Price Rite debuts new store designs and expanded offerings

Wakefern's Price Rite Marketplace held grand re-openings earlier this month for stores in Bethlehem, Allentown and Secane, PA where it's piloting new store designs, expanded fresh and private-label offerings, and enhanced price savings.

The grocer also said it is now offering a larger selection of Wholesome Pantry products, which include organic and gluten-free options.

The store designs include new decor, a market-style produce department, LED lighting, improved signage and new self-service checkouts.

PriceRite operates 66 supermarkets in nine states. It is part of the Wakefern cooperative that also includes more than 340 ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer and Dearborn Market stores.

Whole Foods data breach hits Greater Philly area stores

It was reported about a month ago that Whole Foods had experienced a data breach where some customer credit and debit card info was hacked (Whole Foods announces credit and debit card hack). Shortly thereafter it was revealed that some stores in the Greater Philadelphia area were included in the breach.

The cyber attack, which was aimed at Whole Foods' taprooms and restaurants and not the stores grocery checkout lines, affected the Center City store at 2101 Pennsylvania Ave., as well as stores in Wynnewood, Allentown, Upper St. Clair and Wexford.

Whole Foods said it has taken "appropriate measures" to address the issue, and the investigation is ongoing.

Instacart to service PriceRite stores in PA's Lehigh Valley

PriceRite Supermarkets announced yesterday that it is expanding its partnership with Instacart to include the Lehigh Valley, where the grocer has two stores - one each in Allentown and Bethlehem. Instacart already operates in the Lehigh Valley, where about 206,000 households can shop online at Wegmans, Whole Foods and Costco, and have their purchases delivered to them for a fee.

Instacart is already offered at many PriceRite locations in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia.

Whole Foods announces September-October openings in PA

The new Whole Foods coming to the Main Line in Wynnewood - bigger and better than the old one - is scheduled to open on September 14. According to reports, the store will feature a juice and coffee bar, wood-fired pizzas, and a full-service pub called Table and Tavern.

The pub will have a full bar and a menu that includes brown-buttered sunchokes, braised octopus and duck leg confit. Rumor has it there will be real food as well. Brunch will be offered on weekends.

The next local opening is set to take place on September 28 in Lower Macungie (Allentown) at the new Hamilton Crossings shopping center. Target, Dick's, PetSmart and Rally House are already open at the center, with Costco, Nordstrom Rack and several others coming soon.

In October, the new and improved Rodin Square Whole Foods is scheduled to open on Pennsylvania Avenue in Philadelphia.

The Lehigh Valley grocery scene continues to evolve

One might think that a drive up north to the Lehigh Valley would alleviate the grocery schizophrenia we experience in the Philadelphia market. Not so. Apparently, Lehigh Valley consumers need a scorecard - not to mention a pencil with a good eraser - to keep track of the industry players and their comings and goings.

Coming:

• Bottom Dollar currently has four locations in The Valley, and may have as many as seven in the next year.
• Weis Markets has increased its budget for adding and updating stores, according to a company spokesperson. The grocer currently has 14 locations in The Valley and will soon have 16, second only to Giant.
• Giant, with 17 locations in The Valley, has been spending money on renovations at a number of area stores.
• A ShopRite is proposed in Trexlertown, along with a Target and BJ's. 
• Walmart is a major player in the area, of course, and the Whitehall location will soon become a Supercenter and include a full-service grocery store.
• Three of the four Target stores in The Valley include a Fresh Grocery section.
• Dollar stores and drug stores continue to expand their grocery selections.

Going:

• Pathmark shut its location in Lower Saucon, which is causing residents and reporters to speculate as to who will take over the space.
• Wine kiosks - Wegmans is pulling PLCB wine kiosks from all its Pennsylvania stores, including Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, the three major cities in the Lehigh Valley (also known as A-B-E).

As always, I'm afraid something may have changed since I started writing this blog post.