Mergers & Acquisitions

New York City -- SRS Real Estate Partners said that Panera Bread has leased 6,926 sq. ft. on the ground-floor and basement levels at 120 E. 86th Street in Manhattan.
      
The lease was arranged by way of a termination with the current tenant, Walgreens, and a new lease execution with Panera.

Ashburn, Va. -- Commerce, Mich.-based LaVida Massage announced it will open its first Virginia location, located at Greenway Corporate Drive, in Ashburn.
      
The new 3,200-sq.-ft. location is slated to open in early June.

I’m not much of a follower of astrology and the signs of the zodiac, but I do know that 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit on the Chinese calendar.

It seems somehow fortuitous that speed and agility define a year that is all about economic recovery. And retail is moving forward at a rate that, while not exactly hare-like, is at least faster than the proverbial tortoise.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market's second-quarter net income rose 33% on strong sales, beating analyst expectations. The company raised its full-year earnings outlook.

Whole Foods said the overall results for the quarter were its strongest in five years. It has fully repaid its long-term debt and is considering using its growing cash balance to grow faster, raise its dividend and repurchase stock.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods investors got some big news today, not only did the company report that sales for its second quarter rose 12% to $2.4 billion, it announced that is changing its trading symbol to WFM from WFMI effective May 6.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark is “off to a good start” in 2011 as first-quarter results registered slightly above guidance for both the retail and PBM businesses, and the retail segment continues to gain share. But what president and CEO Larry Merlo wanted to clarify straight away during Thursday morning’s conference was the company’s commitment to its PBM division, and he outlined its plan to further improve PBM performance.

SALISBURY, N.C. — First-quarter revenue for the Delhaize America, the U.S. sector of Delhaize Group, which includes such supermarket banners as Food Lion and Bottom Dollar, experienced a 0.1% increase to nearly $4.7 billion, the company reported.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On the final evening of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, the association for the first time honored two individuals in the same year with the Sheldon W. Fantle Lifetime Achievement Award: Mary Sammons, chairman of Rite Aid, and Tom Ryan, chairman of CVS Caremark.