Sponsored By

Chains Fight for Share of Fragmented Philly Market

The story of changes in Philadelphia’s grocery landscape is largely being written by its losers.

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

April 15, 2013

3 Min Read
Supermarket News logo in a gray background | Supermarket News

The story of changes in Philadelphia’s grocery landscape is largely being written by its losers.

The exit of longtime market stalwart Genuardi’s from the city most recently has altered the picture, resulting in relative Philly newcomer Giant-Carlisle taking over as the leading grocer in the 11-county area, according to Metro Market Studies.

Philadelphia supermarketsMany observers believe the shake-out is far from over, citing ongoing struggles of Acme Markets — the former Philadelphia market leader recently spun off from Supervalu to a real estate minded investor group led by Cerberus — as well as A&P, which operates SuperFresh and Pathmark banners in the area. Both A&P/Pathmark and Acme have wrestled with higher cost structures than many of their newer, leaner competitors.

These changes are an inevitable result of an especially fragmented market — no single operator in Philadelphia controls as much as 16% share, according to Metro Market Studies — and an underlying flight to value. Gainers in the market, including Ahold USA's Giant and ShopRite to Wal-Mart and Delhaize America's Bottom Dollar — all lead with a strong price message.

Philadelphia supermarkets“From all my market feasibility studies, I’ve not found another metro area in the entire U.S. that has as many chain and even strong independent operators as found in the Metro Philadelphia area,” Bob Gorland, a site specialist with Matthew P. Casey & Associates, told SN. “Also, every major club store, drug chain, including numerous price operators of all shapes and sizes.”

The opportunity for growth in a market without a dominant player has encouraged many of the new arrivals and contributed to an “overstored” market that’s made profits hard to come by and weakened mature players, Gorland added.

“It appears the biggest opportunity in the Philadelphia area — as in many other areas today — are stronger competitors taking over weaker competitors,” Gorland said. “You’re also seeing more people acquire vacant buildings, including former supermarkets and department stores, for new stores as opposed to building from the ground up.”

CONNECT WITH SN ON TWITTER

Follow @SN_News for updates throughout the day.

Burt P. Flickinger III, managing partner at Strategic Resource Group, New York, said rumblings of a shake-out in Philadelphia were set into motion more than a decade ago, when Fleming’s bankruptcy crippled a core of strong independents.

“The key reversal has been the ascendancy of ShopRite, which in the city of Philadelphia was a small group of stores but is now a real retail powerhouse,” Flickinger said. “While most supermarket chains and independent retailers have been contracting, it became Wakefern/ShopRite’s biggest market of opportunity.”

Indexed Introduction: So Long, Status Quo for 10 Key Markets

 

About the Author

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like