, Baldwinsville, Buffalo/Kenmore Cheektowaga, Depew, Derby, Dunkirk, East Amherst, East Aurora, Grand Island, Hamburg, Ithaca, Lockport, Medina, New Paltz, Orchard Park, Rhinebeck, West Seneca and Williamsburg.

Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Markets LLC operates 150 supermarkets, including five franchise stores, and employs more than 14,000 associates in New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont. The banner’s parent company, Northeast Grocery Inc., is No. 44 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America. 

The Us Weekly magazine brand is bringing its celebrity lens on culture, content and commerce to local grocery beauty aisles with a new program featuring the latest in celebrity-inspired trends, brands and products. Merchandised as floor displays or end caps, thousands of Us Weekly Now Trending fixtures have been added to Kroger banners, Albertsons banners, Meijer stores and Food Lion locations. New items and trending brands will be showcased seasonally.

"Grocery shopping is the most habitual kind of shopping there is, with a frequency that is unrivaled," said Nikki Laughlin, chief innovation officer and president of marketing and brand development of Atlanta-based accelerate360, the parent company of a360media and Us Weekly. "Us Weekly is a cultural powerhouse uniquely positioned to leverage its extraordinary brand recognition and trust to disrupt that habit, and surprise and delight customers, ultimately inspiring discovery and purchase. It's a win for retailers, it's a win for their customers, and it's a win for our brand partners."

Current selections include:

• Beauty moisturizing lip glosses and cuticle oils infused with real flower petals.
• Nailtopia eco-friendly, bio-sourced, chip-free nail lacquer in summer colors.
• Arches & Halos professional eyebrow care co-founded by celebrity brow expert Tonya Crooks.
• Bella & Bear vegan and cruelty-free sugar scrubs and body butters made with natural ingredients.
• Defy & Inspire high-pigment and long-wearing nail lacquer formulated free of 17 harsh chemicals.

"Our excitement for this program is underscored by an incredible retailer and customer response," said Trey Holder, chief business officer and president of distribution and logistics of accelerate360. "Combining our understanding of media and retail is a great example of how accelerate360 can bring value to partners in a dynamic and entertaining way."

Tops Friendly Markets has promoted two team members to serve as the company’s new construction managers. The New York-based grocer elevated Craig Degroat (pictured on bottom) from his most recent position of maintenance specialist and also moved up Jaime Paterson (pictured on top), who has worked for the grocer as a maintenance technician, maintenance specialist and project manager.

Both Degroat and Paterson began their careers at The Penn Traffic Co. Degroat is a 10-year Tops employee and Paterson is a 12-year team member.

In other personnel news, Tops recently tapped Shannon Nicholson for a store manager role at its Wellsboro, Penn., location, a promotion from her assistant store manager job. Also in July, the grocer announced that Angelena Goot is officially a new store manager at the Frewsburg, N.Y., Tops Friendly Market following her stint as interim store manager.

Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Markets LLC operates 150 supermarkets, including five franchise stores, and employs more than 14,000 associates in New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont. The banner’s parent company, Northeast Grocery Inc., is No. 44 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.