Battle of the Titans in Phoenix, Arizona
SPECIAL REPORT Wal-Mart Pricing ReportRound XIX Battle Of The Titans In Phoenix, Arizona Wal-Mart’s trifecta — the Supercenter, Neighborhood Market and Marketside — rules the roost in Phoenix. BY JIM PREVOR ome believe that the future of American retailing well represented in the marketplace with its Fry’s division. can be glimpsed in Phoenix, AZ. Between its large Tesco, the behemoth from across the sea, also used Phoenix as senior citizen population and large Hispanic popula- a launching grounds for its Fresh & Easy small store concept. tion, one can argue that this is what retailing in In addition to these national chain concepts, we included in America will look like in not all that many years. our comparison a strong independent: Basha’s Supermarkets. SSo we traveled down to Phoenix for the 19th iteration of our What can we surmise from the outcome of our produce pric- Wal-Mart Pricing Study, seeking not just our usual quest — the ing competition among this array of retailers in Phoenix? low price champion in one city — but also seeking enlighten- Many things to be sure, but as a first order, this: If Phoenix ment as to what the future might bring for retailing all across is the future of American retailing, and if price for a cus- the country. tomer walking in off the street is the key variable, then One thing is certain: Phoenix is, in fact, a place where a bat- the future belongs to Wal-Mart. tle of the Titans is playing out. It is the only market in America Not only was the Wal-Mart Supercenter the low price leader where one has a representation of three separate Wal-Mart con- in Phoenix, but the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market concept cepts — the Wal-Mart Supercenter, the Wal-Mart Neighborhood came in number two, and Wal-Mart’s Marketside concept came Market and the new, small-store Wal-Mart concept known as in third! A trifecta! It hardly seems possible.
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