Starting today through its closing on Oct. 24, Ukrop's Super Market in Roanoke is discounting the price of all food and other merchandise by 20 percent.
The sale excludes gift cards and postage, said store manager, Manny Derderian. Jason Woodcock, the former store manager, has left the grocery company, he said.
The Roanoke Ukrop's also now closes early each day, at 7 p.m.
Food Lion launched its holiday discount program this week, so you might want to check it out if you're interested in saving $20 on groceries in the next few months.
If you shop at Food Lion for six of eight weeks and spend $45 each visit, you'll earn credits. At the end of the six weeks, you'll earn a $20 electronic coupon off you next shopping order.
These coupons expire on Dec. 8, so this grocery savings coincides with the holiday season.
To start off the program on your next shopping trip, you have to scan your MVP card and Food Lion's free turkey card, which is found in the grocer's weekly flier. The credits stack up on your MVP card for following store visits.
Click here for more details.
Since Friday, you've all had much to say about the news of Ukrop's closing in Roanoke. Thanks for weighing in. In case you missed it, here's the latest story on the future of Ukrop's soon-to-be vacant store in Roanoke.
Also, I want to address some comments by some of you, expressing concern that the city of Roanoke has used taxpayer dollars to fund the Ivy Market project. No taxpayer money has been used to fund this project.
The developer, IMD Investment Group, receives incentives based on the performance of Ukrop's and Walgreens. This means that the city considers the tax revenue generated by these two retailers before IMD actually receives any kind of payment.
When the city crafted this agreement in 2004, officials estimated that the development would generate at least $1.4 million in tax revenue. The contract says that IMD would receive up to $600,000 for 15 years, if the stores generated this amount. So, the city had hoped to recoup about $800,000 a year in retail taxes from Ivy Market.
This is more money than the city would have received if this site had remained in its former state. You may remember that this Ukrop's site was once overgrown with weeds and known to many as a "hobo-jungle."
It's unclear what will happen with this agreement now that Ukrop's will be closing. If IMD finds another store to fill the Ukrop's spot, the tax incentive will stay intact, according to city officials.
Here's news today on the fate of Ukrop's Roanoke store:
Ukrop’s Super Market said Friday that it will close its Roanoke store next month, after more than two years of trying to make its concept work in the Star City. The Richmond-based grocer will shutter its Franklin Road store on Oct. 24.
"We are making this announcement this afternoon after talking with store leadership about this tough decision," said Bobby Ukrop, Ukrop’s chairman, president and CEO, in a news release. "We wish it had worked out differently. It’s painful for many reasons, not the least of which is that we will no longer be able to offer employment to associates who have diligently served Ivy Market customers."
First Market Bank inside the Ukrop's will remain open until Dec. 18.
The 58,000-square-foot Ukrop’s came to Roanoke in June 2007, like a celebrated rock star. But its sales did not meet the company’s expectations. Ukrop's stores are closed on Sundays and do not sell alcohol.
Walgreens opened last month adjacent to Ukrop’s.
It's back to the daily grind after a long Labor Day weekend. I hope all of you had a great holiday.
There's some good news for consumers, because of all of the price cutting going on across department store and food aisles.
Have you noticed something different about your grocery bill lately? Prices for some foods are falling, according to the Labor Department's Consumer Price Index, which is cited in this news story.
As a response to consumer spending trends, grocery chains continue to lower prices (I've definitely noticed the discounts). Food bills for some people have been significantly less lately, the news story states.
In the past month, I've seen lower prices for milk and better deals on soup and other canned goods.
Let me know what kinds of discounts you're finding while shopping for food.
Today is opening day for the new Food Lion store in Daleville, located on U.S. 220 at the Orchard Marketplace shopping center. I received some additional details about this new grocer to pass along.
The store's hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Calvin Walters of Roanoke County is the manager. He's been with Food Lion since 1986.
Most stores offer giveaways and other special contests on opening day. If you're up for a load of free groceries, you can enter a contest at this new Food Lion today to win a shopping spree. Registration for the contest is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Food Lion.
At 7 p.m., one person's name will be drawn. The winner has 99 seconds to run through the store and grab as much food as possible. The contest, run by Q99, excludes alcohol and tobacco products. Of course, the winner keeps all of the food that ends up in the cart.
Read more information about this new Food Lion here.
The latest on Ukrop's Super Market's efforts at seeking a buyer for its 28-store chain was reported today by Supermarket News, a grocery trade publication. According to this story, Harris Teeter no longer is in the running to acquire Ukrop's.
Instead, a private equity group outbid the N.C. based chain, said Supermarket News, citing unnamed sources.
Click here for the online news update.
The new Food Lion store in Daleville will open on Aug. 19. That's according to Cathy Benson at The Botetourt View blog. This is the day after an Aug. 18 After Hours event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce at the store that fronts U.S. 220.
Click here for more details about this new Food Lion and its retail center, the Orchard Marketplace.
I have some details about Food Lion's new store planned for Daleville. This grocer will open in mid to late August at Orchard Marketplace, a retail center on U.S. 220. Food Lion told me recently that the 35,000-square-foot store will be a new prototype for the company.
It's not a Bloom store, which is one of Food Lion's upscale concepts. But the new grocery store will section off certain departments into "neighborhoods," with an overall updated store design. It's one of 50 prototype Food Lion stores so far.
To the left is a picture of Food Lion's new prototype meat department, courtesy of the grocer. All of the chain's new stores will be designed with this updated look.
Check out my story in tomorrow's Business section for more details about the retailers and businesses coming to Orchard Marketplace.
The news is out that Ukrop's Super Market is seeking a buyer for its 28-store chain.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports on its Web site this evening that Richmond-based Ukrop's has issued a prospectus seeking potential buyers. It cites an online article by Food World, a grocery industry publication, which is reporting this news and attributing it to "multiple industry sources."
The grocery chains that have responded to Ukrop's prospectus are Ahold, Harris Teeter and Supervalu, according to the Food World article.
