{"id":2743,"date":"2026-02-14T21:48:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T21:48:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=2743"},"modified":"2026-02-14T21:48:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T21:48:49","slug":"87-year-old-grocery-chain-closing-over-half-its-locations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=2743","title":{"rendered":"87-year-old grocery chain closing over half its locations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Many lower-priced chains, including McDonald&#8217;s and Dollar General, have talked openly about adding higher-income customers during this period of economic strife across the United States.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;We&#8217;re pleased to see growth once again in our total customer count, with disproportionate growth coming from higher-income households,&#8221; Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos shared during the chain&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/seekingalpha.com\/article\/4850326-dollar-general-corporation-dg-q3-2025-earnings-call-transcript\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:third-quarter earnings call;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">third-quarter earnings call<\/a>.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"CDS Widget\" src=\"https:\/\/templates.cds.yahoo.com\/remote\/widget?campaignId=e7a421f3-d559-4873-8479-82acee0600e3&amp;lineItemId=b295c53f-8d5d-4f2b-9a01-458f2e0f176e&amp;site=finance&amp;contentId=b5b9cfbe-1e55-3813-a0f2-bc6703015ebf&amp;spaceId=1183300100&amp;providerId=thestreet_881\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"0\" data-testid=\"iframe-with-resizer\" class=\"yf-16wd5dt\"><\/iframe> <\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->McDonald&#8217;s has seen a similar influx of higher-income customers.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;In the U.S., we continue to see a bifurcated consumer base, with QSR traffic from lower-income consumers declining nearly double digits in the third quarter, a trend that&#8217;s persisted for nearly two years. In contrast, traffic growth among higher-income consumers remained strong, increasing by nearly double digits in the quarter,&#8221; CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski said during the company&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fool.com\/earnings\/call-transcripts\/2025\/11\/05\/mcdonalds-mcd-q3-2025-earnings-call-transcript\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:third-quarter earnings call;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">third-quarter earnings call<\/a>.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->While value chains are gaining higher-income shoppers, analysts note that even affluent consumers are becoming more selective, prioritizing price transparency and everyday value rather than wholesale cutbacks.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Trading down may have helped some chains, but it&#8217;s bad news for higher-end retailers, including the Di Bruno Bros. grocery chain, which operates high-end markets. The chain&#8217;s owners, Brown&#8217;s Super Stores, has opted to close more than half of the upscale chain&#8217;s locations.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Even people who have not lost their jobs have been cautious about spending.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;The global personal luxury goods market shrank 2% year-over-year in 2024, according to analysis from the consulting firm Bain &amp; Company. That marks the first contraction in 15 years, apart from a brief downturn in the early days of Covid-19,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/middle-class-economy-wealth-luxury-shopping-consumers-spending-retail-2025-5\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Business Insider;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Business Insider<\/a> reported.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Americans are trading down broadly, according to a 2025 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/industries\/consumer-packaged-goods\/our-insights\/the-state-of-the-us-consumer\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:McKinsey Consumer Sentiment report;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">McKinsey Consumer Sentiment report<\/a>.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;The &#8216;lipstick effect,&#8217; or the tendency for consumers to indulge in small luxuries or affordable treats during periods of economic uncertainty, has expanded beyond the beauty aisle. Even as 75% of consumers reported trading down in at least one category, 39% of consumers expressed their intent to splurge on a range of categories,&#8221; the study showed.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>More Retail:<\/strong><!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->That&#8217;s bad news for chains like Di Bruno Bros., which specializes in higher-end grocery items. The chain, which was founded in 1939, will close three of its five locations, while adding more focus on its online operations.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: none\" data-testid=\"read-more\">\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;By concentrating on these core elements, we believe this is a positive reset that allows us to preserve and elevate the in\u2011store tradition while growing the brand&#8217;s reach in meaningful new ways,&#8221; a spokesperson for Di Bruno Bros. told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/philadelphia\/news\/di-bruno-bros-closing-3-locations\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:CBS News;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">CBS News<\/a>.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<figure data-testid=\"article-figure-image\" class=\"yf-1ems0tc\">\n<div class=\"image-container yf-lglytj loader\" style=\"--max-height: 540px;\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapper yf-lglytj\" style=\"--aspect-ratio: 960 \/ 540; --img-max-width: 960px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"yf-1ems0tc\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Shutterstock<!-- HTML_TAG_END -->  <span class=\"caption-separator yf-1ems0tc\" data-svelte-h=\"svelte-nxhdlu\">\u00b7<\/span> <span>Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul class=\"yf-h8k6hx\">\n<li class=\"yf-h8k6hx\">\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>1939, founded in Philadelphia\u2019s Italian Market<\/strong>: Italian immigrant brothers Danny and Joe Di Bruno open a small cheese and grocery shop on South 9th Street, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitphilly.com\/things-to-do\/food-drink\/di-bruno-bros\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Visit Philly;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Visit Philly<\/a>.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-h8k6hx\">\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>1960s, shift toward gourmet cheese and specialty foods<\/strong>: The business pivots away from traditional grocery items as supermarkets expand, focusing on imported cheeses and specialty goods, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zippia.com\/di-bruno-bros-careers-579130\/history\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Zippia;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Zippia<\/a> reported.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-h8k6hx\">\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>1990, next-generation leadership<\/strong>: Emilio and Bill Mignucci Jr. take over operations and begin modern expansion while preserving the brand\u2019s Italian Market roots, according to the company&#8217;s website.