Corporate Governance

Walmart unveils new poultry rules
Walmart is instituting new rules on poultry safety as the company looks to protect customers from foodborne illness.

Walmart’s enhanced poultry safety measures will require poultry suppliers to achieve prevention-based certification by one of the Global Food Safety Initiative's recognized standards. Walmart said poultry suppliers must implement "holistic controls" from farm to fork; the controls must significantly reduce potential contamination levels, including chicken parts.
A record-breaking Christmas for Macy's
Macy’s “Believe” holiday campaign took an online turn this year, and customers enthusiastically responded.

The retailer broke a Guinness record by having customers have the chance to create and send a digital letter to Santa to benefit Make-A-Wish while having the opportunity to participate in Macy’s Guinness World Records official attempt for the longest wish list to Santa.

And the most compelling Christmas ad is...

New York - The Brits are no slouches when it comes to holiday advertisements.

The competition between British retail giants to come up with the most compelling TV ad grows more intense every holiday season.

This year, the biggest initial buzz was created by Sainsbury, with its depiction of the famous Christmas truce on the battlefields of World War I.
Weitzman/Cencor names new CEO

Dallas - For the first time since its founding in 1989, affiliated Dallas-based commercial real estate services firms The Weitzman Group and Cencor Realty Services has a new chief executive. Marshall Mills, previously the firm’s COO, has been promoted to CEO. He takes the reins from company founder and longtime CEO, Herbert D. Weitzman, who will now serve as executive chairman of the statewide retail-focused commercial real estate services firm.
DICK's and ULTA to join Janesville Mall as part of anchor redevelopment

Janesville, Wisconsin - CBL & Associates Properties announced that DICK'S Sporting Goods and ULTA Beauty are coming to Janesville Mall in Janesville, Wisconsin. The two new stores will be situated in the former JC Penney location. Construction is expected to begin in January with the grand opening for both stores scheduled for fall 2015.
SRS to drive nationwide store expansion for Walgreen Co.

Dallas - SRS Real Estate Partners has executed an exclusive agreement with Walgreen Co. to assist the retailer’s nationwide new store expansion and relocation strategy. SRS has been a long-time strategic consultant to Walgreens; leading the team for SRS are executive vice presidents Patrick A. Smith and Matthew D. Alexander, who will work closely with Walgreens to enhance the company’s existing store base while evolving its real estate management structure.
Sembler and Forge acquire two new shopping centers

St. Petersburg, Florida - The Sembler Company and Forge Capital Partners, in their Forge Real Estate Partners III investment fund, have recently purchased two shopping centers: Causeway Shopping Center in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, and Springdale Shopping Center in Austin, Texas. FREP now owns five shopping centers, and the joint venture is actively seeking additional investments in grocery-anchored shopping centers throughout the Southeast.
JLL closes sale of two Louisiana shopping centers

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - JLL’s Capital Markets experts announced the sale of Coursey Commons Shopping Center on behalf of Blue Ridge Real Estate Company. Wal-Mart Stores purchased the Baton Rouge, Louisiana shopping center for $10.9 million. The 67,775-sq.-ft. center is anchored by a Walmart Neighborhood Market and includes Sally Beauty Supply, AT&T Mobility, UPS store and Weight Watchers.
Five Ways to Protect Your Business On and Offline

By Paul Jones, eBay
First Data and Verifone partner to combat consumer payment data theft

Atlanta – Payment technology provider First Data and secure payment acceptance technology vendor Verifone, are partnering to help retailers reduce exposure to large-scale consumer payment data breaches and expedite acceptance of EMV-enabled credit and debit cards in advance of the October 2015 liability shift for EMV-enabled payment card fraud.
Kroger joins Energy Star elite

Cincinnati - The Kroger Co. has been accepted as an “Elite Member” of Energy Star Certification Nation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Kroger was the only grocery retailer granted Elite Member certification status, which was granted to organizations that earned Energy Star certification for at least 150 buildings in 2014.
CST, CrossAmerica jointly buy 22 Timewise convenience stores

San Antonio, Texas - CST Brands Inc and CrossAmerica Partners LP have agreed to jointly purchase 22 convenience stores in San Antonio and Austin, Texas from Landmark Industries, their third combined acquisition in less than three months. The 22 stores operate under the Timewise brand name and provide Shell-branded fuel.