inStorebuyer - September 2011 - 6

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HEADLINES IN BAKERY & DELI & RETAIL

Meijer Opens “Marketplace” in Chicago
Less than two years after launching its first new format store in the Chicago market, Meijer delivers another new concept to Chicagoarea customers as it officially cuts the ribbon on Meijer Marketplace, a more localized grocery store in Melrose Park. The new store will include a targeted assortment of Hispanic produce, Italian deli meats, European cookies, a fresh sushi bar and more than 40 varieties of Hispanic beer, providing a new shopping option for the ethnically-diverse community. Much of the focus on the store will be on providing local customers with a tailored grocery shopping experience. “Meijer is thrilled to bring our newest store concept to this great community,” said Hank Meijer, cochairman and CEO of the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. “Our team has worked very hard to bring the great Meijer experience to our new customers in the Melrose Park area, and we’re very proud to join this vibrant neighborhood.” At 90,000 square feet, Meijer Marketplace will be nearly half the size of Meijer’s largest supercenters. The smaller-format store will offer the Melrose Park community the “Higher Standards and Lower Prices” that Meijer customers have come to expect, featuring national and Meijer brand grocery items. Meijer team members have worked to ensure the new store has the benefits of larger Meijer stores, in essence offering a “mini” supercenter concept. In the general merchandise area, Meijer Marketplace will feature key categories such as electronics, seasonal items, toys, home, kitchen and bath items and a pet department, with numerous national brand products throughout the aisles. Meijer will maintain an open dialogue with its Melrose Park customers and make adjustments based on the specific needs of the local community. Meijer opened its first Chicagoarea store in Bolingbrook in 1999. With the addition of Melrose Park, Meijer now has 14 stores in the Chicago area ranging in size from full supercenters to smaller, groceryfocused stores in Niles and Orland Park.

Walgreens Launches Nice! Brand
Walgreens has launched Nice!, a new store brand for the company’s more than 400 grocery, including bakery items, and household products. The company said it will phase out store brand items that currently are sold under such labels as Café W, Deefield Farms and W. “Store brands have always been a core part of our business,” said Joe Magnacca, president of daily living products and solutions at Walgreens. “With more shoppers seeking value in this economy, we’ve been able to attract new customers across every income level to our brands and maintain their loyalty with a focus on quality and assortment. Now with the launch of Nice!, we are streamlining our offering to make it even easier for customers to identify high quality everyday essentials at a great value.” Walgreens plans to have most Nice! products on shelves by early 2012 has received positive consumer response to the more than 20 items already available, including tea, dried fruit, rice and macaroni and cheese. In addition to signs already in place at stores, Walgreens will launch a national marketing campaign in 2012. “With the consolidation of brands, and the additional products we will roll out under Nice!, we expect it will become a leading brand,” said Moe Alkemade, divisional vice-president and general merchandise manager of private brands at Walgreens. “Our store brands are no longer just the value option, they are the smart option.”

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inStorebuyer - September 2011

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