General Merchandise Stores Research Articles

Employment Trends and Relative Influence of U.S. Retail Subsector Employments on GDP

This paper studies employment trends of the U.S. retail industry and its twelve subsectors for the period 1998 through 2021. The retail subsectors are: motor vehicle and parts dealers (NAICS 441), furniture and home furnishing stores (NAICS 442), electronics retail stores (NAICS 443), building material retail stores (NAICS 444), food and beverage stores (NAICS 445), health and personal care retail stores (NAICS 446), gasoline stations (NAICS 447), clothing and accessories retail stores (NAICS 448), sporting goods, hobby goods, books, and music retail stores (NAICS 451), general merchandise stores (NAICS 452), miscellaneous retail stores (NAICS 453), and nonstore retail stores (NAICS 454). Comparing the pre-pandemic (2017-19) and post-pandemic (2019-21) employment growth rates, this study finds nonstore retailers (NAICS 454) and Food and beverages stores (NAICS 445) to be the most pandemic-proof subsectors in terms of retail employment. Besides multi-jurisdictional employment trends of this industry, this paper also explores the state-level influence of retail sub-sectoral employments on U.S. GDP using a fixed panel regression model. The retail subsectors that displayed statistically significant positive correlation with GDP are motor vehicle dealerships, health and personal care stores, clothing stores, and nonstore retailers such as electronic shopping and mail order businesses. Among the control variables, state-level total patent counts had statistically significant positive correlation with GDP.

GREEN CONSUMER PURCHASE BEHAVIOUR IN MALAYSIAN SUPER-REGIONAL MALL’S GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORES

Since the establishment of super-regional and mega malls in Malaysia, little is known about green consumers’ purchase intention and behaviour in the malls’ general merchandise stores (GMS). This study first examines the profile of green consumers’ purchase intention and behavior on green products in the GMS. Second, the green consumers’ social classes were segmented to explore social class differences in the purchase intention and behaviour in the stores. The purposive sampling was used to collect the data from the respondents in the southern region of Malaysia. Using the SmartPLS, the data were analysed using the multi-group analysis (MGA) and the measurement invariance of composites (MICOM). The results showed the psychographic variables positively influenced ecologically conscious consumer behaviour (ECCB) on the purchase intention and behaviour. In addition, the middle-class consumers’ shopping lifestyle influences positively on the ECCB and they are more likely to purchase green products than the upper middle-class group. The outcome of the green consumer profile provides an insight into the patterns of purchasing of the consumers in the GMS and the indication of consumer’s consideration of energy conservations from home.

An Investigation of Influential Users in the Promotion and Marketing of Heated Tobacco Products on Instagram: A Social Network Analysis.

While an increasing body of the literature has documented the exposure to emerging tobacco products including heated tobacco products (HTPs) on social media, few studies have investigated the various stakeholders involved in the generation of promotional tobacco content. This study constructed a social network of Instagram users who posted IQOS content, a leading HTP brand, between 1 January and 5 April 2021 and identified users who positioned near the center of the network. We identified 4526 unique Instagram users who had created 19,951 IQOS-related posts during the study period. Nearly half of the users (42.1%) were business accounts authorized by Instagram, among which 59.0% belonged to Personal Goods and General Merchandise Stores and 18.1% belonged to Creators and Celebrities. For users with higher in-degree, out-degree, betweenness, and closeness centrality in the network, the majority of them were accounts directly associated with IQOS (e.g., containing “iqos” in username) or related to tobacco business as self-identified in the bio. Our findings further refine the social media marketing presence of tobacco products and suggest that the current self-regulatory efforts led by social media platforms are far from enough.

Availability of ulipristal acetate: A secret shopper survey of pharmacies in a metropolitan area on emergency contraception

ObjectivesTo assess levonorgestrel (LNG) and ulipristal acetate (UPA) availability in pharmacies in a metropolitan area. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted of all identified pharmacies within 25 miles of an urban medical center in Kansas City, KS. We categorized the pharmacies as dedicated commercial (national chains), store-associated (affiliated with a general merchandise or grocery store), or independent. We assessed LNG and UPA availability or time to availability if not currently stocked. ResultsWe contacted 165 pharmacies. Of the 165 pharmacies, few stocked UPA (12/165, 7%) whereas the majority stocked oral LNG (128/165, 78%). Dedicated commercial pharmacies were more likely to carry UPA than store-associated and independent pharmacies (11/84 [13%] vs. 1/61 [1%] vs. 0/20, respectively; P = 0.016). Most pharmacies that did not stock UPA reported that they could obtain it within 24 hours (94/153, 62%). Dedicated commercial pharmacies were most likely report the ability to obtain UPA in 24 hours (P = 0.016). ConclusionFew pharmacies stock UPA, the most effective form of oral emergency contraception. Enhanced communication between medical providers and pharmacists within current laws and regulations could enhance patient access to UPA.

