Weis Markets

Weis Markets, Inc. has closed on its previously announced purchase of 11 Giant Markets’ stores located in Broome County, N.Y., including units in Binghamton, Vestal, Endicott, Endwell and Johnson City.

Weis Markets, Inc. has closed on its previously announced purchase of 11 Giant Markets’ stores located in Broome County, N.Y., including units in Binghamton, Vestal, Endicott, Endwell and Johnson City.

Weis Markets has introduced the “Local and Proud of It” campaign to promote its commitment to carrying a wide variety of locally grown produce.

Improved perishables and private label sales helped Weis Markets, Inc. post an 18.5 percent increase in its second-quarter net income vs. the same period a year ago, while its basic and diluted earnings per share increased eight cents to 56 cents per share. During the 13-week period ended June 27, 2009, the Sunbury, Pa.-based regional retailer saw same-store sales gain 2.4 points alongside a 2 percent sales increase of $615.4 million from 603.4 million a year ago, and higher net income of $15.2 million vs. $12.8 million for the same period a year ago.

Weis Markets is mixing up its beverage aisles with an expanded relationship with Reed’s, Inc. that will triple distribution of the latter’s all-natural sodas from 50 to 154 stores, including additional products poured into the regional retailer’s lineup.

Weis Markets, Inc. will add a dozen stores to its present 154-store base following its acquisition of Binghamton N.Y.-based Giant Markets (no relation to Ahold’s Mid-Atlantic similarly named supermarket subsidiaries). The transaction is expected to close on Aug. 21.

Weis Markets has enlisted another Central Pennsylvania-based retailer -- Sheetz, Inc. -- to help make it easy for Weis Preferred Shopper Club members in the State College, Pa., market to redeem Gas Reward points for discounts on gas purchases.

Weis Markets will invest $80 million in its growth over the next year, which represents a 25 percent increase in its capital expansion budget from the prior year, company executives told shareholders at the regional retailer’s annual meeting.