Pathmark Bankruptcy Update: 9/25

On Monday our union along with Locals 338 and 342, continued meeting with Key Food regarding their acquisition of our Pathmark stores. All of our Local Unions are negotiating together as we did with Stop & Shop and Acme. Negotiations are progressing, and we will all meet again today (Friday 09/25). 

Bankruptcy Court Updates: On Monday Stop & Shop and Acme's purchases of A&P stores were approved by Bankruptcy Judge Drain.

Acme’s original 77 store bid has been reduced to 71. Stop & Shop has been out-bid for the A&P store in Mount Kisco reducing their count of stores to 24.  However, Stop & Shop still has the opportunity to bid higher during the auction.

The Auction: The remaining stores will be auctioned on Thurs. 10/1 and Fri. 10/2 (and if necessary Mon. 10/6 & Tues. 10/7).  We will have representatives at the auction on all dates and will keep you posted on any information that breaks during the auction.

We have been told that there are more than 120 bids submitted for stores in the auction, BUT we do not have any knowledge of how many stores were actually bid on OR who all the potential bidders are. We are still working with all of our Employers and trying to help them to purchase additional stores during the auction.

There will be no final 1113/1114 hearing until after the auction has been completed …. Currently it is scheduled for 10/7/16 (subject to change).

Store Transitions: The transition plans for the Pathmark stores purchased by Stop & Shop are starting to become clear.  The first three of our stores, Pathmark's 619, 626 & 661, will begin transitioning to Stop & Shop next week. 

Stop & Shop will start the application & interview process on Tuesday 09/29/15, and then follow with orientations for the membership in the days that follow.

Resource Fairs: You may have read that we will be hosting workshops and resource fairs for members displaced by the A&P bankruptcy in our September Newspaper.  Our first Member Resource Fair will be on October 7th at our Union Hall (425 Merrick Ave. Westbury, NY) from 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM (you may come and leave at anytime). If you're interested in attending please RSVP here. 

There will be two other fairs in our area, one in Suffolk County on October 15th at IBEW Local 25 in Hauppauge, RSVP here. There will also be a Fair in New York City.  The New York City date is still tentative, once it is confirmed we will let you know. In the meantime you can visit www.ufcwmemberresources.com for more information.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for any questions, concerns or issues.

Thanks again,

Bruce W. Both

President

UFCW Local 1500

For all archived Pathmark updates, vist: www.ufcw1500.org/pathmarkupdates

—IMPORTANT A&P BANKRUPTCY DATES —

Friday, September 11th The Bankruptcy Court will hear UFCW's objections to A&P’s KERP (corporate bonus plan).

Monday, September 21st (tentative) Bid Deadline: All qualifying bids on the stores are due into the Bankruptcy Court. The Bankruptcy Court will announce what Tier I stores have agreements to be sold and what stores will be sold at the auction on 10/1 & 10/2.

Thursday, October 1st and/or Friday, October 2nd The auction for the remaining unsold and or closed stores will be held (depending on number of stores, dates could extend).

Friday, October 2nd (tentative) Bidders can file objections to the sale of stores in the Bankruptcy Court. The UFCW can also file objections to bids made on the stores.

Friday, October 16th A hearing will be held regarding the objections to the sales filed to the Bankruptcy Court. At this stage, the UFCW will have a voice during the auction process to make recommendations on bidders. For instance, if two companies place a comparable bid on the same store and one is a union employer, while the other is non-union, the unionized store would have an advantage and they should likely win the bid. A hearing will be held on A&P's filing of a 1113(c). Bid winners will be formally announced.

Recent A&P posts:

UFCW Local 1500 files official objections to A&P's KERP plan (corporate bonus plan)

Bankruptcy Ruling on Severance & Bumping

Wegmans is the Wrong Fit for Brooklyn

Bruce W. Both, President of New York's largest grocery workers union, the 23,000 member United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 Union (UFCW), today released the following statement after the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation announced Wegmans will anchor the redevelopment plans for Admirals Row.

"Our communities surrounding the Brooklyn Navy Yard are in desperate need of a supermarket, one with a proven track record of providing healthy food, affordable food, and sustainable jobs for New York City. While the public spotlight is on the popularity of Wegmans to its upstate consumers, it's our responsibility to shine a light on the types of jobs they may bring to Brooklyn.

"Our communities need jobs with benefits in order to support and grow our families. Brooklyn deserves jobs which provide guaranteed raises, pay, benefits, and job security. But most importantly in the New York City food retail industry, our community needs a guaranteed set amount of working hours, to make it possible support our families and to balance a schedule between work and family life. Will Wegmans be offering this to the Brooklyn community?

