Convenience Stores

As Walmart prepares to launch its Walmart Pay mobile pay solution, the discounter should study Starbucks’ success in the mobile payments area, according to a report by TheStreet.

Starbucks rolled out its mobile wallet in 2011, and mobile payment now accounts for 21% of all transactions in U.S. company-owned stores. If Walmart wants to get even close to those numbers, it will have to follow Starbucks’ lead and make sure that its mobile payment solution provides a real value to consumers.

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.

Supervalu’s Cub Foods division reimagined a former Kmart location in central Minnesota for a new format featuring a massive liquor store.

Vineland, N.J. -- PREIT announced its plans to open a Dick's Sporting Goods at Cumberland Mall in Vineland, New Jersey. The sports and fitness retailer will occupy the former J.C. Penney Department Store space in a 50,000 sq. ft. location.

“This transaction demonstrates PREIT's continued success in replacing anchors with in-demand retailers,” states Joseph F. Coradino, CEO for PREIT "The addition of Dick's Sporting Goods will improve the merchandise mix and solidify the tenant roster at Cumberland Mall.”

At its annual Analyst Day in New York Wednesday morning, CVS Health raised the midpoint of its earnings outlook for 2016.

Schnucks Markets on Monday named industry veteran Mark Doiron its new chief merchant. Doiron, who has more than 25 years of experience in the food and grocery industries, will be responsible for procurement and merchandising throughout Schnucks’ 99 supermarkets. He serves on the company’s senior management team and reports to Schnucks chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck.

This month, Target began contacting its Pharmacy Rewards members to informing them that the company was ending the rewards program because CVS/pharmacy will bring its own program when it replaces the pharmacies in Target stores as part of a deal between the two companies announced this summer.