Strategy

New York -- SRS Real Estate Partners said Wednesday it has negotiated two leases on behalf of Miller’s Ale House. The first transaction is a ground lease located on 1.5 acres of land off of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Willow Grove, Pa. The second lease is 9,200 sq. ft. located at the Bergen Towne Center in Paramus, N.J.

Miller’s Ale House is a 60-unit restaurant chain headquartered in Jupiter, Fla.

NEW YORK — Limited access to healthy, affordable food choices, is an oft-cited reason for poor food habits among the nation's less fortunate. In order to address this issue, hunger relief organization Philabundance has teamed up with retail design consultancy CBX to create a prototype for a not-for-profit grocery store.

Washington -- Despite some groups’ claims, the National Retail Federation said that few, if any, merchants are expected to surcharge customers for using a credit card as theoretically allowed under a controversial proposed lawsuit settlement with Visa and MasterCard being debated in the courts.

 

NEW YORK — Ahold USA has named Mark McGowan as EVP merchandising. He will lead a merchandising team that supports Ahold USA and its four divisions: Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover and Giant Carlisle.

McGowan had previously served as EVP supply chain for Ahold USA and previously led the Boston division of Stop & Shop.

Chicago -- Automation and mass production will continue to make life easier in the years ahead, but consumers and companies will react by valuing – and promoting – human services and artisan goods. That’s one of the key trends research firm Mintel predicts will be impacting consumer behavior in the next five to 10 years.

As part of its lunch of Mintel Futures, a new program designed to forecast long-term industry trends, Mintel identified six key trends affecting the global consumer market in the near future:

Mishawaka, Ind. -- Brixmor Property Group said that Anytime Fitness has opened a 4,200-sq.-ft. facility at Bittersweet Plaza, located in Mishawaka, Ind.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Bittersweet Plaza.
 

Walmart's U.K. chain, Asda, is optimizing its distribution operations by incorporating Isotrak vehicle-tracking, along with Paragon routing and scheduling software.

The new system has enabled Asda to implement a new regional distribution structure.

Columbus, Ohio – Bob Evans Farms said Tuesday it will divest its Mimi’s Café restaurant chain, selling it to LeDuff America – owner of Bruegger’s Bagels – for $50 million.

LeDuff America, a subsidiary of French bakery conglomerate Groupe LeDuff SA, will add the 145 Mimi’s units to its current portfolio of café-bakeries and coffee shops, including La Madeleine Country French Cafe, Brioche Doree, Bruegger's Bagels, Timothy's Coffee and Michel's Baguette.