"After all, it's about providing our Brooklyn community members with opportunities for stable and sustainable careers. Simply put, the company has no familiarity or understanding of providing good jobs and healthy food in New York City.

"The Brooklyn Navy Yard needed a responsible employer that our communities and families could count on to build a better Brooklyn. They needed a company that would help Brooklyn families attain the American Dream. What it didn't need was yet another out of town transplant to move into its neighborhood again. Brooklyn deserved better."

###

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Westbury, New York, represents 23,000 grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Pathmark, Fairway, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, D'Agostino, Key Food, Shop Rite and King Kullen.
Stay up to date with UFCW Local 1500 on twitter @ufcw1500, facebook.com/ufcw1500, and at ufcw1500.org.

Negotiations Resume With Stop & Shop

Tony Speelman, UFCW Local 1500

December 4, 2013: Contract Update 19- 

The Federal Mediator's request for both Stop & Shop and our Union enter into temporary seven-day“cooling off” period is over.  We're resuming negotiations today with Stop & Shop.

This is the month we draw a line in the sand.  Throughout the last three-months we negotiated in good faith and hoped that Stop & Shop would bargain responsibly.  Unfortunately they have not and we are still nowhere near an agreement, especially with Pension and Welfare issues.  Stop & Shop is still proposing to withdraw from our multi-employer pension plan, put significant healthcare costs on all full time members and eliminate all part time medical benefits.  

The next week will be the ultimate test for you and our union.  We will not continue to give Stop & Shop the sweat off our backs for the rest of the holiday season while they refuse to propose a contract you can live with.  I urge you to be patient, strong and motivated during this process.  Our union's solidarity, strength and commitment will often be tested by Stop & Shop’s management team.  Negotiations are scheduled for the remainder of this week and early next week.  Just know that we are fighting every second of the day to try and secure not just "any contract" but the best contract we can.

Thank you for the overwhelming support, communication and solidarity.  We are grateful to our loyal customers, our local politicians, members of our communities, and all of the other Union’s that have already pledged their support. During this time we all need to stick together.  You must try to avoid buying into any management rumors or attempts to undermine this process.  Any attempts to separate our union membership must be met with a unified response that we are all together.  We need to support one another now more than ever, so again, thank you, for your patience and trust while we stand together and fight for a fair contract from Stop & Shop. Everyone should know that the last thing we ever want to do is to create an economic hardship for any of our members, your communities or your loyal customers.  

Thank you again, 

Tony Speelman

Lead Negotiator, UFCW Local 1500

Stop & Shop's Parent Company, Ahold USA, Appoints New COO

The original Stop and Shop logo used until 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Via Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2012/11/15/stop-shop-parent-appoints-james-mcann-chief-operating-officer-ahold-usa/20SznOGIqSnXvSe4LJFBNJ/story.html

Ahold, the corporate parent of such supermarket chains as Stop & Shop as well as the Peapod online grocery ordering and delivery service, announced the appointment of James McCann as chief operating officer of Ahold USA, effective Feb. 1.

McCann will succeed Carl Schlicker, who has announced his retirement.

Read the entire article here: http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2012/11/15/stop-shop-parent-appoints-james-mcann-chief-operating-officer-ahold-usa/20SznOGIqSnXvSe4LJFBNJ/story.html

Related articles

• Stop & Shop parent appoints James MCann as chief operating officer of Ahold USA
• Supermarket operator Ahold says 3Q earnings down

Friday Morning One-Liners: Supermarkets are still failing inspections, Shoprite opens in Scarsdale

Image via Wikipedia

NYC Department of Consumer Affairs: "NYC Supermarkets are still ripping you off." [Press Release]

DCA Commissioner Jonathan Mintz, “DCA will continue its aggressive enforcement of pricing and other consumer protection violations in the City’s supermarkets, including this year’s doubling of inspections, until these stores finally take the quality control steps necessary to get it right.”

More @ CBS: Report: City Supermarkets May Be Ripping You Off (newyork.cbslocal.com)

In Scarsdale, a Local 1500 represented ShopRite opened this week, Patch was check out the new supermarket.  January 9th will be the 'Gala Opening' with ribbon cutting.

They're [ShopRite] also holding their bi-annual can-can sale this week.

UFCW Local 1743 has filed charges against employer Klement Sausage Co., who has implemented a policy that penalizes employees for not direct depositing their paychecks.

Workers at Disney are at the bargaining table negotiating a new contract in Orlando.

Walmart has conducted another poll, this time in Charles Barron's district and the results are shockingly in favor of Walmart building a store, again. The NY Post conveniently has more.

The Neighborhood Retail Alliance posts their opinion of the Post's latest Walmart push.

