Mergers & Acquisitions

Cincinnati -- Phillips Edison-ARC Grocery Center REIT II, Inc. has acquired two grocery-anchored shopping centers, Northpark Village and Spring Cypress Village, both located in Texas.

Northpark Village is a 70,479-sq.-ft. grocery-anchored shopping center in Lubbock, anchored by United Supermarkets and tenanted by GNC, Starbucks, Super Tan and Sun Loan Company.

Spring Cypress Village is a 97,550-sq.-ft. grocery-anchored center in Houston, anchored by Sprouts and tenanted by Burger King, State Farm Insurance and Spec's.

Retailers and suppliers who already operate in China or are looking to expand there may want to contact Kurt Salmon following several key hires by the consulting company.

The management consulting firm’s Retail and Consumer Products Group in China said it hired Hao Li and Ke Chen as partners.

Irvine, Calif. -- Whole Foods Market and the Irvine Company announced that the companies have signed a lease to bring the first Whole Foods Market to Irvine, California.

The organic and natural grocer will occupy approximately 40,000 sq. ft. at Los Olivos Marketplace, a specialty shopping center just off the 405 freeway at Irvine Center Drive in Irvine Spectrum.

Tewksbury, Mass. – The Attorney General’s offices of Massachusetts and New Hampshire have warned the Market Basket supermarket chain that it must follow the letter of the law in terminating any employees involved in walkouts and demonstrations that have been occurring since July 18. According to the Boston Globe, a joint letter to Market Basket co-CEOs Felicia Thornton and James Gooch from the two offices states that they are aware Market Basket may start replacing workers on Aug. 4.

New York -- Aeropostale, Inc. will roll out its P.S. from Aeropostale brand in Mexico through a licensing partnership with Distribuidora Liverpool, S.A. de C.V.  

P.S. from Aeropostale's expansion plans in Mexico include the opening of branded in-store shops in Liverpool department stores, as well as standalone stores, across Mexico beginning in summer 2014. The first store opened in July at Sante Fe Mall in Mexico City.

Regional department store operator Belk wasted no time filling its president and head merchant position after Kathryn Bufano vacated those positions to become CEO of The Bon-Ton Stores.

Within minutes of Bon-Ton’s announcement that it had hired Bufano, Belk named David Zant president and chief merchandising officer, effective August 11. Zant has served as EVP and general merchandise manager of men’s, home and kids since 2008 and in his new role will report to Tim Belk, chairman and CEO of the 299-unit chain.