Source: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article

Wal-Mart added two supercenters in the last six months to one it already had in the Toledo area, and the nation's largest retailer is making its presence felt in the local grocery scene.

The chain's share of the food shopping market jumped to nearly 9 percent from 2 percent six months ago, although it still trails far behind Kroger, at 47 percent, and Meijer, at nearly 19 percent.

The figures are from the latest survey by Market Scope, a publication of TradeDimensions International Inc. The survey counts grocery stores in Lucas, Wood, and Fulton counties, but excludes some Wal-Mart and Target stores, for example, that sell food but do not have a full-line of grocery items.

The market share figures are viewed cautiously by the retailers.

"We would be very pleased with that result - if it's accurate," said Ron Mosby, a Wal-Mart spokesman.

The firm, he said, has worked to increase its grocery sales by opening more supercenters. It has three in the Toledo area - new ones in Holland and Bowling Green, and one last year in Wauseon - and plans to add one in Perrysburg and expand its store on Glendale Avenue in Toledo.

If the sites have space, the added grocery lines could be placed at its Oregon and Sylvania Township stores, he said.

"We think we can go further," he said.

The increased local market share reported by TradeDimensions seems to have been taken from Kroger, which dropped 7 percentage points from a February survey.

Kroger spokesman Monica Gordon said the chain with 20 metro Toledo stores questions the market-share figures. It is adding gas stations to some stores and departments and amenities to others.

Meijer's share locally remained stable, and most of the independent stores were similar to six months earlier, according to TradeDimensions.

Giant Eagle, with just two area stores, gained one-half a percentage point, possibly through its lowered prices and the area's highest discounts at its gasoline stations.

Contact Jon Chavez at:

jchavez@theblade.com

or 419-724-6128.