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GOURMET NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 www.gourmetnews.com Retailer News RETAILER NEWS 1 2 BRIEFS Drop in for a Fresh Welcome at Urban Radish for that. It really is what makes the store special, in my opinion." Urban Radish's neighborhood is in the process of redeveloping from an urban- blighted industrial area into a mixed-use neighborhood with manufacturing, high- occupancy residential and retail uses. Over the next two years, the neighborhood's population is expected to triple. "Just two blocks after Skid Row ends, you have this really high-end community that's develop- ing here," Aivazis said. As a result, the peo- ple who've moved into the new residential developments tend to be affluent Gen Xers who value transparency about their food sources and prefer fresh locally-sourced food when it's available. "During lunch, there's a lot of manufacturing surrounding the store, so we get a very, very hip crew that comes through, all in their 20s and 30s who are very avant-garde, what most peo- ple would identify as a hipster. It depends on whether they're working in the area or actually live here," Aivazis said. "They're urban couples and singletons. When they have babies here, they tend to move away, which makes sense because there are not a lot of amenities for children here." The redeveloping nature of the neighbor- hood means that the store is unable to offer its customers free WiFi, since the infrastruc- ture in the area doesn't allow enough band- width for that yet. Despite that, Urban Radish has a customer following who are en- gaged with each other and with the store, and they've made Urban Radish into a local hang-out spot. The store encourages that with a range of high-quality prepared foods as well as weekly live music sessions. It's a great event, a great time. All the regulars come and we turn on the grill for a full din- ner, and we usually have someone come in and sample wine," Aivazis said. "That speaks to the community that we try to create for people who are our customers and people who are not our customers.... There are peple who are interested in this area and who come down here just to see what's going on down here. I believe that this area will draw people who are interested in food. Our mission is to inspire that foodie in everybody. Sometimes you just have to put it in front of them." GN BY LORRIE BAUMANN Urban Radish is a little like Cheers, the bar in the television show that ran in its origi- nal release from 1982 to 1983 – it's that place "where everybody knows your name," says General Manager and Head Buyer MacKenzie Aivazis, who is also the daughter of Owners Michael Aivazis and Keri Johnson. The store in Los Angeles' Downtown Arts District was designed around the idea that shoppers would be visiting daily rather than weekly. "We de- signed the store for urbanites," Aivazis said. "That means that the focus is on the fresh- ness of the ingredients. Our customers are aware that we're meeting with local farmers several times a week to buy the freshest produce. Customers are aware that when they see produce in our store, they know it was on the farm a day or two ago." "Sausages from the meat department have been made that week if not that day," she continued. "There is a sense of commu- nity. I know my customers. I have the same customers who come in every day. I know what's going on in their lives.... We strive United Supermarkets to Open in Lubbock United Supermarkets has announced that the chain will open a new location in Lub- bock, Texas. Construction on the new loca- tion is expected to start late this fall and is targeted for completion in late summer or early fall 2016, according to Robert Taylor, President of United Supermarkets, LLC. "We are thrilled at the opportunity to bring a next generation United store to Lubbock. Lubbock and the surrounding communities have always been highly sup- portive of United," said Taylor. "We are glad to continue expanding to serve guests in our home-base city, which continues to grow and thrive." At 56,000 square feet, the new United will anchor a larger development that will include additional retailers. The store will feature an adjacent 2,500 square foot United Express convenience store with a convenient drive-through. According to Senior Director of Market- ing Ron Bonacci, the company's tenth Lub- bock location will showcase a new look and feel for United shoppers. "This store will be the third United that reflects our new brand strategy and the first in Lub- bock," Bonacci said. "The Lubbock com- munity is so important to our company, and we believe the welcoming floor plan, signage and department layouts will be a positive expression of the strong relation- ship we have with our Lubbock guests." In addition, a significant expansion proj- ect at the Lubbock's Llano Logistics distri- bution center is underway, paving the way for future growth. Both the new store and distribution center project will create new jobs for Lubbock. GN Meijer Rebrands and Expands Natural and Organic Products Line As consumers continue to lean toward health- ier meal and snacking options, Meijer has an- nounced an expansion of its assortment of real food products through the launch of the True Goodness™ by Meijer brand. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer combined its Meijer Naturals and Meijer Or- ganics products lines to one True Goodness by Meijer brand in an effort to minimize con- fusion over which products are better for cus- tomers based on their ingredients. "We know it's important to our cus- tomers to provide wholesome foods to their families, and the True Goodness brand is a simple and affordable solution to eating healthier," said Peter Whitsett, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Mar- keting for Meijer. "This brand makes real food more approachable, and is part of our ongoing focus to provide health and well- ness options for our customers." According to industry research, millen- nial customers are leading the conversation around organic and real food, influencing trends among older generations. With 9 million millennial moms in the U.S. alone, this generation also comprises the majority of today's new parents. And while many millennial moms still purchase the processed national brand peanut butter, chips, cereals and yogurt for their spouses, they are also grabbing healthier versions for their children. With nothing artificial, no hydrogenated oils, and a wide range of USDA certified or- ganic items, True Goodness offers healthier food options at a great value and with a wide product selection available through- out the store. The packaging differentiates which items are USDA certified organic, meaning these products do not contain GMOs, growth hormones, antibiotics, con- vention pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or ionizing radiation. Meijer is in the process of transitioning 225 of its Meijer Organics and Meijer Nat- urals food items to the True Goodness brand, and plans to add 100 new products this year, including granola chips, coconut oil, organic coffee pods, macaroni and cheese, juice boxes, organic popcorn, spices and frozen potatoes. The True Goodness brand is slated to offer 325 total products by early 2016. "We are committed to providing our cus- tomers healthier options at an affordable price, and are pleased to offer a growing assortment through the True Goodness brand," Meijer Healthy Living Manager Shari Steinbach said. GN Online Farmers Market, Farmigo, Raises $16 million in Series B Funding Farmigo, a fast-growing online farmers market, announced that it has raised $16 million in Series B funding. The financing was led by new investor Formation 8 Partners and includes participation from existing investors Benchmark Capital and Sherbrooke Capital. Farmigo has raised a total of $26 million in funding. This funding will accelerate the company's rapid growth and expansion in new markets. Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, Farmigo currently operates in New York, New Jersey, northern California and Seattle-Tacoma, making Farmigo the farm-to-fridge service with the largest footprint in the U.S. to date. Fresh Thyme Triples Down in Chicagoland Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, a rapidly growing Midwest grocer focused on healthy and organic offerings at affordable prices, held three grand openings in Chicagoland on October 14. The new locations Bucktown/Lincoln Park, Crystal Lake and Naperville. Kroger Names Scot Hendricks President of Delta Division Scot Hendricks has been promoted to President of Kroger's Delta division, effective October 1. Kroger's Delta division is based in Memphis and operates stores in Western Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri. Hendricks, 57, replaces Tim Brown, who was recently named President of Kroger's Cincinnati/Dayton division. Grocery Outlet Bargain Market to Open 14 LA Stores Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, the nation's fastest-growing, extreme-value grocery retailer, will open 14 stores throughout the Los Angeles area beginning this December, and continuing at a rapid pace throughout 2016. Unlike other discount grocers, Grocery Outlet offers name- brands such as Kraft, Kellogg's, Tide, Tyson, Amy's Kitchen, Naked Juice and many more with prices up to 60 percent off traditional supermarkets. This year alone, shoppers have saved more than $1 billion on products purchased at Grocery Outlet as compared to traditional grocery stores. Eickhoff Supermarkets Improves Lighting Creative use of lighting has changed how the aisles of The ShopRite ® at the Wishing Well Plaza are viewed and experienced by customers. The supermarket has unveiled lighting that transforms and redefines grocery shopping for a new generation, drawing customers in with amazing visual clarity, precision, and mood setting. It's a giant leap forward into the future for Eickhoff Supermarkets and ShopRite brands. "Our spectacular new ShopRite is lit right by Amerlux," explains Geoffrey Eickhoff, Vice President Operations/Owner, Eickhoff Supermarkets, ShopRite of Burlington, New Jersey.

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