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City supermarkets shrink to fit

Whole Foods in Jamaica Plain is latest to try a smaller space

By Kathleen Pierce

 |  Globe Correspondent  

  December 28, 2011

With Wegmans Food Market Inc. recently announcing plans to open in Newton and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. setting sights on Somerville, the convergence of major food chains zeroing in on the urban landscape presents a host of challenges. The companies want to tap these underserved markets, which typically fall in the city, but that can also mean a radical redesign of their stores, a strategy that comes with its own risks when loyal customers are used to particular shopping experiences.

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