ACME Markets is going upscale, and it’s starting in your neighborhood.
The Albertsons-owned grocery chain plans to roll out premium product offerings at select Philadelphia-area stores, including Paoli, according to Paul Schwedelson at the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The move is a direct play to stay competitive with higher-end rivals like Whole Foods and Wegmans. Think expanded specialty cheese selections, more organic options, and a sizable meat case.
These will be added alongside existing inventory rather than replacing them.
“We’re going store by store, neighborhood by neighborhood, and making sure we have the right products,” said ACME spokesperson Dana Ward. “Starting with the stores that need a little bit more upscale products than our current assortment.”
ACME is also weighing cosmetic improvements like new light fixtures and updated décor, though the company isn’t committing to full renovations. Stores will stay open throughout the process.
It’s not ACME’s first effort to modernize. In 2022, the chain renovated its Society Hill location, adding beer and wine, new lighting, updated flooring, and a more efficient layout. Ward expects the initiative to spread to additional locations across the region.
With about 70 stores in the Philadelphia region and its corporate office in Malvern, ACME is positioned to move quickly if early results show up.
For the full story on ACME’s upscale strategy and what it means for the region’s competitive grocery landscape, read the Philadelphia Business Journal.
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