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.

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.

ShopRite to open in Bethlehem Township later this month

A ShopRite-anchored mixed-use development is nearing completion in Bethlehem Township. Developers of the project, known as Madison Farms, are now leasing luxury apartments, and both ShopRite and Starbucks plan to open in the next few weeks.

Other retailers planned for the project include Supercuts, Subway, Elements Massage, Heartland Dental, Pet Valu, Provident Bank and Verizon Wireless.

Once completed, Madison Farms is expected to have 837 luxury residences.

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.