Larry’s Revamps Its Image, Finds Its Niche
By George Anderson
The Puget Sound Business Journal says Larry’s Markets, a six store independent grocer, wants to carve out a greater niche in the highly-competitive Seattle-area market.
Larry’s competes with Safeway, QFC, Albertsons, Fred Meyer and Haggen and that’s only the supermarket competition.
Mark McKinney, chief executive officer, Larry’s, says his company’s success up until now is because “We’ve marketed ourselves as a special-occasion store, to visit when you’re doing a special meal or it’s the holidays.”
He believes that Larry’s can improve performance through planned store renovations and improved marketing. “The key area we need to improve on in our merchandising and messaging is that we have the everyday grocery needs at competitive prices. Along with that, if you want something a little bit nicer, we have that, too. Our emphasis is to stress that we’re a grocery store and a whole lot more.”
Moderator’s Comment: What independents should be on
the RetailWire supermarket honor roll? Why?
[George
Anderson – Moderator]