Grocer plans to open seven new stores in 2016

TOLLESON, Ariz. — Fry’s Food Stores on Friday announced plans to spend $260 million to add seven new stores in Arizona this year. The chain, a division of Kroger Co., currently operates 119 stores in Arizona.

Six of the planned new stores will be Fry’s Marketplace outlets; the larger format (averaging 124,000 square feet) stores will include such amenities as adjacent fuel centers, Starbucks Coffee Shops, Murray’s Cheese Stores, wine and beer tasting, sushi bars, salad bars, soup bars, made-to-order sandwiches, indoor seating, outdoor patios, The Little Clinic walk-in medical clinics and pharmacy drive-up windows. The new Fry’s Marketplace stores will all be located in Maricopa County, which includes the cities of Phoenix, Chandler and Mesa. Two of the stores, to be located in Phoenix and Peoria, Ariz., will feature a Power Parasol, a patented solar energy-producing structure that will provide shade while generating renewable power.

The chain is also planning to add a Fry’s Food Store in Tucson, Ariz., that will measure 102,375 square feet and will include such features as an adjacent fuel center, Starbucks Coffee Shop, salad bar, soup bar, sushi bar, made-to-order sandwiches, indoor patio and pharmacy drive-up window.

“Fry’s is a company that is focused on smart, strategic growth and providing a highly-satisfied customer shopping experience,” Fry’s Food Stores president Steve McKinney said in a statement. “We’ve operated here since 1960. In that period, we’ve grown our footprint to 119 stores and 82 fuel centers. Fry’s successfully reached this point by closely monitoring the unique needs of this market and evolving to meet the requests of our customers.”