Retail corporate groups: Challenges of omnichannel management in Japan

The omnichannel varies across countries due to different retail environments and retailers’ growth strategies. The Japanese big retailers’ omnichannel can be characterized by having multiple retail formats, such as department stores, general merchandise stores, convenience stores, specialty stores, Internet stores, and so on. They have grown by multiplying retail formats to appeal to different customer segments, and they have unique challenges in managing an omnichannel with many retail formats. These are (1) extremely wide variety of merchandise, (2) enormous quantity of data from transaction, inventory, logistics, and customers, (3) different organization structures and management, and (4) unique organizational capabilities in each retail format. From these challenges, we could propose further research issues as follows: (1) theoretical consideration of boundary-spanning functions among retail formats, (2) international comparative analysis reflecting the different conditions in each country, and (3) clarifying the characteristics of the omnichannel shopper in the Japanese omnichannel environment.

The Candy Container Competition: Reinforcing Gross Weight, Balance, and Stowage in Intermodal Transportation

ABSTRACTThe described exercise uses competition and the promise of a sugar‐high to motivate students to appreciate the importance load management in an intermodal setting. Using material available from a local supermarket or general merchandise store, student teams load their "container" for two customers. One customer requires palletized square candy, and the second customer requires barrels (Dixie cups) of smaller odd‐shaped candy. Students receive a worksheet that contains the weights of each type of candy in their customer kit packs, the tare weight of the container, and the approximate weight of their cardboard pallets. Students secure the contents of their pallets with shrink‐wrap (household plastic wrap) and ensure that their cargo doesn't shift using dunnage (bubble wrap). Students compete to approach but not exceed the 500‐gram maximum gross weight of their container while meeting two constraints: withstanding a 30° tilt and no more than a 20% weight differential between the ends of the container. A debrief reinforces the importance of our responsibility as supply chain professionals for the safety of transportation and material handling workers. The winning team is awarded extra credit points, and all participants are allowed to eat their customers’ shipments.

Influence of brand equity on the price premium for private labels in fresh produce: A contingent valuation survey

AbstractIn recent years, premium private labels for fresh produce grown with reduced use of synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers have been developed by Japanese general merchandise stores. In this paper, the brand equity factors that affect willingness to pay (WTP) for private label vegetables are identified using the contingent valuation method. We consider four key dimensions of brand equity, namely brand awareness, brand loyalty, perceived quality, and brand associations. We find that brand loyalty factors based on the psychology of consumers who seek value‐added vegetables with health and safety characteristics have the largest effect on the WTP premium. Providing shoppers with clear information about the key product attributes of reduced use of synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers is particularly important to generate brand equity for private label vegetables. [EconLit citations: Q130, M310].

POST-CIVIL WAR ACCOUNTING PRACTICES IN NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI

This paper explores the accounting practices and cultural setting of a general merchandise store located in Natchez, Mississippi during the post-Civil War period in 1865. The store ledger records complete sales and payroll entries from January through December 1865. The facts concerning the store came from a “cash book” (referred to as the ledger) that recorded financial transactions both prior to and after the Civil War [Holland, 1837]. Our article asserts that, in spite of devastating economic conditions, merchandisers in general were able to continue as central figures in daily lives in the Natchez area.

