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Albertsons ramps up own brand expansion

New products to more than double last year’s total

Russell Redman

May 3, 2018

2 Min Read
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Albertsons Cos. is stepping up the rollout of new own brand items and expects to double the number introduced last year.

The supermarket retailer said late Wednesday that it’s on track to launch almost 1,400 new own brand products across its store banners in 2018. New items are planned throughout the company’s private label portfolio, which includes the brands O Organics, Lucerne, Open Nature, Signature, Waterfront Bistro, Value Corner, Primo Taglio and debi lilly design.

“We’ve got a lot in the pipeline, and we’re just getting started,” Own Brands President Geoff White said in a statement.

So far this year, nearly 300 new own brand items have been released, Albertsons said. Those products include Open Nature Scandal-less ice cream, Open Nature bison top sirloin steak, Open Nature granola bars, O Organics spinach and butter lettuce, O Organics sparkling tea, Signature Select cold-brew coffee and Signature Select sparkling French lemonade.

“With our team’s unique insights across the industry, we can react faster than ever to changing consumer trends. The result is a rapid expansion of high-quality products in every department that are exclusive to Albertsons Cos.,” White added. “We’ve never been more excited about our ability to meet every shopper’s needs and sprinkle in new and exciting surprises across the store.”

Related:Albertsons finishes 2017 fiscal year on a high note

Albertsons already has announced more than 450 new O Organics products and over 240 new Open Nature items thus far for 2018. In January, Albertsons said O Organics reached a milestone by becoming a $1 billion brand and that the label added about 200 new products and grew sales more than 15% last year.

In reporting fiscal 2017 results last month, Albertsons said its overall own brand sales penetration climbed 60 basis points to 23%.

“We continue to enhance our own brand offerings and increase sales of these high-quality items that are unique to our stores,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Miller stated in the company’s year-end report. Own brands are also seen as a key growth area for the planned merger with Rite Aid Corp., which is pending shareholder and regulatory approval.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos. has more than 2,300 food and drug stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia under the banners Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs, Sav-On, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Shaw’s, Star Market, United Supermarkets, Market Street, Amigos, Haggen and United Express.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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