Wegmans Food Markets

Chain Store Age announced the selection of the Advisory Board for SPECS/2018, the annual retail event produced by CSA and attended by retail and food-service executives who plan, design, build, and maintain stores and restaurants nationwide.     Now in its 54th year, SPECS will host its 2018 conference in Dallas, at the Gaylord Texan, March 18-20. The event will focus on what’s next, and what is shaping the future of physical retail.  

Wegmans Food Markets is jumping into the on-demand delivery game.   Through a new partnership with Instacart, the regional grocer now offers one-hour grocery deliveries. The service is currently available in select locations in Virginia, however, the supermarket chain is preparing to launch the program in Maryland, Boston, Southern New Jersey, and Southeastern Pennsylvania, according to Wegmans.  

National Realty & Development Corp. landed the first anchor for its new project in Middletown, New Jersey, and it’s a whopper.  

Wegmans Food Markets has appointed a familiar name as its new chief executive.   Danny Wegman announced that he is stepping down as chief executive of the family-owned supermarket company and will be succeeded by his daughter, Colleen Wegman, who will serve as president and CEO.    Danny Wegman will assume the title of chairman.  

Chain Store Age announced the selection of the Advisory Board for SPECS/2017, the annual retail event for store innovation produced by CSA and attended by retail and food-service executives involved in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of stores and restaurants nationwide.     Now in its 53rd year, SPECS will host its 2017 conference in Orlando, Florida, at the Gaylord Palms, March 12-14. The event will focus on what’s next, and what is shaping the future of retail.  

Cameron Geiger, senior VP, Walmart technology, has been appointed to the GS1 U.S. board of governors.

He will help guide the GS1 U.S. strategy for driving adoption and usage of GS1 standards within the retail industry. GS1 standards are used to uniquely identify products, services and locations globally.

The demise of The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. elevated the retail vacancy rate along central New Jersey’s major shopping corridors to 8.8% from 7.5% in 2014.

That’s according to the latest study by R.J. Brunelli & Co. Despite the uptick, the region’s 2015 vacancy factor remained a healthy distance from the 10.2% recorded in 2013 and the eight-year high of 10.5% set in 2011, but was well above the period’s low point of 4.8% posted in 2008.

There is a new tourist attraction in Washington, D.C., and visitors have a retailer to thank.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has opened “Wegmans Wonderplace,” the first gallery on the National Mall tailored for the learning needs of children six and under. The space, made possible by a $1.5 million gift and in-kind donations from Wegmans Food Market, allows kids to “cook” in a kitchen inspired by Julia Child’s.