Convenience Stores

The Fresh Market opens at The Village at Livingston
Livingston, N.J. -- The Fresh Market celebrated its official opening at The Village At Livingston with “cracking the parmesan,” a centuries-old art and company tradition. The store, which occupies 23,000 sq.ft at the 93,000-sq.-ft. shopping center managed and developed by Eastman Companies, marks the upscale specialty grocer’s third location in New Jersey.
Target Canada opens three new stores
Mississauga, Ont. -- Target Canada is opening three new stores Oct. 17, located in Ottawa, Ont; Sheridan Centre in Mississauga, Ont. and Polo Park in Winnipeg, Man. The opening of the three new stores marks the final stores scheduled to open in 2014 and brings the total number of Target Canada stores open across the country to 133.

Books-A-Million brews support for troops

Books-A-Million Inc. is once again accepting Joe Muggs coffee donations for their Coffee for the Troops campaign that will benefit troops serving overseas and stateside.
The retail industry’s new best friend

President Barack Obama has taken heat over his use of executive orders, but that wasn’t the case on Friday when retail trade groups lined up behind the president in support of wide ranging data security measures.
Starbucks launching mobile ordering in Portland; full U.S. rollout in 2015

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Company continues to extend its mobile offerings. The coffee giant will launch mobile ordering in its locations in the Portland, Ore., area by year end, with a full rollout nationwide in 2015. The mobile-order app will enable customers to place orders in advance of their visit and pick them up at their selected Starbucks location.
Price investments hinder Supervalu profits

Supervalu president and CEO Sam Duncan is encouraged with the progress the retailer is making and why not. Identical store sales in the company’s Save-A-Lot units were up 6.5% in the second quarter.

The company’s total sales for the period ended September 6, increased 1.8% to $4.02 billion while profits declined to $31 million, or 11 cents a share, from $40 million, or 15 cents a share. When adjusted for some non-recurring items, second quarter earnings were $34 million, or 13 cents a share.
Wal-Mart cuts back U.S. supercenter growth; ups e-commerce spending

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is planning to sharply cut back the growth of its U.S. supercenters in favor of smaller-format stores and acccelerated e-commerce and digital investments.
Giant Eagle pilots Brickstream in-store analytics

Pittsburgh –- Multi-format food, fuel and pharmacy retailer Giant Eagle Inc. is piloting smart devices from Brickstream for capturing and analyzing in-store data at six stores. Brickstream’s hardware and software solutions deliver the equivalent of “clickstream” analytics for the brick-and-mortar world.
Celebration Pointe begins construction on bridge

Gainesville, Fla. -- Celebration Pointe has begun site work on a five-lane, $12 million bridge that will span Interstate 75. Celebration Pointe partner Ralph Contimade the announcement.
Three new retailers opening at The Siena in downtown Montclair

Montclair, N.J. -- Regional comfort food, gourmet sandwiches and chocolates are coming to downtown Montclair. Pinnacle Companies Realty Group, a subsidiary of The Pinnacle Companies and the exclusive broker for The Siena, announced today that three new retailers are opening soon at The Siena luxury mixed-use community on South Park and Church Streets: Chocolate Works, the Heritage House restaurant and Jimmy John's gourmet sandwiches.
IBISWorld: Halloween sales to reach $7.29 billion

New York -- Total Halloween sales are expected to grow 3% to total $7.29 billion in 2014, due to improving economic conditions and employment levels. According to a new study from market research firm IBISWorld Inc., costume sales are expected to rise 6% to $2.76 billion, spurred by more theme parties and social media photo sharing.
Dunkin’ Donuts plans 40 new Michigan stores

Canton, Mass. –- Dunkin’ Donuts plans to open 40 new restaurants in Michigan during the next several years, in addition to more than 60 currently operating in the state. The retailer continues to recruit franchise candidates there with an emphasis on Flint, Lansing and Traverse City.