Stepping into the Future at Historic Sites

Stepping into the Future at Historic Sites Stephanie Meeks (bio) Today we take house museums for granted. But it wasn’t always this way. When Ann Pamela Cunningham and her indomitable Ladies’ Association rescued Mount Vernon 150 years ago, they were true innovators. Generations have followed their model, and we now have some 15,000 historic house museums nationwide—more than three for every county in the country if they were evenly distributed. These places include some remarkable examples of success—Mount Vernon, for instance, remains a leader and innovator—and they represent a powerful legacy for future generations. Yet underneath this success, there is a difficult truth: House museums on the whole, including some of the National Trust’s own historic sites, are in tough financial straits. We can point to a variety of culprits, from shrinking public cultural budgets to increased competition for visitors. But the bottom line is that the world has changed dramatically since the mid-20th century, when many of these house museums were created. These places, and the lessons they teach us, are as relevant as ever, but the traditional velvet ropes and timed tours have lost their luster for a generation with infinite entertainment possibilities at its fingertips. To save these places, we must be willing to challenge our own ideas of preservation and consider new models. Toward that end, the National Trust sponsored a leadership forum at Kykuit, a National Trust Historic Site in New York State, several years ago, and in 2012 we secured a grant from the Innovation Lab for Museums to support prototyping at our own network of historic sites. Promising work is already underway. In some cases, a fresh approach to interpretation, one that underscores a site’s relevance to today’s audiences, can make the difference. For instance, President Lincoln’s Cottage, a site with a reputation for innovation, attracted new audiences—and won two awards—with an exhibit that makes the connection between slavery and human trafficking in modern times. [End Page 3] Click for larger view View full resolution A new vision for Cooper-molera in monterey, California, includes installing restaurants, repurposing the barns as event space, and reopening long-closed gates to better allow the public to enjoy the gardens and orchards. At other sites, more dramatic reinvention will be required. We may need to consider re-purposing these museums as community centers or commercial properties, or returning them to private residences. Woodlawn Plantation in Virginia provides one example of how that model could work. The property has been managed as a house museum for 50 years, but has a long history of pioneering experimental agriculture. The National Trust has partnered with the Arcadia Center for sustainable Food and Agriculture to reinvigo-rate the site’s connection to experimental agriculture and connect it with the current locavore movement. Since 2010 Arcadia has farmed about three acres at the site, where the growing, harvesting, and even cooking of the vegetables, honey, and eggs that are produced there are used in on-site school programming. We are now looking to expand this partnership to encompass the entire 126 acres, moving toward a farm-to-table destination focused on the visitor experience, incorporating gardens, and expanded educational offerings. And, at Cooper-Molera Adobe in Monterey, California, a proposal to bring commercial uses to the property aims to preserve the adobe, make it widely accessible, and help revitalize downtown Monterey, while ensuring the property’s long-term financial sustainability and [End Page 4] stewardship. A house museum for only 30 years of its nearly 190-year history, Cooper-Molera has seen many uses over its life, including as a general merchandise store, tavern, beauty shops, dance studio, and offices. Click for larger view View full resolution Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria, Virginia, has a long history of pioneering experimental agriculture. It is continuing that tradition today thanks to an innovative partnership with the Arcadia Center for sustainable Food and Agriculture. The National Trust is exploring a long-term lease arrangement with a preservation-sensitive developer to re-imagine the space. We envision the installation of restaurants, repurposing the barns as event space, reopening long-closed gates to better allow...

Changes in the Social Situation Influence Local Cuisine. - Local Cuisine in Chiba Prefecture, Japan

Changes in the Social Situation Influence Local Cuisine. - Local Cuisine in Chiba Prefecture, Japan Korehisa Kaneko, Keiko Oshida, Hajime Matsushima Abstract To predict the status of local cuisine in response to the change of the social situation in the future, this study surveyed and analysed the affects of the social situation on the regional local cuisine in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. With regard to the relationship between changes of population and infrastructure development (improved and paved rates of roads; total length of national expressways; total length of railroads; number of new houses; and actual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in all of Japan, including Chiba Prefecture, the correlation coefficients of all items were positive (significant difference p < 0.01). The number of food service industries of family restaurants, convenience stores and general merchandise stores has increased since the 1980s, and the food self-sufficiency rate in 2011 decreased by half as compared to that of 1960. The food import volume (both domestic and foreign) has increased. In contrast, the catch of fish and shellfish, which are ingredients of the main local cuisine in Chiba Prefecture, has decreased overall. Furthermore, traditional food culture of the region has weakened, and the westernisation of food has progressed. Consequently, in the future, we need to continue activities in conservation and restoration of the natural environment in the region. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/jeds.v2n3a3

