Trading Partners

Dallas — SRS Real Estate Partners, in partnership with Cresa Toronto, has opened an office in Toronto, Canada. It is the company’s first Canadian office and second international location. Jamie Grossman, managing principal for Cresa Toronto will oversee the new office, while SRS has brought in Lindsay Ryder as first VP for SRS.

By Pat Dermody, president, Retale

This is not a lecture about embracing digital. Chances are you have already heard that, read that, maybe even repeated it to yourself. If not, you had better hurry up.

Leading global cooler manufacturer Igloo was acquired by Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm ACON Investments from Connecticut-based private equity firm J.H. Whitney.

ACON said J.H. Whitney will continue to maintain a small, but undisclosed, stake in the company. Igloo will continue to be led by chairman and CEO Gary Kiedaisch and other members of the existing management team who are also purchasing significant interests in Igloo in connection with the transaction. The company will focus on continued growth in the outdoors, housewares and sporting goods markets.

Quincy, Mass. — The Grossman Cos. and Summit Development LLC have joined forces to acquire a 5,728-sq.-ft. retail building in Westport, Conn., for $2.7 million.

Located in one of Fairfield County’s most affluent towns, the building is adjacent to the Westport Metro North train station and offers easy access to an exit from Interstate 95.

Approximately 131,000 vehicles pass the building on I-95 every day, followed by another 14,000 vehicles on Route 33. Average annual household income in Westport is $170,000.

Mars Chocolate’s global president Grant F. Reid has been named by the company’s board of directors as president, effective Jan. 2, 2015. Reid will take over for current Mars president Paul S. Michaels, who plans to retire at the end of the year.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Safeway Inc. on Friday said that no other bidders have emerged during the 21-day “go-shop” period following the announcement of its agreement to be acquired by AB Acquisition, the parent of Albertsons.

Under the definitive merger agreement, Safeway and its representatives were permitted to solicit and engage in negotiations with respect to alternative acquisition proposals during the 21-day period that ended on March 27 (the "go-shop" period).

It’s onto the next step for Safeway and Albertsons. No additional bidders emerged during Safeway’s 21-day “go shop” period following Albertsons’ announcement of its intention to acquire the company.

Under the definitive merger agreement, Safeway and its representatives were permitted to solicit and engage in negotiations with respect to alternative acquisition proposals during the 21-day period that ended March 27.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. filed suit with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas suing Visa for $5 billion, alleging that the financial services company overcharges on the credit and debit card swipe fees it charges retailer.

The suit claims that Visa colluded with banks to fix swipe fees between January 2004 and November 2012, forcing it to raise prices and reduce customer service, resulting in lost retail sales.