Mid Week

A&P Seeks Enormous Givebacks:
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 464A here, John Niccolai, president of the local, said A&P was demanding pay cuts of up to $65 per week; higher worker costs for health care; a new new-hire program that would reduce pay scales and benefits; and the elimination of a part-time program. The union and A&P have further negotiations scheduled this week.


Meanwhile on the stock side for A&P, Investors have been taking note of some unusual trading with the A&P stock (GAP).


Another article on the grand opening of a Rockaway Stop & Shop.

A man from White Plains is suing Stop and Shop and Bumble Bee Tuna for Mercury poisoning.

Thursday Morning One Liners

Unions in South Africa, are just as weary of Wal-Mart as we are in America.

More unusual trading for GAP (A&P).

A union representing warehouse workers and drivers demonstrated outside the headquarters of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. in Montvale Wednesday over a decision by C&S Wholesale Grocers to supply the grocer from out of state.

The move, which is expected in February, will affect about 1,500 jobs, including about 300 drivers and 900 warehouse workers represented by the Teamsters, said Al Rispoli, secretary/treasurer of Local 863 in Mountainside.
"A&P can matter by saying to C&S "Work it out with the union and keep the jobs here'," Rispoli said.

Communities surrounding Stamford are very excited about the new Fairway Market opening this November.

The Stamford Times is also very eager to check out the new Fairway.

"I look at this as a second chance to start from the bottom and grow with the company," said the 51-year-old former furniture mover and lifelong Stamford resident.

Joseph Grosso: Wal-Mart & New York City

New Yorkers, in other words, could use lower costs where they can be found. However what New York doesn’t need is yet more low-paying, high turnover jobs, particularly ones that can negatively impact better paying jobs and further the income polarization in a city already lacking a solid middle class. This is where Wal-Mart takes a lot more than it gives proving that the cost for lowest prices is too great.

So while Wal-Mart continues to try to get into NYC, they're also making a bigger pitch for even more stores in India. Part of the pitch is promising to buy from more local Indian farmers.



They're also being sued for alleged water pollution in Buffalo: A federal lawsuit has been filed against Walmart, the City of North Tonawanda and the state Department of Transportation alleging water pollution violations during initial site preparation for a planned Supercenter.

And an employee from New Dorp ShopRite competes for the title of best bagger. 

Monday Lunch Time One Liners:

After A&P's weak 2Q, they're seeking a new loan. [Supermarket News]

WSJ reported on Friday that the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.  expects to wrap up a complex new loan in "weeks, not months," buying time for the struggling grocer to implement its turnaround plan of cutting costs, selling assets and lowering prices.

Crain's covers the new Stop & Shop supermarket which opens, Friday in Queens.  The store is one of the latest examples of a commercial project benefiting from federal tax-exempt funding.
The $23 million, 55,000-square-foot supermarket on the Rockaway Peninsula received $5.5 million in tax-exempt Recovery Zone bonds made available through the Obama administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Great job by using Federal Funding to create good UNION jobs!

Plans for a new Riverhead Wal-Mart are moving ahead.

Must Read: Sunday Time Magazine: Walmart & Shoppers- Will Win This War

The Huffington Post looks at Walmart's big promise of "Local Food"

Walmart, back in the news again over accusations of exploitation of immigrant workers.

Last weekend it was Whole Foods' food storage problems, this weekend, the gourmet grocer Agata and Valentina decided to join the fun by storing some fish on the 1st Avenue.   Check out the photos at the Gothamist.

Friday Morning One Liners: Wakefern Targets NYC, Whole Foods' Meat Elevator, A&P 2Q

Report: Wakefern Targeting NYC Food Deserts



A&P reported their 2Q results and an update to their turnaround plan.

Sales for the second quarter were $1.9 billion versus $2.1 billion in last fiscal year's second quarter. Comparable store sales decreased 6.6 percent. For the second quarter, reported loss from continuing operations was $143 million versus last year's second quarter reported loss from continuing operations of $62 million. [Press Release] [Wall-Street Journal Report]

Yesterday, Activists against the proposed Wal-Mart in Brooklyn rallied at Borough Hall.

Sneak Peak @ Sayville's new Stop & Shop [Patch]

Whole Foods and their Meat Elevator has caused their customers to become aghast. Last week, a tipster sent The Gothamist a photo taken in a service elevator at the Union Square Whole Foods, where "cooked, prepared turkey breasts were being carted upstairs along side filthy garbage cans and employees with dirty dustbins."

Thursday Morning One Liners: Target's Metro Expansion

Wal-Mart Janitors are trying again to bring a Class-Action Suit against their employer, over wages and hours.

The suit, like the first, alleges janitors routinely worked seven days a week and were denied overtime pay, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and that Wal-Mart acquiesced in the illegal practices, in violation of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act. Read more @ Law.com

The Fresh Market's sales and Q3 earnings are soaring.

The Huffington Post: Wal-Mart's Baby Formula Scam

The Perishable Pundit asks if Wal-Mart's Local Farmer Initiative is just an innovative Public Relations Stunt.

Everything PR: Wal-Mart's PR Machine is Rolling.

Target revamps 3 more metro locations for fresh one-stop conveinece shopping in DC, Chicago and Dallas.

More than 100 Target stores in the Chicago, Dallas and Washington, D.C., metro areas have been redesigned to further deliver one-stop shopping convenience.

The Minneapolis-based retailer says the stores feature an open-market grocery layout stocked with a selection of fresh produce, fresh meat and baked goods. The new layout also includes reinventions in several other areas throughout the store such as beauty, home, shoes and electronics. More @ ProGrocer

Last Thursday, Target opened their new P-Fresh store in Commack, Long Island, completely stocked with not only their usual items but fresh produce, meats and other supermarket items

NACS: Supermarkets Address Changing Shopping Habits: Target, Wal-Mart, now a place for grocery

New Zoning in East Rockaway has been Approved, one more approval in March 2011for a new Pathmark....

The new plan focuses on the northern portion of the existing industrial zone, which includes the Berg properties, a CVS drug store and other buildings. The southern portion, which includes a Pathmark supermarket, will remain an industrial zone, awaiting potential further review after the March 2011 village election. The Commuter’s Club property, on the northeast side of the railroad tracks, will remain in the industrial zone

Contracts, Negotiations:
UFCW Local 1564 has agreed to a deal with Smith's out in New Mexico
More @ The Mexican