(Trader Joe's only Oklahoma location in Nichols Hills)
Our grocery market has experienced significant change and increased competition over the past five years, trends we see accelerating. The sizable expansion of Walmart has added nearly 800,000 square feet of just grocery. Specialty grocers, virtually nonexistent in our market 10 years ago, are now prevalent with Sprouts and Natural Grocers continuing to expand and Trader Joes entering the market albeit with one location. Aldi has added stores as well. Winco is poised to add four large stores to this mix; Winco is a strong entry in the market that will compete with Walmart on price. The recent passage of State Question 792, allowing full-strength beer and wine sales in grocery and convenience stores, will influence the grocery market. Whether or not it will allow us to attract a national full-scale grocer like Kroger or HEB remains unknown. The answer may be a few years off as the law does not go into effect until 2018 and is being challenged in court. But, the net effect of all these influences could very well shake-up the market. Homeland and Buy For Less have already both closed stores; the response of existing operators bears watching as the competition heats up.