Management Strategies of Carrefour and Ito-Yokado in China: A Comparative Study

This research aims to provide an overview of management strategies of French hypermarket Carrefour and Japanese general merchandise store Ito-Yokado in China. In recent years, the Chinese economy has shown profound changes. With numerous foreign enterprises entering the retail market, the competition is especially keen among them. To capture greater market share, Carrefour and Ito-Yokado adapted their management strategies for China. On the one hand, Carrefour entered many cities thanks to their good relationship with local governments, and opened a number of stores. On the other hand, Ito-Yokado, which stands firmly by its dominant strategy, has opened stores in only two cities, and the number of new stores opened is not increasing as fast as Carrefour. The human resource strategies of Carrefour and Ito-Yokado are different; while the former gives personnel authority to the local level, emphasizes intensive training and promotes more Chinese employees to store manager’s position, the latter leaves the personnel authority to headquarters, educates employees through daily conferences, and has a slower rate of promotion than the former. The paper concludes that one reason that Ito- Yokado localizes less human resource management than Carrefour may be due to its corporate culture and Japanese company’s behavioral norms. The paper also points out some future research themes.

Evidence for validity of five secondary data sources for enumerating retail food outlets in seven American Indian Communities in North Carolina

BackgroundMost studies on the local food environment have used secondary sources to describe the food environment, such as government food registries or commercial listings (e.g., Reference USA). Most of the studies exploring evidence for validity of secondary retail food data have used on-site verification and have not conducted analysis by data source (e.g., sensitivity of Reference USA) or by food outlet type (e.g., sensitivity of Reference USA for convenience stores). Few studies have explored the food environment in American Indian communities. To advance the science on measuring the food environment, we conducted direct, on-site observations of a wide range of food outlets in multiple American Indian communities, without a list guiding the field observations, and then compared our findings to several types of secondary data.MethodsFood outlets located within seven State Designated Tribal Statistical Areas in North Carolina (NC) were gathered from online Yellow Pages, Reference USA, Dun & Bradstreet, local health departments, and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. All TIGER/Line 2009 roads (>1,500 miles) were driven in six of the more rural tribal areas and, for the largest tribe, all roads in two of its cities were driven. Sensitivity, positive predictive value, concordance, and kappa statistics were calculated to compare secondary data sources to primary data.Results699 food outlets were identified during primary data collection. Match rate for primary data and secondary data differed by type of food outlet observed, with the highest match rates found for grocery stores (97%), general merchandise stores (96%), and restaurants (91%). Reference USA exhibited almost perfect sensitivity (0.89). Local health department data had substantial sensitivity (0.66) and was almost perfect when focusing only on restaurants (0.91). Positive predictive value was substantial for Reference USA (0.67) and moderate for local health department data (0.49). Evidence for validity was comparatively lower for Dun & Bradstreet, online Yellow Pages, and the NC Department of Agriculture.ConclusionsSecondary data sources both over- and under-represented the food environment; they were particularly problematic for identifying convenience stores and specialty markets. More attention is needed to improve the validity of existing data sources, especially for rural local food environments.

