Regional Retail (Really Does) Rock

Beyond such national behemoths as Walmart (Bentonville, Ark.), Target (Minneapolis) and Kroger (Cincinnati), the U.S. retail landscape is home to plenty of regional powerhouses. Ten such retailers spanning five categories are identified in a new white paper from Placer Labs Inc.

The categories and noteworthy participants (with a brief descriptor by Placer on their strengths) are:

• Top Regional Grocery Chains
  • H-E-B (San Antonio): Cult-like Following Leads to Steady Growth
  • Food Lion (Salisbury, N.C.): Roaring into The East Coast
• Top Regional Convenience Stores
  • Buc-ee’s (Lake Jackson, Texas): Bucking Convenience Store Trends
  • Sheetz (Altoona, Pa.): Everyone Is a Freak For Sheetz
• Top Regional Food and Dining Chains
  • Culver’s (Prairie du Sac, Wis.): Serving Midwest Charm Across the Country
  • Waffle House (Norcross, Ga.): Not Waffling Around
• Top Regional Apparel Chain
  • Scheels (Fargo, N.D.): Family-Friendly Fashion
  • WSS (Gardena, Calif.): Right Where It Should Be
• Top Regional Gyms
  • Blink Fitness (New York): Budget Fitness Enthusiasts
  • Chuze Fitness (San Diego): Childcare Proves A Strong Draw

“By building a presence from the ground up while keeping a strong focus on customer experience, these businesses capitalize on their local brand recognition, foster loyalty, and gain insights into the preferences and behaviors of their local markets,” the report notes. “… Investors and stakeholders looking for the next top national brand may want to cast their attention toward companies that have established robust regional roots.”

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