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-h8k6hx\">\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>2005, Rittenhouse Square flagship opens<\/strong>: A 10,000-square-foot flagship store opens at 18th and Chestnut Streets, significantly expanding the brand\u2019s reach, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zippia.com\/di-bruno-bros-careers-579130\/history\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Zippia;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Zippia<\/a> added.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-h8k6hx\">\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>2011, first suburban expansion<\/strong>: The company opens a store in Ardmore\u2019s Suburban Square, marking its move outside Philadelphia proper, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/delco.today\/2026\/01\/dibruno-bros-closing-wayne-store\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Delco.Today;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Delco.Today<\/a>.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-h8k6hx\">\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>2019, Italian Market bottle shop launches<\/strong>: Di Bruno Bros. opens a wine and beer bottle shop near its original Italian Market location, reported <a href=\"https:\/\/philly.eater.com\/2019\/9\/18\/20872360\/di-bruno-bros-philadelphia-beer-wine-store-italian-market\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Philly Eater;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Philly Eater<\/a>.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-h8k6hx\">\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>2024, ownership and brand restructuring<\/strong>: Jeff Brown\u2019s Brown\u2019s Super Stores takes over operation of physical locations, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/food\/di-bruno-bros-jeff-brown-supermarkets-20240403.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Philadelphia Inquirer;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Philadelphia Inquirer<\/a>.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-h8k6hx\">\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Wakefern Food Corp. acquires the Di Bruno Bros. branded products and trademark portfolio, the company shared in a <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.wakefern.com\/2024\/10\/wakefern-food-corp-acquires-di-bruno-bros-portfolio-of-branded-products\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:press release;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">press release<\/a>.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"yf-h8k6hx\">\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong>2026, store closures announced<\/strong>: The company announces the closure of multiple locations, including Ardmore and Wayne, while retaining Italian Market and Rittenhouse stores, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/food\/dibruno-bros-closing-ardmore-wayne-franklin-residences-20260129.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Inquirer;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Inquirer<\/a>.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Like many shoppers, I&#8217;ve found myself looking at prices more and maybe opting for ground beef over steak, or buying whatever protein might be on sale that day. That&#8217;s a caution that many Americans are practicing.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->A recent survey, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.snipp.com\/hubfs\/Snipp-Inflation-Grocery-Shopping-Shopper-Survey.pdf?hsLang=en\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:How Inflation is Reshaping U.S. Consumers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">How Inflation is Reshaping U.S. Consumers<\/a>, conducted in January, shows that Americans are making changes at the grocery store.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;Price remains a critical factor driving shopper behavior. An overwhelming 75.2% of respondents said the <strong>primary reason for choosing one store over another<\/strong> is simple: it offers the best prices,&#8221; according to the report.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Some Americans have also traded down to value-based retailers.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->&#8220;This explains why 36% of respondents switched to dollar or discount stores in 2024, with 66% citing lower prices as their main reason. Many shoppers are also comparing prices before making purchases. Six percent always compare retailer prices, and another 25.8% often do the same,&#8221; the data showed.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->Some brands have tried to get ahead of the trend by lowering prices on everyday items.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->\u201cWe\u2019ve spent the past year listening closely to consumers, and they\u2019ve told us they\u2019re feeling the strain,\u201d Rachel Ferdinando, CEO of PepsiCo Foods U.S., said in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pepsico.com\/newsroom\/press-releases\/2026\/pepsico-makes-iconic-snacks-more-affordable-ahead-of-super-bowl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:a press release;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">a press release<\/a>. \u201cLowering the suggested retail price reflects our commitment to help reduce the pressure where we can. Because people shouldn\u2019t have to choose between great taste and staying within their budget.\u201d<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START -->PepsiCo lowered prices on many of its snack chip brands, including Lay&#8217;s and Doritos, by up to 15%.<!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/burger-king-brings-back-fan-211100858.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Related: Burger King brings back fan-favorite Whopper;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Related: Burger King brings back fan-favorite Whopper<\/a><\/strong><!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-vbsvxt\"><!-- HTML_TAG_START --><i>This story was originally published by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestreet.com\/retail\/87-year-old-grocery-chain-di-bruno-bros-closing-more-than-half-its-locations\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:TheStreet;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">TheStreet<\/a> on Feb 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestreet.com\/retail\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Retail;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Retail<\/a> section. Add TheStreet as a <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=thestreet.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Preferred Source by clicking here.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/i><!-- HTML_TAG_END --><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/87-old-grocery-chain-closing-213615858.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many lower-priced chains, including McDonald&#8217;s and Dollar General, have talked openly about adding higher-income customers during this period of economic strife across the United States. &#8220;We&#8217;re&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2744,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-finance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2743"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2743\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}