Saturday, August 30, 2014

Supercenter Meijer Plans to Expand into Southeastern Wisconsin



Meijer adds Greenfield, Janesville to Wisconsin store sites.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/7/2014)

Big expansion plans.  The privately held chain is in the process of a major move into Wisconsin. The company previously announced plans to build its first supercenters in this state, including stores in Grafton, Sussex, Wauwatosa, Waukesha, Kenosha and Oak Creek. 

The company, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., also has purchased a distribution center in Pleasant Prairie from SuperValu Inc. The center is being expanded to accommodate Meijer's entry into Wisconsin and other states in the retailer's western division. 

Happiness is a maxed-out campaign contribution.  (4 of them, in this case.)


Like their support of Scott Walker, Meijer's emphasis on the supercenter model of retailing might be misplaced.

Wal-Mart's Supercenters Are Becoming A Major Problem
.  (Business Insider, 8/14/2014)

Changing consumer habits
.  Wal-Mart's supercenters are struggling as consumers increasingly choose convenience stores over one-stop shops. 

Wal-Mart's supercenters are struggling as consumers increasingly choose convenience stores over one-stop shops. (CNBC, 1/31/2014)

Even behemoths get the blues.  The big-box discounter is in need of a bricks-and-mortar makeover, analysts said. To resonate with today's shopper, Wal-Mart needs to move its stores closer to major population centers, shrink the square footage of its superstores and shutter about 100 underperforming U.S. locations, they suggest.

Perhaps Meijer sees the writing on the wall?   Construction on Sussex Meijer halted.  (Sussex Sun, 8/11/2014).  2015 spring completion date pushed back a year.  Still, the article notes the store "could be opened".

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