Target sales dropped big in December [WSJ]

BJ's Wholesale Club announced they'll be laying off 500 workers, closing 5 stores. [BJ's Wholesale Club Workers Blog]

Today, the Department of Labor announced our Nation's unemployment rate has dropped, as we've added 103,000 jobs in December, the unemployment rate fell to 9.4%, the lowest since July 2009.  Regional and State statistics will be available on Jan. 25.

 

The New York Times has more and a interesting chart comparing past recoveries to this one.

Here is a statement from Secretary of Labor, Hilda L. Solis, on December's employment numbers.

 

Part of the strategy to create more jobs is creating more "Green Jobs".

 

And here in New York, if you're worried about the snow, the NY Times reassures us there is about one truck for every snowflake.  

Thursday Morning One-Liners...DCA Supermarket Study, A&P Closures....

A&P
Long Island Business News: Three Long Island Stores on A&P's 25 Cut List...

ABC News: Major Grocery Chain Closing Stores....

SN: Exec. VP Kramer Out @ A&P...

They have now appointed Paul Hertz to the role of Executive Vice President, Operations.

Star-Ledger: At least 8 Pathmark's to close in New Jersey

A&P has filed suit against Stop & Shop in U.S. District Court here, accusing its rival of making misleading statements in comparative price advertisements.

NYC Department of Consumer Affairs: One out of Two Supermarkets Fail Inspections
The city's Department of Consumer Affairs says one out of two food stores it inspected in the city was overcharging its customers.  According to the DCA Commissioner Jonathan Mintz, the agency checked out 983 supermarkets across the five boroughs over the past year to see if mistakes were made at the cash register.

"The results of our inspection were very troubling," Mintz said. "We're very unhappy with what we're seeing out there"  

Here is the DCA Press Release.

More @ [NY Times] [NY Post] [NY1 with video]

The DCA has put together a PDF guide on how to "Save at the Supermarket"

Supermarket News reports that BJ's Wholesale Club is citing an "intense level of price competition", causing margins and earnings to fall short of expectations.

New York Times covers the Mott's Strike: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/business/18motts.html?ref=nyregion


Acme and UFCW Local 1776 discuss Labor Buyout...

Monday Morning One Liners...

Our UFCW brother Brian Petronella, the longtime president of the Westport-based UFCW, Local 371 and a leading figure in Connecticut labor and politics died suddenly Friday night. For more information please head to www.ufcw371.org.  This is a tragic loss for the UFCW, and Brian will be missed dearly.

Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a funding measure that includes a six-month extension of the enhanced federal funding level for state Medicaid programs. The measure passed last Thursday by a vote of 61-39.  More @ Supermarket News.

The FTC has ordered Tops to sell seven of their newly acquired Penn Traffic stores.

Action Alert: Tell Mott's: Get the scabs out of your apple sauce!

Crain's: While A&P sinks, rivals salivate.
The financial free fall of The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.—owner of A&P, The Food Emporium, Pathmark, Waldbaum's and other chains—has its local rivals salivating. “We are just observing right now,” insists billionaire John Catsimatidis, who owns the Gristedes chain....

In related news Forbes reported last week that Barnes & Noble may be up for sale;
Billionaire Ron Burkle, who increased his ownership stake in Barnes & Noble last year to about 18 percent, has been battling with Riggio over changes he wants to see made to corporate governance in order to boost value. Burkle has said he isn't interested in a takeover but expects to propose a slate of three new directors at the next annual meeting, scheduled to be held by Sept. 30. Barnes & Noble officials have been concerned about an alliance between Burkle and Aletheia Research & Management Inc.,

More @ Gawker.

Please join Wake Up Walmart and the National Labor Committee in calling on Walmart to support a 35 cent per hour minimum wage for garment workers in Bangladesh.

WSJ: Changes in Flushing Set Off Food Fight:
The recent closure of a Key Food in Flushing was the last straw for many longtime residents, who say they feel ignored and isolated. Now, they are asking the new Asian market in the area to cater to them, too.

More @ the Gothamist.

The CCE (Citizens Campaign for the Environment) released their first Long Island Grocery Report on store's reusable bag policies.  The “B.Y.O.B (Bring Your Own Bag): Reusable Bag Policies at Long Island Grocery Stores” report, was done bye CCE staff who analyzed and evaluated reusable bag policies of fourteen Long Island grocery store chains.  Check out the release and how your supermarket faired in the report here.

Gristedes in Pelham Manor to Close: The Pelham Weekly reports that the store will close as soon as possible and even though Grocer John's is closing, Gristedes presence in Pelham Manor may not have come to an official end:“We were trying different experiments in hope of coming up with the correct formula,” said Mr. Catsimatidis. “And we may try and give it one more shot.”