Blair County's Competitive Economic Advantage

The demographic and economic characteristics of Blair County, Pennsylvania, are compared with the entire state of Pennsylvania. The age distribution of the working population of Blair County is similar to Pennsylvania’s. Blair County, however, has a lower percentage than Pennsylvania of people over 25 years old who have some college education and postgraduate education, even though the density of higher education institutions is roughly the same in Blair County as in all of Pennsylvania. Blair County hourly earnings and per capita income are lower, and the percentage of children living in poverty is greater, than in the Commonwealth in general. Blair County’s population is less likely to be foreign–born, but is more likely to be disabled, than the population in the Commonwealth. Most of the migration in and out of Blair County is to and from surrounding counties. Ten industries are identified that: Are concentrated - Employed a higher proportion of total Blair County workers in 2008 than the proportion of industry employment in the nation; Are growing - Employed more Blair County workers in 2008 than in 2005; Grow jobs competitively - Created more Blair County jobs between 2005 and 2008 than can be accounted for by the general rate of job growth in the nation and the industry’s own growth rate in the entire nation; and are substantial - Employed more than 200 workers in 2008. These industries included: paper manufacturing; warehousing & storage; food manufacturing; waste management & remediation services; miscellaneous manufacturing; building material & garden supply stores; general merchandise stores; social assistance; miscellaneous store retailers; and sporting goods, hobby, book, & music stores. The major regional suppliers and customers in Blair County are listed which form the business-to-business markets for these ten industries. Then, the ten industries were ranked on the following five factors that impact the well-being of Blair County residents and their community: National employment growth - Establishments in industries with national employment growth more likely to expand and create new jobs than establishments in flat or declining industries. Indicates robust product market at general level. Average establishment size - Industries with larger average establishment employment have greater potential for substantial job creation than establishments with lower average employment. Ratio of average wages in region to nation - Other industry characteristics held constant, higher wage opportunities in an industry induce higher impacts on the regional - Local tax revenue per worker - The local fiscal impact of an industry is related to (a) the industry’s contribution to revenues through property taxes paid and (b) public expenditures through increased services required by the industry’s employees. This indicator scales the local revenue generated by an industry by the number of workers employed, which demonstrates the per capita worker contribution to the purchase of public goods and services. Ripple effect on income - Income is created throughout a region when an industry’s employees spend their income in, for instance, retail establishments and restaurants. Some industries produce a larger “ripple effect” on regional compensation of employees and income to proprietors than other industries. The resulting rankings: 1 - paper manufacturing; 2 - warehousing & storage; 3 - food manufacturing 4 - waste management & remediation services; 5 - miscellaneous manufacturing; 6 - building material & garden supply stores; 7 - general merchandise stores; 8 - social assistance 9 - miscellaneous store retailers; 10 - sporting goods, hobby, book, & music stores.

온라인 의류 점포유형에 따른 점포속성 중요도

This study investigated the differences in the importance of store characteristics depending on on-line clothing store type and consumer age. The questionnaires were given to female residents in the ages between 20-39 in Seoul and Kyung-gi province during October 2006. The results were summarized as follows: 1. By analyzing the differences in importances of on-line store characteristics factors it was found that buying process service factor and product searching system factor were important in on-line general merchandise store. and buying process service factor and product factor(all the factors, such as store credit, product, screen-displayed design, searching and approaching system, customer management service) were important in on-line specialty store. 2. By analyzing the differences in importances of on-line store characteristics depending on the store type, buying process system such as refund policy, shipping, high-speed payment and rapid searching, screen-displayed design system, approaching and searching system were more important in on-line general merchandise store when comparing to specialty store. It also showed that the consumer considered the reputation of the store and its image more important in on-line general merchandise store. 3. By analyzing the differences in of on-line clothing store importance depending on age, in the case of on-line general merchandise store, it showed that people in their thirties regarded buying process service factor more important than twenties, and when it came to the product and searching system, it was vice versa. Twenties had a tendency to consider the aspect of product important and, relatively, thirties regarded searching and approaching system factor important. in the case of specialty store. It was found that women in their twenties had a tendency to consider product factor more important.

Educational Needs and Customer Service Practices of Retail Stores That Sell Pesticides in Illinois

A survey of 936 retail stores was conducted in Illinois to help understand how pest management recommendations are made, identify current sources of information, and assess educational needs. Overall response rate was 43%, and significant differences in the level of employee training, educational materials used, and customer referrals were noted among lawn and garden stores, home improvement centers, hardware stores, and general merchandise stores. While 72% of lawn and garden centers assigned specific employees to make pesticide recommendations, only 39% of hardware stores identified a specialized employee. Over 80% of lawn and garden centers referred customer questions to extension or Master Gardeners, while less than 20% of general merchandise stores made similar referrals. Improving customer service was the most important potential outcome of additional employee training, followed by improving the ability of sales staff to explain product labels. Reducing potential liability was identified as an important training outcome by 68% of home improvement centers. Fact sheets were identified by 60% of respondents as being very useful to store employees, while programs at educational centers were identified by less than 20% of respondents as being very useful. Retail stores that sell pesticides represent an important source of pest control information and product recommendations for the average homeowner. As store employees become more knowledgeable about integrated pest management, this should improve their ability to make recommendations and ultimately increase consumer safety.

