Food Lion Still Number 1 In Richmond

Food Lion held off its rivals in the highly competitive Richmond grocery market to rank first in sales for the third consecutive year, despite seeing its percentage of sales fall. Meanwhile, Kroger increased its share, and Martin's Food Markets' results dropped slightly.

No. 4 Kroger, which entered the Richmond market in 2000, saw its local market share increase by nearly a percentage point as it aggressively sought former Ukrop's customers after the chain was sold to Martin's last year, according to an annual study released Monday by the industry publication Food World.

No. 2 Martin's, which took over the former 24 area Ukrop's stores, saw its market share drop slightly to 15.16 percent from a revised figure of 15.64 percent last year. The survey also showed that the chain increased sales by $7.2 million to $489.34 million from the prior period — it was owned most of that time by Ukrop's.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: Richmond Times Dispatch