B-Net: Target Focuses on Food, Not Fashion in East Harlem.

The new King Kullen in Island Park is moving forward...

Tues, Weds & Thursday Morning One-Liners: Aldi's breaking into NYC later than sooner...

Progressive Grocer: 16,000 NY Grocery Union Contracts set to Expire June 26
(you can find all media outlets who covered our release here)

At Co-op City, Trash Piles Up as Workers Go on Strike
Mountains of trash bags sprouted across Co-op City on Tuesday as residents and office workers rushed to perform basic maintenance tasks left undone by more than 500 unionized janitors, groundskeepers and parking attendants who went on strike on a contract dispute. 


UMass Memorial, Food Workers Union reach tentative contract
UMass Memorial Health Care and the union representing 1,300 of its workers have tentatively agreed to a two-year contract, avoiding the threat of a strike. 


Shaw's workers win support in Sommerville (MA)
Striking Shaw's workers took their fight through Somerville this week for support from labor and faith groups and a protest in Twin Cities. 


Oh the Aldi NYC thing again,

Supermarket News: Aldi to Open in NYC in 2011

The discounter has agreed to locate in the Rego Park II development in Queens, with the store scheduled to open in early 2011. Aldi had previously hoped to have arrived in New York as soon as last year, but plans for its initial store fell through, company officials said. The company is now seeking to hire staff for the Queens store. 

More @ Queens Central: Aldi Supermarket to open at Rego Center
The discount supermarket chain plans to open its first New York City store at the Rego Park ll shopping center at 65-35 Junction Blvd. in Queens, in 2011

Progressive Grocer also covered Aldi's NYC Plans.

Fowl is fair! Key Food's chicken relabeling is completely kosher.
A Brooklyn Heights Key Food that has been repeatedly accused of changing the "sell-by" date on meat is off the hook this week after the state revealed that the relabeling practice is completely legal. 


Workers at 3 MMJ Businesses in Oakland Unionize
California- Workers at three medical marijuana businesses in Oakland will announce Friday that they have unionized, another step in a concerted campaign aimed at bringing legitimacy to a once-hidden sector of the state's economy and boosting the marijuana-legalization initiative.


A crowed showed up last  week at Starrett City to protest Walmart's proposed first New York City superstore.


Unions v Wal-Mart
The Economist looks at an old unions stronghold battles the bigger retailer.

Undercitting its rivals: Wal-Mart slashing prices, restoring some basics.
Wal-Mart is counting on $1 ketchup bottles and sub-$4 cases of Coke to get its low-price mojo back.


Wal-Mart Expecting a Break Out?
Wal-Mart's price action is below this important level, which makes the stock difficult to buy, as there will certainly be resistance as it approaches its 200 day moving average.



Wal-Mart says recalled Miley Cyrus jewlery was not intended for children.
In a statement released by Wal-Mart, they announced that the line of Miley Cyrus jewelry was not intended for children. That comment has been met with skepticism by many mothers of tween girls who, for the past four years, have been sleeping, eating, breathing and buying everything Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus.

1.2 million un-employed workers will lose benefits since congress failed to act.

Politics, City & Everything in between...
Schneiderman for Espaillat, UFCW Local 1500 for Levine
UFCW Local 1500 continued its early endorsement streak by becoming the first labor union to endorse in the 31st SD race, throwing its weight behind District Leader Mark Levine.

Bronx May Land Fuel Alternative
The Bloomberg administration is pushing to build New York's first public alternative-fuel station to pump natural gas, ethanol and biodiesel.

Apparently Skinny People Shop at Whole Foods:
Researchers at the University of Washington further illustrate the link between poverty and obesity.


Co-op City workers in Bronx to Strike Over Proposed Wage Freeze
Building workers at Co-op City in the Bronx will strike this morning, seething over a four-year wage freeze proposed by management of the massive complex, union officials said Monday night. 


Race against time to keep MTA workers as layoffs loom
Hundreds of bus drivers and other transit workers could get a reprieve from impending layoffs if MTA and union officials can negotiate a deal-but the clock is ticking.

Bloomberg eliminates Teachers' raises, saves 4,400 jobs: Crains NY Business.

Tuesday Afternoon One LIners...

Wal-Mart to pay $27.6 million to settle California environmental case

Wal-Mart has agreed to pay $27.6 million to settle charges that it violated California environmental laws in its handling and disposal of hazardous materials, prosecutors involved in the case announced Monday in San Diego.

 

NY Daily News responds to Walmarts "cheap underwear" critics...

