Corporate Governance

Walnut Creek, Calif. — John Cumbelich & Associates, a San Francisco Bay Area-based commercial real estate firm, has announced the sale of 1280 Willow Pass, a 73,167-sq.-ft. shopping center in Concord, Calif.

X Team International partner, John Cumbelich & Associates, represented both the buyer and the seller in the transaction, which attracted multiple offers.

First it was signage and then came the freezer case and parking lots. Now Walmart and GE are moving forward with their biggest lighting initiative to date.

The companies announced plans to use GE LED lights in ceiling fixtures in hundreds of stores throughout the U.S., Asia, Latin Amerian and the United Kingdom. The new fixtures use 40% less energy than traditional overhead lighting systems and move Walmart forward on its goal of reducing energy required to power its buildings globally by 20% by 2020. It is Walmart’s largest purchase of GE LED lighting to date.

Atlanta -- Miller Zell has named James Warner VP of digital innovation, responsible for driving integrated experiences, digital brand engagements and relevant technology solutions into the overall shopper journey.

Previously Warner worked with W3 Design, Momentum Worldwide and Moxie Interactive, where he led consumer-centric design and technology development for tier one retailers and global brands such as Coca-Cola, Nokia, Verizon, Red Bull North America, American Express, 20th Century Fox and Nike.

Mars is in the process of buying the Iams, Eukanuba, and Natura brands from P&G for $2.9 billion in cash. Mars Petcare said the strategic move complements its growing global Petcare business.

The companies expect to complete the transaction in the second half of 2014, subject to regulatory approvals.

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Café has signed a new multi-unit development agreement with Holm Bake, LLC, headquartered in Winter Park, Fla., which plans to open its first of 17 restaurants in the Orlando, Fla., area next year and the remaining sites over the following six years.

Newegg is building on its e-commerce presence in the United States with a pilot program that makes a limited selection of its products available to customers in the United Kingdom and Australia. The company said the move is “an important first step” in its international expansion plans.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart, a pioneer in the use of LED lighting in its freezer cases and parking lots, is now extending its use of LEDs to the sales floor. The retailer plans to install energy-efficient LED ceiling lighting from GE in its new supercenters in the United States, along with stores in Asia, Latin America, and the United Kingdom.

Consumer reviews provider Viewpoints is poised to acquire PowerReviews from Bazaarevoice after a court agreed with the Department of Justice that Bazarrevoice’s acquisition of PowerReviews two years earlier was anticompetitive.