Research & Analysis

TOLLESON, Ariz. -- Kroger-owned Fry's Saturday will open a new concept store in Phoenix that is designed to serve both the growing Hispanic population in Arizona as well as non-Hispanics who enjoy authentic Mexican and Latin American foods.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu Inc. here is allocating $1 billion in capital expenditures for its retail operations in fiscal 2007, to revamp existing stores and build several new ones amid continuing integration of the stores it acquired from Albertsons Inc. earlier this month.

LOS ANGELES -- Michael A. Provenzano, Jr., president, Pro & Son's, Inc., owner and operator of eight Ranch Markets supermarkets in Southern California and Arizona yesterday was honored with the 2006 "Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award" by Unified Western Grocers during a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Hotel here.

IRVINE, Calif. -- The California Avocado Commission (CAC) here reported record levels of avocado shipments in May, with Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day at all-time highs. The record-breaking trend continued into June, with the second week of June recording an all-time high one-week tally of avocado shipments of just over 22 million pounds, said CAC officials.

STELLARTON, N.S. -- Multi-format retailer Sobeys, Inc. here yesterday posted earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended May 6, 2006 that were up from the year ago periods, thanks in part to same-store sales increases.

PITTSBURGH -- To the delight of both Epicureans and mainstream food shoppers, Giant Eagle here unveiled a new upscale Market District retail concept. The format adds a new dimension to the regional market leader's artful playbook.

PEMBROKE, N.H. -- Stanley S. "Butch" Plifka Jr., has been appointed to the Associated Grocers of New England's board of directors. Plifka is the owner of Kulick's Market/Mall, and Kulick's Sunoco & Car Wash, both located in Winchester, N.H.; and represents the third generation to head the family businesses, which began as Kulick's Supermarket in 1909.

LOUISVILLE -- The Kentucky Grocers Association here will induct John Hackett, president of Kroger Co.'s Mid-South Division, into the trade group's Hall of Fame on July 14.