Smart & Final Brings 12 More Stores to San Diego
COMMERCE, CA – Smart & Final looks to be undergoing a specific strategy as 2016 comes to a close, with its sights set on the Southern California market. The chain has recently opened 12 new stores in San Diego, CA, with no end to this current focus in the works.
“When we look at San Diego, while we grew a lot, we still believe there’s neighborhoods we have the opportunity to serve that we’re not today,” stated the Vice President of Smart & Final’s Southern Region, Sean Mahony, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The new stores are looking to deliver on consumer demand within the region, to increase further sales. The stores feature the chain’s Extra! format which carries more product than other stores, including an expanded produce department. Mahony stated that Southern California in particular has also shown a penchant for organic, causing the chain to add around 100 different organic produce items per store.
These new additions bring the chain’s reach to 26 stores within San Diego County, establishing it as one of the biggest retail grocery stores within the region. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that this region-specific expansion may already be proving successful for the company as its Q3 sales reported an 11.9% increase compared to last year.
The chain is looking to provide cost effective grocery solutions within flourishing markets, like San Diego, while offering options consumers search for, such as bulk items, organic, and gluten-free. Smart & Final is also able to expand its footprint effectively in high populated areas as it can house its stores in smaller areas than larger retailers.
“I think ultimately what people are after is value for their dollar,” Mahony said. “We get a strong rate of acceptance of people that return. But, just getting them in the door to give it a shake has been our biggest opportunity.”
Smart & Final is looking to increase its total store count by around 10% each year, Mahony outlined, though the chain far surpassed that number in San Diego County. In 2016 alone, the chain raised its reach up 86% within the region.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Smart & Final was able to expand so quickly within the San Diego region as two chains recently went bankrupt in the area. With the exits of Haggen and Fresh & Easy, 2016 was a year of grocery growth in the region.
As retailers continue to try on new buy-side strategies for increased success, check in with AndNowUKnow for all the latest.
