SuperValu Adds 71 Stores, Plans 110 More

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN-SuperValu says it has opened 71 additional stores in the last year, and has put most of the emphasis on its new combination-and-general merchandise approach. SuperValu’s store development plans in fiscal 2005 for 110 to 140 extreme value food combination stores, about 90 conversions to extreme value combination stores, eight to 10 new regional banner stores and about 30 regional banner major remodels.

Jeff Noddle, SuperValu’s chief executive officer, says his company is committed to a “rapid expansion of our Save-A- Lot extreme value combo format.” In a recent quarterly report to shareholders, the Eden Prairie, MN-based food wholesaler and retailer says all but two of the new stores are its Save-A-Lot stores, which combine grocery and general merchandise items. This expansion does not include the 17 acquired Texas locations intended for conversion to Save-A-Lot licensed stores during the year, the company says.

As of June 19, SuperValu has some 1,239 Save-A-Lot stores, of which 322 stores were combination stores compared to 57 combination stores at the end of last year’s first quarter.