Convenience Stores

Ankeny, Iowa -- Casey’s General Stores said Thursday that it will break ground on its first site in Kentucky later this month. This store will be located in Cadiz, Ky., and will mark the 12th state in which the c-store chain operates.

The Cadiz store is slated to open summer 2012, and will be followed by additional stores in Paducah and Henderson later this year, said the company.

Casey’s said it also has land under contract in Tennessee with plans to break ground next fiscal year as well.

NEW YORK — The Ethisphere Institute, which describes itself as a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability, has released its sixth annual selection of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. Among this year's list of 145 organizations are several top, U.S. retailers including Safeway, Wegmans, Whole Foods, Costco, Target, Best Buy, OfficeMax and Petco.

WASHINGTON — February retail sales rose 8.6% over last year, marking 20 consecutive months of sustained growth, The National Retail Federation reported Tuesday.

The seasonally adjusted increase -- stronger than expected -- was 0.5%, which excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants.

Indianapolis -- Kite Realty Group announced that Subway has leased 1,600 sq. ft. at Traders Point II, located in Indianapolis.

Traders Point is a 395,435-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by Bed Bath & Beyond, Books-A-Million, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Marsh Supermarket, Michael’s, Old Navy, PetSmart and AMC Theatre.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales continue to rise for 2012 as the U.S. Census Bureau reported results of February sales on Tuesday.

U.S. retail and food services sales for February, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $407.8 billion, an increase of 1.1% from the previous month and 6.5% above the year-ago period. Retail trade sales were up 1.1% from last month and 6.3% above last year.

Durham, N.C. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased restaurant space to Fuji Steakhouse at Southpoint Crossing shopping center, located in Durham, N.C.

The Japanese restaurant leased 6,400 sq. ft. and is slated to open in summer 2012.

The 103,128-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by a 59,160-sq.-ft. Kroger alongside national retailers such as McDonald’s, GNC, Ruby Tuesday and H&R Block.
 

QUINCY, Mass. — A Northeastern supermarket chain has made a business magazine's list of the top 10 most innovative companies in the food industry.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Bi-Lo has announced that it has successfully completed its merger with Winn-Dixie Stores. The two banners now will be subsidiaries of privately held parent company Bi-Lo Holding. Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie will continue to operate under the same banners, and the company said it does not expect any store closures as a result of the merger.