Independent restaurants were hardest hit this past year according to a new CREST report.

The total number of units closed was over 5,000 and independent restaurants faired worse than the national chains. Cited as reasons were sales and traffic declines chiefly due to prolonged high unemployment.

Read the full article here.

Mark

Newsflash just came over the wires…Read about it by clicking here

I recently read that Jewel-Osco is testing a new “urban prototype” 16,000 sq, foot store in the upscale Lincoln Park community. The smaller format store will merchandise a large variety of ready-to-go meal solutions and a limited offering of fresh meats and seafoods.

The space was occupied by former organic market concept Sunflower Markets. It’s interesting to see Supervalu (parent company of both Jewel-Osco and the mentioned shuttered Sunflower Markets) reacting quickly to disappointing sales at the former organic market and catering to the more successful and popular prepared foods concept that consumers want.

More independent organic markets should take note!

Mark