There’s been a second march on Atlanta, and the victors this time are Publix and Wal-Mart. The two chains have captured a combined 25 share in the last five years. Publix alone has shot to an 18 share with 73 stores, up from only four stores in 1993.
The business has been wrung out of A&P, down to 41 stores and a 5 share from better than 10 five years ago; Kroger, which lost a share point despite adding 28 stores; and Ingles, down 2 points with 10 new stores. Piggly Wiggly has stayed even at a 2 share by adding 10 stores.
On average, supermarkets here are among the largest in the country, just over 34,000 square feet, but have only an average number of checkouts and average dollar volume.
More than 9 percent of stores have fast food franchises in them, the second highest level in the U.S. The stores have large cleaning supplies and dairy sections; nearly half have specialty cheese departments.
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