• July 17, 2008

Add Jewel-Osco to the growing number of retailers experimenting with smaller-format grocery stores.

The company says it will open a 16,000-square-foot "Urban Fresh, by Jewel" store in Chicago's Lincoln Park area, and says it will offer "a variety of ready-to-go meal solutions, ranging from gourmet sandwiches to dinner entrees," as well as produce and organic offerings.

Jewel-Osco is owned by Supervalu, based in Minneapolis. Other grocery chains, such as Safeway, Wal-Mart, and Giant Eagle, are also experimenting with smaller stores.

--Sarah Mahoney