87-year-old grocery chain closing over half its locations

Group 1: Consumer Behavior Trends - Many lower-priced chains, such as McDonald's and Dollar General, are experiencing growth in customer counts, particularly from higher-income households during economic challenges [1][2] - The U.S. consumer base is becoming bifurcated, with lower-income consumer traffic in quick-service restaurants (QSR) declining nearly double digits, while higher-income consumer traffic is increasing by nearly double digits [2] - Consumers are trading down, with even affluent shoppers becoming more selective and prioritizing price transparency and everyday value [3][4] Group 2: Market Impact - The global personal luxury goods market contracted by 2% year-over-year in 2024, marking the first decline in 15 years, indicating a shift in consumer spending habits [4] - The "lipstick effect" suggests that while 75% of consumers are trading down in at least one category, 39% still intend to splurge on affordable luxuries [5] - Higher-end retailers, such as Di Bruno Bros., are facing challenges, leading to the closure of more than half of their locations while shifting focus to online operations [3][6]