Convenience Stores

New Baltimore industrial hub announces retail development
Tradepoint Atlantic, a 3,100-acre industrial hub now taking shape in Baltimore Harbor, this week unveiled plans for a 130-acre, mixed-use retail park on the former site of the nation’s largest steelmaking facility. FedEx has signed a lease for a 300,000 sq.-ft. distribution facility and Harley-Davidson will move its training facility to the site, which offers 3,000 ft. of frontage on I-695 and exposure to 43,000 households in the surrounding area.
Retail loyalty is big business
Customers who belong to a retailer’s loyalty program spend more — significantly more — than those who do not. That’s according to a new study by Accenture Interactive, which found that members of retailers’ loyalty programs generate between 12% and 18% more revenue for retailers than those who do not belong. The report was based on a survey of U.S. retailers across specialty, big-box, department, drug and convenience stores.

Simply Fresh by McCaffrey’s, Doylestown, Pennsylvania

A new, small-format grocery concept from McCaffrey's Food Markets — Simply Fresh by McCaffrey’s — has opened in a restored 1928 industrial deco building in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, that originally housed a Ford dealership.
Fast-casual chain in Florida expansion

PizzaRev, the make-your-own pizza concept backed by Buffalo Wild Wings, will soon be on the march in South Florida. The company has signed a franchise agreement with Surfside Coffee, one of the largest Dunkin’ Donuts franchise networks in Florida, to develop 45 restaurants across greater Miami. The group’s first location is projected to open at the Miracle Mile in Coral Gables.
Grocer to debut new store brand

Brookshire Grocery Co. is expanding with a new neighborhood format. The Tyler, Texas-based supermarket operator will open 26 locations this summer under its new Spring Market banner. The stores will be on the sites of former Walmart Express stores that Brookshire is in the process of acquiring. (The acquisition is scheduled to close in July.) The locations range from southern Louisiana to west Texas.
NRF: Inventory shrink getting worse

If it seems like more if your inventory is disappearing, you’re probably not imagining things. According to the 2016 National Retail Federation (NRF) Retail Security Study, conducted in collaboration with the University of Florida, retailers’ inventory shrink averaged 1.38% of retail sales, or $45.2 billion in 2015, up by 3% from $44 billion the previous year.
Retail sales rise in May

Solid. That’s how many industry analysts described retail sales in May. Driven partly by rising gasoline prices, sales increased 0.5% in May, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, above the 0.3% gain economists expected. Excluding automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants, retail sales rose 0.2% unadjusted over April, according to the National Retail Federation.
Study: Store design key to attracting C-store shoppers

Store design plays a crucial role in attracting customers and driving foodservice sales in convenience stores. That’s according to the new study, Food-Forward C-store Design, which comes as more convenience retailers are pursuing foodservice as a growth opportunity.
Wendy’s security woes continue

The Wendy's Co., which was first reported to have suffered a POS breach in January 2016, is still discovering evidence of hacking attacks.

The fast food chain announced that additional malicious cyber activity has recently been discovered in some franchise-operated restaurants. Wendy’s has disabled the malware where it has been detected.
Architecture firm names new VP

Tracy Borchardt has been promoted from senior project manager to associate VP of architecture firm CMA.

Borchardt joined CMA in 2003 as a project coordinator. In 2006, he was promoted to senior project manager. As of June 2016, he is now the associate VP of CMA.
Baker Katz redevelops Texas center

Houston-based Baker Katz has redeveloped and fully leased a retail site in Beaumont, Texas.

Baker Katz principal Kenneth Katz made the announcement.

Baker Katz completely redeveloped the site, beginning with demolishing the previous building with an end plan to create five new spaces for retail tenants. Starbucks, Mattress One and Wingstop will occupy the 6,100-sq.-ft. building. T-Mobile and Access Dental will each have 2,800-sq.-ft. in the second building. There is a new H-E-B located immediately east of the property.
Commentary: CurrentC failure was easy to predict

Merchant Commerce Exchange (MCX), the retailer consortium that formed to create a rival mobile payment service to Apple Pay, is pulling the plug on pilot tests of its CurrentC app. MCX also announced layoffs in May 2016 and despite public claims to the contrary, appears to be shelving CurrentC permanently.

According to Jason Del Rey of Re/Code, this outcome was never in doubt.