Pharmacy Layout

The physical layout of a retail pharmacy can play a significant role in the development of the customers' perceptions which can have a positive (or negative) impact on its sales potential. Compared to most general merchandise stores, pharmacies are more concerned about safety and security issues due to the nature of their products. This paper will discuss these aspects as well as the physical and professional environments of retail pharmacies that influence the perceptions of customers and how these vary whether chain, independent, or hospital pharmacies.

Supervalu Inc.

AbstractRetail ‐ Food &amp; Beverage (MIC: 5.3 SIC: 141 NAIC: 24410)Supervalu is a major food retailer and distributor to independently‐owned retail food stores. As of Feb 28 2004, Co. operated 1,225 Save‐A‐Lot extreme value stores, including 821 licensed Save‐A‐Lot locations, 280 Co.‐owned stores and 124 Deals‐Nothing Over a Dollar general merchandise stores; 258 regional supermarkets under the Cub Foods, Shop 'n Save, Shoppers Food Warehouse, bigg's, Farm Fresh, Scott's Foods, and Hornbacher's banners. Additionally, Co. is the primary supplier to approximately 2,500 retail grocery stores, as well as Co.'s 258 regional supermarkets, while serving as a secondary supplier to about 660 stores.

Supervalu Inc.

Mergent's Dividend AchieversVolume 2, Issue 2 p. 264-264 U.S. Company Report Supervalu Inc.† First published: 22 April 2005 https://doi.org/10.1002/div.2435 † Contact: : Jeffrey Noddle — Chmn., Pres., C.E.O. Address: : 11840 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Web Site: : www.supervalu.com AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Retail - Food & Beverage (MIC: 5.3 SIC: 141 NAIC: 24410) Supervalu is a major food retailer and distributor to independently-owned retail food stores. As of Feb 28 2004, Co. operated 1,225 Save-A-Lot extreme value stores, including 821 licensed Save-A-Lot locations, 280 Co.-owned stores and 124 Deals-Nothing Over a Dollar general merchandise stores; 258 regional supermarkets under the Cub Foods, Shop 'n Save, Shoppers Food Warehouse, bigg's, Farm Fresh, Scott's Foods, and Hornbacher's banners. Additionally, Co. is the primary supplier to approximately 2,500 retail grocery stores, as well as Co.'s 258 regional supermarkets, while serving as a secondary supplier to about 660 stores. Volume2, Issue2Spring 2005Pages 264-264 RelatedInformation

The impact of Sunday shopping on employment and hours of work in the retail industry: Evidence from Canada

Between 1980 and 1998 every Canadian province passed legislation that in some way relaxed restrictions on Sunday shopping. This study exploits the variation in deregulation dates between provinces to identify how retail employers adjust employment and hours of work when deciding to open on Sundays. A major complication of this analysis is to first determine for which provinces the deregulation dates are useful indicators of increases in Sunday store openings. This paper uses a unique trading-day regression approach to identify these provinces and then uses aggregate data from the selected provinces to estimate a simple dynamic labour demand model that allows employment and hours to be imperfect substitutes in production. The results suggest that retailers’ needs for Sunday labour were disproportionately satisfied through increases in employment levels. Comparison of the estimates at three levels of the retail industry suggests that the employment and hours gains were larger among general merchandise stores than among more specialized retail establishments and relatively modest at the aggregate retail industry level. In addition, despite evidence of an immediate shortfall in the employment level below the long-run optimal level, the results suggest that firms were unable to compensate by temporarily increasing the hours of their existing employees.

Supervalu Inc.

AbstractRetail ‐ Food &amp; Beverage (MIC: 5.3 SIC: 5141 NAIC:424410)Supervalu is a major food retailer and distributor to independently‐owned retail food stores. As of Feb 28 2004, Co. operated 1,225 Save‐A‐Lot extreme value stores, including 821 licensed Save‐A‐Lot locations, 280 Co.‐owned stores and 124 Deals‐Nothing Over a Dollar general merchandise stores; 258 regional supermarkets under the Cub Foods, Shop 'n Save, Shoppers Food Warehouse, bigg's, Farm Fresh, Scott's Foods, and Hornbacher's banners. Additionally, Co. is the primary supplier to approximately 2,500 retail grocery stores, as well as Co.'s 258 regional supermarkets, while serving as a secondary supplier to about 660 stores.