Dive Brief:

• Martin’s Portage Meat & Market small-format concept in South Bend, Indiana, is closing Jan. 25 after two years of operation, according to the South Bend Tribune.
• The company's vice president of sales and marketing said the company continually evaluates what's best for the Martin's footprint and the communities it serves. He did not give more detail as to why the market is closing.
• In 2017, Portage Meat & Market replaced an original Martin’s Super Market, which was grocer's the oldest and longest-standing location. At the time, population decline, market competition, and other challenges drove the shift to the small-format concept.

Dive Insight:

Martin’s decision to launch the concept in 2017 was an attempt to salvage the location. When Martin's converted its larger supermarket to Portage Meat & Market, it scaled back the size of the store, eliminating full-sized bakery and deli departments, the Tribune reported. At the time, the company said it did not want to abandon the community, but had to make a change due to low sales volume. 

The competition for Martin's Super Market is strong. South Bend and the greater Indiana area are home to some major retailers like Meijer, Kroger and Walmart as well as health-focused retailers like Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market.

With Portage Meat & Market shuttered, Martin's can focus on other initiatives to bolster its business. The retailer has been making efforts to modernize and differentiate its stores, recently announcing a new partnership with Michigan brewery Greenbush to open a location next to one of its South Bend supermarkets. It’s also making a multimillion dollar investment in renovating the Martin’s location to feature modern offerings like a market-style produce department, expanded liquor section and grilling service.

Among other recent struggles with small or revamped formats, Ahold Delhaize recently announced the closure of its Allston, Massachusetts, Bfresh grocery store at the end of December due to poor financial performance. 

Martin's Super Market, which has 22 stores and is headquartered in South Bend, was acquired by SpartanNash in 2019.