Convenience Stores

Memphis, Tenn. -- Fred's reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 29 rose 48% to $8.6 million, compared with $5.8 million in the year-ago period.

The discount retailer cited a better merchandise selection and store upgrades for the improved performance, which topped Wall Street expectations.

Revenue rose 3% to $485.6 million from $473.1 million, missing analysts’ forecast of $487.3 million in revenue. Same-store sales rose 2.3%.

It seems like this kind of stuff only happens at Walmart. A female employee at a Walmart store in Naples, Fla. bit off the tip of a co-worker’s ring finger during a fight over an alleged affair, the Associated Press reported this week. Collier County Sheriff’s deputies said they charged 43-year-old Clodia Coicour with aggravated battery stemming from the incident that took place outside the store where they both worked.

Bentonville, Ark. -- A comprehensive waste reduction program has resulted in Walmart eliminating more than 80% of the waste that would go to landfills from its operations in California. Walmart’s results exceed both the national average landfill diversion rate of 45% and the California rate of 65%. The program is now being implemented across all of the company’s 4,400 U.S. locations, including Sam’s Club units and distribution centers.

Walmart’s small format desires certainly haven’t gone unnoticed by the folks at Dollar General, a company that appears bent on saturating the marketplace with small discount stores. Last year, Dollar General opened 600 new stores and remodeled or relocated 504 other stores to end its fiscal year with 9,372 stores. This year, more of the same is planned with the expansion figure getting a bump to 625 new units, while the number of remodels and relocations expands to 550 units.

Greenwood Springs, Ind. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Greenwood Springs, Ind., to two new tenants at Greenwood Springs shopping center.

Cannoli Queen has leased 1,400 sq. ft. of restaurant space and Superior Discount Liquors has leased 2,800 sq. ft. of retail space. The businesses are slated to open in the spring.

The 292,827-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by Walmart and Gander Mountain alongside national retailers such as Sport Clips and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Cincinnati -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Cincinnati, at Hyde Park Plaza to The Snooty Fox.

An upscale consignment shop, The Snooty Fox has leased 5,000 sq. ft., bringing the center to 96% leased. It is slated to open for business this summer.

The 396,861-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by a 99,675-sq.-ft. Kroger and a 69,592-sq.-ft. Biggs alongside national retailers such as Michaels, Massage Envy, Panera Bread, Starbucks and Staples.

LA JOLLA, Calif. — Kashi has added an entree and pizza to its line of all-natural frozen foods.

The new spicy black bean enchilada single-serve entree features red skin potatoes, roasted red peppers, corn and spinach, all wrapped in a seven whole grain and corn tortilla, which is topped with a vibrant tomatillo, cilantro and jalapeno salsa. The entree also includes a side of Kashi seven whole grain pilaf. The entree will retail for $4.09, the company said.

Easton, Pa. -- New York City-based The Lightstone Group said that Advance Auto Parts has signed a seven-year, 9,000-sq.-ft. lease extension at 25th Street Shopping Center in Easton, Pa.

The 25th Street Shopping Center is a 131,000-sq.-ft. retail strip corridor home to CVS, RadioShack, Petco, Retro Fitness, Jenny Craig, McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Sherwin-Williams.