 

Bringing Down Wal-Mart

The woman who once dreamed of turning her life around through hard work and promotion into Wal-Mart corporate management is now the first “named plaintiff” in a sexual-bias class-action lawsuit against the mega-corporation. 

 

Shaw’s Rejects Union’s Offer to Settle Strike at Methuen Warehouse

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 791 announced today that Shaw’s Supermarkets rejected the union’s contract offer...

 

New Whole Foods Market to open in Schaumburg, IL

Air Products’ Hydrogen and Technology Fueling Wegmans’ Warehouse Operations [PA]

The produce at Wegmans Retail ServiceCenter (RSC) just got greener...

 

Concern over possible Flushing supermarket closure 

Hundreds of Flushing residents and their leaders are gearing up to fight the rumored closing of the Key Food supermarket at the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and Bowne Street.

 

FreshDirect Rolls Out ‘Guaranteed Fresh’ Mark

Online grocer FreshDirect has debuted “Guaranteed Fresh” labels, which appear on all freshly made meals, meat, seafood, dairy and produce items. The designation clearly shows customers exactly how many days their food will remain fresh.

Stop & Shop Earns an A+ From Local Schools

Stop & Shop today announced it will distribute $1 million to local schools on behalf of Stop & Shop and its A+ Bonus Bucks shoppers. 

Whole Foods Market to Carry Converted Organics' Products

Total of 84 Stores With New Distribution Through North Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic Store Regions Whole Foods Expands Distribution of All-Natural Fertilizer by 66 Stores

 

 

Thursday Morning One Liners...Shaw's Strike Nearly 2-Months Old, King Kullen Island Park...

Hyde Park, NY: Park Plaza looks for a new supermarket and it won't be Stop & Shop
"A little competition is great for everybody," she said. "We want the competition to keep the prices down." Right now, Stop & Shop is "the only game in town,"

 No name has been given for the supermarket, which would go into a new building to be built in a vacant space of about five acres at the rear of the 15-acre site. No deal has been signed yet, DiBrizzi said.
"We're in negotiation with a couple different supermarkets," he said.
It won't be Stop & Shop, which already plans to move its Hyde Park store across Route 9 to the Hyde Park Mall, where it would build a new store.
A new King Kullen supermarket and retail shopping center may soon occupy a mostly vacant parcel of land in Island Park. The site's owner, John Vitale of Barnum Land Development LLC, has filed an application with the Hempstead town board requesting that the area be rezoned as a business district.

A new 11,000 sqft gourmet/upscale supermarket will open on the base at  Toren—a new 240-unit condo development on the Flatbush Avenue corridor—in downtown Brooklyn. [Crain's]

Shaw's
Shaw's Labor Dispute Grows: The labor dispute between Shaw's Supermarkets and workers at the company's Methuen distribution center spread to Gloucester Wednesday evening, with around 30 picketers protesting at the Railroad Avenue and Eastern Avenue stores.

Eagle Tribune: Shaw's Strike Nearly 2-Months Long... "No talks are scheduled," Peter Derouen, spokesman for the 300 employees who walked off their jobs at the plant, said yesterday. "We are trying to get the company back to discuss a new contract.

NY Daily News: A Union Against The Fat Tax

Liz Benjamin of the Daily News covers our position on the proposed 'Sugar Tax',  a regressive tax we oppose:

 Local 1500 represents supermarket workers. It stands to reason that some shoppers will change their purchasing habits if the fat tax is enacted, which could impact the bottom lines at markets. If the employers suffer, the employees will eventually suffer, too. 

From our Ad:

"We're all tired of being taxed by the government. Still, not all taxes are created equal. A Regressive Tax (the kind that hurts lower income people much more than wealthier people) is one of the worst. Any tax on sugar-based products will hurt thousands of New Yorkers in neighborhoods with meager purchasing options. In these communities, people are forced to shop in smaller stores, such as bodgeas and limited-product markets where they have fewer healthy alternatives. The sugar tax will force people to pay more simply because they have no other choice."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/a-union-against-the-fat-tax.html#ixzz0jmx6vnYV

Thursday Morning One Liners: Shaw's, Fairway & Fast Food in NYC

The CEO of Fairway Market ended months of speculation when he confirmed the supermarket chain will open a branch on the Upper East Side at a Community Board 8 meeting Wednesday.  More @ DNAinfo.

New Stop & Shop in Farmingdale: They are set to open for business late spring or early summer, a spokesperson said. The 74,000 square foot store will be housed on a nine-acre section of land and is expected to create 30 full-time management and 140 part-time jobs, according to Stop & Shop spokesperson Kevin Ryan.

