$ stores in supermarkets.

In "THE DELIGHTS OF DOLLAR STORES," the October 2003 Shopper Report said that "The appeal of dollar stores continues unabated for reasons beyond price. It suggests incorporating a 'dollar aisle' or a '5&10' aisle into supermarkets which have already incorporated club store sizes, organics, health foods, and gourmet sections." Now, Albertson's has done the dollar zone concept in all 2,500 stores and says it works. CEO Larry Johnston said: "This trend was too strategic for us to ignore ... '10 for 10 Mix and Match' ... resulted in increased traffic, share and margin."

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Happy end of summer,

The Shopper Report[R] Copyright 2004, edited by Mona Doyle, is published 11 times a year by The Consumer Network, Inc., P.O. Box 42753, Philadelphia PA 19101. Phone (215) 235-2400 FAX: (215) 235-6967. The Consumer Network provides consulting and research services including focus groups, shopping partnerships, home visits, and mail and e-mail surveys.