The Friday Checkout is a weekly column providing more insight on the news, rounding up the announcements you may have missed and sharing what’s to come.
In early February, when Jason Potter jumps ship from The Fresh Market to become the next president and CEO of Grocery Outlet, it might seem like he is going from night to day.
Grocery Outlet’s focus on low prices and a frequently rotating assortment fueled by opportunistic buying stands in stark contrast to The Fresh Market’s upscale shopping experience featuring premium, carefully selected goods. The former’s stores aim to offer a low-frills treasure hunt experience, while the latter’s emulate gourmet European markets. During the pandemic, The Fresh Market even started instructing its employees to slip handwritten thank you notes into online orders.
But while they may take different approaches, both chains heavily lean into strategies and in-store experiences to stand out from the average supermarket. Another trait they have in common: They have both weathered a series of operational and financial obstacles in recent years — from The Fresh Market’s ownership changes and IPO saga to Grocery Outlet’s tech troubles bleeding into its earnings results.
Will Potter give Grocery Outlet a higher-end polishing — perhaps the way Walmart has revamped stores recently? Only time will tell, but it’s clear that specialty grocers and discounters are both giving traditional grocers a run for their money as they all vie for price-sensitive shoppers.
In case you missed it
Erewhon gets ready to add more stores
The luxury California grocer is bolstering its presence in the Los Angeles area with plans to introduce three new stores in Glendale, Manhattan Beach and West Hollywood, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
Erewhon took to social media back in September to announce plans for its first Manhattan Beach location, stating it is slated to open in early 2025. According to the grocer’s website, that store will be located at 1700 Rosecrans Ave. Erewhon’s website does not yet list addresses for the other upcoming locations.
Kroger bolsters incremental sales reporting
The grocer’s retail media network, Kroger Precision Marketing, now offers incremental sales reporting for self-service programmatic campaigns, according to a press release. The new measurement capability distinguishes between attributable and incremental sales, ensuring “only the true sales lift driven by the advertising is credited, giving brands a more accurate view of their impact,” Kroger said.
Uber nabs Wegmans
The grocer has entered a tie-up with Uber Eats to offer grocery delivery from its stores across Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Shoppers will be able to place delivery orders from Wegmans stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware via the app starting in February, according to a Thursday press release.
Uber Eats users have access to Wegmans’ grocery staples, prepared meals, fresh produce and expansive cheese assortment.
Impulse find
Peep these new limited edition gooey treats
The Easter bunny is hopping to Kroger, Walmart and Dollar Tree this spring, as Peeps’ limited edition specialty Easter lineup for 2025 includes exclusive offerings at each of the retailers.
Walmart is touting two of Peeps’ new creations: Breyers cookies and cream-flavored marshmallow chicks and Peep’s Egg Hunt, which includes 36 individually wrapped mini pastel-colored marshmallow chicks.
Meanwhile, Dollar Tree’s shelves will be stocked with tropical punch-flavored marshmallow bunnies, and Kroger’s banners will offer cinnamon churro-flavored marshmallow chicks.
