Grocery-store sales are a key bellwether of consumer vitality -- and no one pays closer attention than the chief executive at the No. 3 U.S. grocer store chain.
Twin Cities-based Supervalu has store locations spanning Philadelphia to Los Angeles, under regional names including Sav-a-Lot, Shop 'n Save and Scott's Foods. With the Albertsons acquisition, revenue increased from $19 billion to $44 billion -- but not without a lot of challenges, says the CEO.
Noddle points to "a lot of debt" from the purchase as well as the thin margins in the grocery arena. With "slow organic growth in the food industry," Supervalu and its rivals need to work within the space they have and Noddle plans "significant remodeling" for the former Albertsons stores. In the end, though, leaders have to remember that the most important business plan is" pleasing the consumer."
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