Cheerios first honored employees in Philadelphia, now here in NYC, Staten Island, ShopRite employees are being honored with their photo's on new Cheerios boxes. “It’s a reflection of the Staten Island community and the associates creating these results,” said Kevin Mannix, owner of the Graniteville grocery store.

JetBlue's HQ lands in Queens: Queens beats out Orlando in hard-fought battle to house growing airline; New York City to keep 950 jobs as JetBlue relocates from Forest Hills to Long Island City.

Hyde Park Set to OK new Stop & Shop — The town Planning Board is poised to approve construction of a Stop & Shop supermarket in the Hyde Park Mall after several years of board review and site-plan modifications.

Shaw's Strike

Supermarket News: Shaw's has told the union representing striking workers at its distribution center here that it has "started the process of recruiting and hiring permanent replacement workers" at the facility.

Eagle Tribune: Shaw's says it will replace striking workers.

Boston Globe: Shaw's will layoff 4% of its workers.

Shaw’s Supermarkets Inc. said yesterday that it plans to lay off 4 percent of its store associates in early April in an effort to stay competitive and make its stores more efficient. The move comes more than two weeks after hundreds of its workers went on strike across New England.

Shaw’s spokeswoman Judy Chong said the cutbacks will take effect on April 10 and include “some full-time retail positions’’ in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. But she declined to say how many employees

UFCW Local 791 meanwhile has blasted Shaw's for issuing this threat:
“Many of these men and women have worked at the warehouse for many years. By threatening to bring in replacement workers, Shaw’s is jeopardizing the livelihoods of hundreds of workers and their families. It is long past time for the Company to return to the table and publicly demonstrate its commitment to their hard working and dedicated employees who have helped make Shaw’s a successful company,” Read more: Press Release



Progressive Grocer: UFCW 791 Rips Shaw's for Threatening to Hire Permanent Replacement Workers.

Supermarket News: Walmart On the Attack, Food Price Wars
“Wal-Mart is lacing up the gloves as it prepares to step back into the ring and win the modern-day price war in food retail,” said Deborah Weinswig, an analyst with Citigroup, New York, in a report issued last week. Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores posted a rare dip in comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter — an event that served as “a wake-up call for management,” she said.

BJ's Wholesale Club will be moving into new corporate headquarters in Westborough, Mass., early next year, a spokeswoman for the chain told SN Wednesday. 

South Hampton Press: Is King Kullen in the plans for a new store at the new Tuckahoe Hamlet Center?
The hamlet of Tuckahoe, a mostly residential community without much of a commercial center, may soon feature a large shopping development that includes a King Kullen grocery store, as many as four restaurants, more than 10 retail shops and about a dozen new apartments.

Politics

Crain's: NYC Sick-Day Bill to be Reintroduced.

Speaker Christine Quinn on the Big Mac Attack:
Hoping to stop fast-food restaurants from saturating poor neighborhoods, she announced plans Tuesday to single out the junk-food joints in the city zoning code.  Read more:@ NY Daily News

Thursday Morning One Liners:

Arrajj said the supermarket tried to offer union members a $500 store gift card instead. "That doesn't help pay mortgages," he said.

-Dick Arrajj, who has been picketing in front of Shaw's stores in New Hampshire and Massachusetts for more than a week. From Today's Eagle Tribune, Massachusetts Shaw's workers picket at NH stores.

NY Daily News: Patsy's Pizza dishwasher sues for working conditions, compensation and firing

Brooklyn Eagle: More and more stores are going 'bagless' in Brooklyn.

WSJ: Some Harlem developers are having second thoughts on retail in Harlem.

A few years ago, real-estate developers had aggressive plans to bring trendy retail and office space to inner-city communities, which were attracting a growing middle class. Now, some of those developers are having second thoughts.  More @ WSJ.

Progressive Grocer: Walmart Opens 1,000th Money Center, Plans 500 More...

Walmart celebrated the grand opening of its 1,000th Walmart MoneyCenter in Chalmette, La., this week as it gears up to add another 500 locations this year.
“Walmart MoneyCenters are a cornerstone of our business and were specially created to give customers a welcoming environment where they can save when they cash checks, pay bills and transfer money,” said Jane Thompson, president, Walmart Financial Services. “Customers ask when their stores will get a Walmart MoneyCenter, so we are delighted to announce the expansion into approximately 500 more stores.”

Michelle Obama to food makers: Hurry up on Healthy Food!

You can check out BJ's Q4 Earnings Conference Call here.

Supermarket News: A&P has begun sending shoppers offers via text message and linking savings to their loyalty card when a reply message is received. Discounts are applied automatically when the card is swiped at the checkout.

