PG's 2017 Super 50: On Par
These companies have successful long and short games, driving off the tee straight down the fairway and draining putts, avoiding the rough and hazards for the most part. They addressed top consumer demands like smaller store footprints and healthier lifestyles while adopting new efficiencies to spur growth.
Commerce, Calif.-based Smart & Final Stores (No. 20), named one of Fortune’s 2017 World’s Most Admired Companies (coming in at No. 5 in the Food & Drug category) completed its transition of 33 former Haggen locations to Smart & Final Extra stores. The acquisition is part of the company’s Project 100 initiative, which aims to open 100 new stores in the next four years. In addition to the Haggen conversions, Smart & Final converted six legacy Smart & Final stores to the new Extra format, relocated six legacy stores and closed eight others to now operate a total of 305 locations.
The chain implemented an integrated, end-to-end merchandising, planning and execution solution to transform its supply chain processes for the age of “my way” retailing, and updated its software platform to drive higher margins through improved demand forecasting, increased inventory control and enhanced operational efficiencies.
During its 80th-anniversary celebration in 2016, Stater Bros. Markets (No. 21) opened its first store in Simi Valley, Calif., also its first in Ventura County. During the opening ceremonies for the supermarket, the San Bernardino, Calif.-based company donated $14,000 to local community organizations. The planned opening of another five supermarkets was announced earlier this year.
The company, which recently reduced its lighting energy use by 50 percent in all 169 of its stores, was named by Forbes as one of the top 20 companies to offer exceptional job security for employees.
To provide more healthful options to consumers, Tops Markets Inc. (No. 32) reformulated its Tops brand of products, which is available in its 172 corporate supermarkets and five franchised locations, to contain cleaner, simpler ingredients. The Williamsville, N.Y.-based chain was honored with two-health related awards in the past year: It earned a 2016 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America award from the Employer Healthcare & Benefits Congress, coming in at No. 41 on the list, and was recognized as a 2016 Healthiest Employer by Syracuse Media Group.
In addition to a focus on health, the chain remodeled stores acquired through the Ahold Delhaize merger. It also reported a 2.4 percent increase of inside sales to $2.3 billion in fiscal 2016.
Brookshire Grocery Co. (No. 33), now operating 177 stores, took itself off the acquisition table last year and decided to expand instead, acquiring 25 Walmart Express stores in Texas and Louisiana. The new small-format banner — Spring Market, so named after the first Brookshire store, which was located on Spring Street in the company’s hometown of Tyler, Texas — features a full shopping experience with produce, dairy, bakery, grocery, and health and beauty care within just 12,000 square feet.
The company also streamlined operations by closing its production bakery and selling its ice cream, dairy and water manufacturing plants. “With an abundant offering of quality product now available through the supplier community,” said Chairman and CEO Brad Brookshire, “this decision made sense on a number of levels.”
Big Y Foods Inc. (No. 37) added eight stores in eastern Massachusetts cast off by the Ahold Delhaize merger. The company retained 1,084 former Hannaford employees, bringing the total to more than 11,000 associates working at 79 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The chain, based in Springfield, Mass., also focused on providing its customers with access to affordable health care by opening the first Johnson Memorial Hospital-affiliated retail health clinic. “Our customers already enjoy the ease and convenience of one-stop shopping by being able to have their prescriptions filled while shopping for groceries and nutritional meal solutions,” said Nicole D’Amour Schneider, director of pharmacy. “To now offer the added accessibility of this low-cost health care facility is just one more way in which we can help enhance the services available to our local community and neighbors.”
