Shaw's Unveils $420M Plan

Bernard Rogan, spokesperson for the company tells GlobeSt.com that concurrent with that plan, over the next four years Shaw's will spend $400 million to renovate 90% of its existing stores. "Virtually every store will be remodeled and upgraded," notes Rogan. He adds that most Shaw's stores average between 60,000 sf and 65,000 sf and the company generally leases the property on which it builds its stores.

In the Greater Boston area, Rogan says that Shaw's is either in the permitting phase or has completed permitting for stores in Sandwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Harwich, Wakefield and Burlington. A store will be open this spring in the Prudential Center in the heart of Boston and the company is currently significantly expanding its store in Somerville. In addition, Shaw's is in the process of developing two stores in Rhode Island--in Providence and in Cranston.

The competition in the region among grocery store chains has become fierce with Stop & Shop also opening a number of new stores. "The customer benefits from the competition," says Rogan, acknowledging that the market now is not "for the fainthearted. If you enter the game you need the wherewithal to compete." Rogan says that it costs between $12 and $14 million, not including land and site development costs, to build an average store.