Shaw's

Masssachusett's Shaw's workers picket at New Hampshire stores

Dick Arrajj has been picketing in front of Shaw's stores in New Hampshire and Massachusetts for more than a week. Arrajj has worked in the Methuen warehouse that ships food to Shaw's stores across New England for 20 years.

Along with other members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 791, Arrajj said he doesn't want to strike, but will continue until the supermarket and union make a deal.

Even though none of the employees in New Hampshire Shaw's stores are members of the union, Arrajj said customers have been sympathetic to their cause.

Arrajj said the supermarket tried to offer union members a $500 store gift card instead.

"That doesn't help pay mortgages," he said.

Show your support for Shaw's workers on Facebook and by signing the petition!

Politics, City & Nation

Steve Levy, the former Democratic Suffolk County Executive, announced he will switch parties and run for Governor of New York.  More @ New York Times.

Democrat & Chronicle: Fight over grocery stores' right to sell wine escalates.

NY Times: Democrats Inch Towards Securing Votes for Health Bill

NY Times: Jobs Bill passes with 11 Republican votes.

Crain's: Unions slam NYC Congressman over Health Care

The Obama health insurance overhaul has Democratic Rep. Mike McMahon caught between conservative constituents who oppose reform, and unions threatening to derail his political career if he rejects it.

Tuesday News before Noon...

Image via Wikipedia

New York apple growers, on behalf of 42 participating supermarket chains, have once again donated $25,000 to the American Cancer Society (ACS) as part of an ongoing effort to help fight cancer and raise awareness of the cancer-fighting benefits of eating apples.

The Brooklyn Eagle looks at the new Key Food in Bay Ridge. “You are the Number One supermarket in Brooklyn, and I’m thrilled that you’re opened again in Bay Ridge,” said Borough President Marty Markowitz at the grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday morning. “I’m so glad Key Food is investing so much in Brooklyn.”

Yournabe.com: New Brooklyn Supermarket 'Key' to Brooklyn.

More @ Brooklyn Paper

ShopRite Employees featured on Cheerio's Boxes:
To raise hope and funds for the hungry and to increase awareness of the issue of hunger, 43 ShopRite stores participated in a six-week contest for National Hunger Awareness Month, September, sponsored by ShopRite and General Mills, ShopRite reported.
ShopRite associates raised nearly $500,000 toward fighting hunger in their local communities. To recognize this effort, 86 ShopRite associates, selected by their peers, represent their stores on a special-edition Cheerios box unveiled this month and available only at ShopRite stores this month. Each store was awarded $1,000 to donate to a hunger charity of its choice.

The founder of Aldi, Karl Albrecht, was named the world's tenth richest man.

Ohio: More and More Workers being Cheated out of Wages:
More than 200 Aldi store managers filed suit in January claiming the discount grocer had misclassified them as exempt from overtime. The case, pending in U.S. District Court, was initiated by Howard McNelley of Elyria, who spent nine years working at the Aldi in Brooklyn before being fired in June 2009. The lawsuit does not say why McNelley or other workers were fired.

Aldi released a statement for this story saying "As a matter of policy and practice, Aldi consistently adheres to all employee-related laws and regulations. We look forward to presenting the facts in court."
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Walmart fired a Michigan man for using prescribed Medical Marijuana.

The Chicagoist continues a series of pieces on 'Working for Wal-Mart': Part three of the story looks at company employment practices:
As part of our on-going coverage of Wal-Mart’s attempt to break into the Chicago retail market, we take a look today at the company’s employment practices in the Chicago metropolitan area. Chicagoist met up with three Wal-Mart employees to talk to them about their jobs, company policy, and why they work there. Check out parts one and two of this story.

Supermarket News: Wal-Mart saw its stock rise about 3% in Monday’s trading after Citgroup analyst Deborah Weinswig upgraded the stock and said the company was poised to grab more grocery market share from traditional supermarkets.  

Here is the statement from the UFCW International on President Obama's Speech at the Export-Import Bank's Annual Conference.

The Food Consumer asks are you getting "cheated when you buy Organic?"

Shaw's Strike
Warehouse workers who supply fresh produce to a variety of Shaw's Supermarkets are striking and taking their dispute to the stores they supply including the Lynn Fells Parkway market.
Warehouse workers from Local 791 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in Methuen walked off the job Sunday and onto the picket line in front of 12 stores in the Greater Boston area and New Hampshire.

The Boston Herald reports on the Fund set up to assist the 310 UFCW members on strike.

