Jewel-Osco Giving up on Urban Fresh Format
Supervalu banner Jewel-Osco is shuttering its sole Urban Fresh store, a small-format test location meant to cater to city residents, according to a published report. The 16,000-square-foot store, which opened in September of last year in the upscale Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park, will close Oct. 30
“After gathering key sales data and customer feedback, we decided to close the store,” spokeswoman Karen May told the Chicago Tribune, declining to offer further details, although she did say that the grocer had no plans to build more Urban Fresh stores.
The store featured ready-to-eat gourmet meals, organic produce, and a wine and cheese shop for time-pressed customers. Supervalu chairman Jeff Noddle said when the location opened that the test would enable the company to penetrate cities where real estate is at a premium.
Last week, Minneapolis-based Supervalu revealed plans to double the size of its discount banner Save-A-Lot to about 2,400 stores over five years.
“After gathering key sales data and customer feedback, we decided to close the store,” spokeswoman Karen May told the Chicago Tribune, declining to offer further details, although she did say that the grocer had no plans to build more Urban Fresh stores.
The store featured ready-to-eat gourmet meals, organic produce, and a wine and cheese shop for time-pressed customers. Supervalu chairman Jeff Noddle said when the location opened that the test would enable the company to penetrate cities where real estate is at a premium.
Last week, Minneapolis-based Supervalu revealed plans to double the size of its discount banner Save-A-Lot to about 2,400 stores over five years.