2011 Summer Fancy Food Show - Oser Communications Group

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12 specialty retailers www.gourmetnews.com SEPTEMBER 2011 GOURMET NEWS New investors, leadership for leading retailer A Southern Season, the gourmet retail institution based in Chapel Hill, N.C., has announced a significant new capital infusion by local group TC Capital Fund, a joint venture between two Chapel Hill investment funds. Joining the company as President is Larry Shaw, an experienced retail executive and local resident who has worked with strong brands such as The Vermont Country Store and Nordstrom over the past 20 years. Founder Michael Barefoot, a respected industry figure who was the store’s sole employee when it opened in 1975, will continue to be actively involved, along with longtime partners Tim Manale and Briggs Wesche. “A core part of our mission has always been ‘local ownership and operation,’” says Barefoot. “That will not change; owner- The Cook’s Warehouse, an award-winning, Atlanta-based retailer of kitchenware and upscale appliances, has opened the first independently-branded “store within a store” for kitchenware in a new branch of Whole Foods—just doors away from its own store, set to open September 1. Nearly a thousand people turned up ship remains local in this new corporate structure … we will now be positioned to grow to the next level.” “I have believed in this brand and vision for as long as I have been in Chapel Hill, and have watched the company grow. We will re-invest significantly to grow the business, including enhancing the retail shopping experience, expanding existing product lines and bringing in new products to surprise and delight our customers, as well as expanding and enhancing our online shopping experience,” said TC Capital Fund head Clay Hamner, a longtime customer of the store as well as a successful private investor and university business professor. Hamner is joined in TC Capital Fund by other local investors; the fund is a joint venture between local funds Carrboro Cook’s Warehouse provides in-store kitchenware outlet at Whole Foods for the late July opening of Whole Foods Merchants Walk, a 45,000-square-foot store. The Cook’s Warehouse will manage the store’s kitchenware department and conduct its popular cooking classes using Whole Foods products. The outlet is a test, currently the first of its kind in the country. But in an interview Capital Corporation and Tryon Capital Ventures, LLC. “[Hamner’s] long-respected local profile along with the other local investors was definitely a key part of our decision. They absolutely relate to this Chapel Hill institution on a very personal level and share our commitment to keeping A Southern Season something very, very special,” Barefoot said. Regarding the impact on his personal future plans, Barefoot adds, “This is the first step in a slow transition away from work. After 36 years, I think that it’s about time. I will be fully engaged at A Southern Season for the next five years, after which I plan to reduce my involvement to pursue other challenges and interests.” From a one-man, 800-square-foot storefront in 1975, A Southern Season now employs more than 300 people. Its 60,000-square-foot store is a local landmark and one of the largest specialty-only gourmet markets in the U.S. It boasts a national catalog and e-commerce business, and an acclaimed cooking school and restaurant. The store was recently ranked among America’s 25 Best Independent Stores in a 2009 book by retail author George Whalin, and was an NASFT Retailer of the Year awardee in 2004. gn with the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Cook’s Warehouse founder and CEO Mary Moore was optimistic that the partnership would benefit briefs Saxelby Cheesemongers named Manhattan’s Small Business of the Year In mid-July, specialty cheese shop Saxelby Cheesemongers was named Manhattan’s Small Business of the Year by the city’s Small Business Services department. According to the department, the award honors “an entrepreneur whose business has significantly improved its neighborhood or demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community through offering new or enhanced products and services, generating new activity on a commercial strip, attracting new businesses to the area, or providing exceptional employment opportunities.” Apart from introducing the larger public to small-scale American cheesemakers, Ann Saxelby’s early relocation to the historic but rundown Essex Street Market led the way to the market becoming a food destination spot. Saxelby continues to be the most vocal advocate for the market, which is under threat from redevelopment proposals currently before the city. both stores, and perhaps grow to other Whole Foods stores within the region. Analysts were equally positive, noting that the move allowed the new Whole Foods to generate sales and traffic with minimal investment, while introducing The Cook’s Warehouse to a new audience that would then be more inclined to visit Moore’s own kitchenware-focused store when it opens. The Cook’s Warehouse currently has three stores in the Metro Atlanta area. gn
GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2011 www.gourmetnews.com Grocery & Department Stores 13 briefs Kroger names Donna Giordano president of Ralphs The Kroger Co. has announced the promotion of Donna Giordano as president of the Ralphs Division. Ms. Giordano, 57, has been President Kroger’s Quality Food Centers (QFC) division, based in Seattle, since 2002. She will relocate to California in order to succeed Mike Donnelly, who was recently promoted to Senior VP of Merchandising for Kroger. Ms. Giordano joined Kroger’s King Soopers banner in 1972, while still in college. She was named Store Manager at King Soopers in 1982, and later held various director-level positions in key areas such as advertising, bakery, general merchandise, grocery and pharmacy. In 1999, Donna was promoted to VP of Sales & Marketing of King Soopers. She was promoted to President of QFC in 2002. A&P introduces locally-raised poultry and beef at select stores The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P) in July launched Mid-Atlantic Country Farms, a new store brand of locallyraised chicken, turkey and beef products. All products in the line are raised by familyowned farms using humane and sustainable methods. “This new brand is a direct response to our customers’ requests for more ‘green’ options,” added Harry Giglio, Vice President of Meat & Seafood. Mid-Atlantic Country Farms is dedicated to the highest standards of animal care and husbandry. Farmers use 100 percent vegetarian feed. All chicken is completely antibiotic-free and raised by local farmers across Pennsylvania. The beef is raised on more than 140 family farms throughout Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. All beef is Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified, All-Natural (minimally processed with no artificial ingredients) and Choice Angus Beef/ Aged for tenderness and taste. The new line’s chicken is available now in all A&P, Waldbaum’s, Superfresh, Pathmark and Food Emporium stores, while beef and turkey will reach select stores throughout the summer. Natural chicken products will replace the Greenway brand currently sold in A&P banner stores. Greenway organic products, including chicken, will still be available. gn Fresh & Easy to test loyalty card, announces three smaller-format Southern CA stores New format Meijer Marketplace to open in Chicago Less than two years after launching its first smaller, grocery-focused stores in Chicago, Meijer is preparing to open Meijer Marketplace, a grocery about half the size of the typical Meijer supercenters and with a more locally-targeted offering. The 96,000-square-foot store will carry quality fresh meats and produce, plus a wide variety of deli, bakery and pantry items. There will be a focus on Hispanic and Italian Building on the success of corporate parent Tesco’s Clubcard—the world-leading loyalty program with more than 30 million card holders in 12 countries—Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market will test a similar program for its customers this fall. The store has also announced the opening of three smaller-format Fresh & Easy Express stores in Southern California later in the year, with more locations being sought. Based on a format that has been successful in the U.K., the Express stores will have about 3,000-squarefeet of selling space, compared to current stores’ typical 10,000-square-feet. Locations have been identified in Los Angeles, in San Pedro, south of the city and Hermosa Beach to the southwest. Both announcements have been interpreted by analysts as attempts to turn around the chain, which is owned by British giant Tesco and projects profitability by 2013. The group has lost money since opening in 2007, and has been closing stores in Nevada and Arizona while expanding in California. foods for the ethnically-diverse community nearby. The store will also feature national and Meijer store brands, along with a fullservice pharmacy and general merchandise area. The store will maintain a flexible layout that allows Meijer planners to bring in new items based on customer feedback. “Meijer Marketplace is a dramatic step for us as we work toward bringing everything that’s great about Meijer to a more diverse The loyalty card program will be an evolution of the grocer’s popular “Friends of Fresh & Easy” email program, which was introduced in December 2008 and now serves more than 360,000 customers. Customers earn one point for every dollar they spend, and can exchange their points for cash-back rewards. “Friends” receive personalized bi-weekly emails, with real-time updates on points earned and targeted bonus point coupons. Fresh & Easy plans to roll out the loyalty card to all stores following a test in Bakersfield, Calif. this autumn. gn group of customers,” said Hank Meijer, Co-Chairman and CEO of the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. “The Chicago market continues to be a very important growth area for us, and our new Meijer Marketplace concept will bring yet another unique offering to our Chicago-area customers.” Meijer currently has 13 stores in the Chicago area, ranging from full supercenters to smaller, grocery focused stores. gn
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