Politics, Nation
Sen. Arlen Specter racked up another union endorsement Monday as the Pennsylvania chapter of the Service Employees International Union said they will back the five-term senator in his Democratic primary battle with Rep. Joe Sestak. Read more @ Politico

NY Soda Tax, destined to fail despite push, TV ads: - A proposed new tax on sugary drinks appears unlikely to pass the state Senate, despite passionate campaigning by Gov. David Paterson and his health commissioner. Read more @ The Times Union

NY Post: Four House Democrats from New York yesterday emerged as crucial swing votes to pass President Obama's health-care bill, as the desperate commander-in-chief took his reform pitch to the heartland to troll for every last vote he can get.

Politico: New York's WFP issues a threat

New York's labor-backed Working Families Party, a major state player whose ballot line is a prized asset to Democratic candidates, will deny its endorsement to any member of Congress who votes "no" on health care legislation, party officials said.

Friday Morning One Liners...

FRESH incentives approved for first two supermarkets
New York City Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA) this week approved two tax incentive packages to assist in the development of two new supermarkets in the Bronx — the first projects to be given the go-ahead under the Fresh Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) program, which funds grocery stores in so-called “food deserts.” NYCIDA approved about $3 million in real estate and tax for a Foodtown store, and nearly $5.6 million for a Western Beef location.

Wine at Grocery in NY
Patterson proposes a higher fee for wine in supermarkets
New York Gov. David Patterson is recommending that his previous wine-at-grocery executive budget proposal, which would bring in an estimated $92 million to the state in the form of franchise fees, be amended to increase the required franchise fee for retailers with gross sales of over $1 million...Meanwhile proposals for a $1 per pack cigarette tax increase, and a penny per ounce tax on sugared beverages linked to obesity, remain unchanged.

Ahold’s Giant-Carlisle chain here said Monday that it had completed its acquisition of 25 Ukrop’s stores in the Richmond, Va., market, and that those stores would take on the Martin’s banner later this spring.

King Kullen was #2 on Supermarket News' top 50  independents' list.  Kullen's 52 stores accounted for $940 million in sales in 2009.  While Fareway stores (not Fairway), out of Boone, Iowa, ranked 1st and brought in $950 million.  Glass Gardens came in at 19, The list was compiled to determine the largest supermarket operator in terms of volume with sales below $1 billion in the U.S..  The entire list of 50 companies are available here.

The Washington Post remembers the life of the late UFCW International Vice President Beth Shulman.

Approximately 55 janitors who clean Northern California Safeway supermarkets unconditionally returned to work Thursday night after walking off the job Wednesday night, as protracted contract negotiations continued between SEIU United Service Workers West Local 1877 and four janitorial services employed by Safeway.

Kroger and its union employees in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga., have reached tentative agreement on new contracts, the retailer here said.

DNAinfo gives an update on the new upper east side Fairway Market.  The 60,000 square foot proposed site is on 240 E. 86th street.

Wegmans Food Markets and Costco, Inc. have been chosen the best grocery retailers in a consumer survey conducted by global customer intelligence solutions company Market Force Information, Inc., which will present insights from the survey in a webinar co-hosted by the American Marketing Association

Workers join suit over NYC restaurateur's labor practices: Owner and partners accused of stiffing employees on pay. 

NY Times: Immigrants Claim Wal-Mart Fired Them to Provide Jobs for Local Residents
A small group of West African men who came to the Rockies in search of economic opportunity are embroiled in a dispute with Wal-Mart, accusing it of a raft of discriminatory actions. Most say they were dismissed because supervisors wanted to give their jobs to local people in need of work. Wal-Mart, which has a history of discrimination and labor complaints but has increased efforts to promote diversity at its stores, denies the accusations.

NYT: Once Stigmatized, Food Stamps now finds Acceptance.

Gillibrand endorsed by the New York County Democratic party.

New on the bookshelves: Cornered, a new book by Barry C. Lynn, analyzes the new monopoly capitalism and the economics of destruction:

Regular Harpers and Financial Times contributor Barry C. Lynn paints a genuinely alarming picture: most of our public debates about globalization, competitiveness, creative destruction, and risky finance are nothing more than a cover for the widespread consolidation of power in nearly every imaginable sector of the American economy.

Cornered strips the camouflage from the secret world of twenty-first-century monopolies-neofeudalist empires whose sheer size, vast resources, and immense political power enable them to control virtually every major industry in America in an increasingly authoritarian manner. He reveals how these massive juggernauts, which would have been illegal just thirty years ago, came into being, how they have destroyed or devoured their competition, and how they collude with one another to maintain their power and create the illusion of open, competitive markets.

Random Story of the Week
A 23-year-old Georgia man has been charged with walking into a Walmart, picking up a metal baseball bat from the sports department and pummeling 29 flat-screen TVs, the USA Today has more.