Mass Merchant

Doubling sales in any category within a four year time span would be an audacious goal for any retailer, but that was the objective Walmart set for itself in the beer category last fall, according to Bloomberg.

Houston — Jones Lang LaSalle has announced the closing of the sale of The Shops at Bella Terra, a 308,828-sq.-ft. power center in Houston’s Grand Parkway corridor. The JLL Capital Markets Group also secured acquisition financing with Wells Fargo and additional equity from Heitman on behalf of the buyer, Dunhill Partners

New York – Despite a slowdown in U.S. retail and consumer merger & acquisition (M&A) activity in second quarter 2013, consumer sentiment and retail sales trends remain positive, along with strong corporate balance sheets and availability of private equity "dry powder," which should help trigger M&A activity during the second half of 2013, according to PwC's U.S. retail and consumer deals insights second quarter 2013 report.

Gap Inc. continues to enjoy momentum at its namesake Gap stores and Old Navy units which pushed total company results up 8% to nearly $3.9 billion.

Results were strongest at Gap and Old Navy stores where comps increase 6% while Banana Republic comps declined 1%.

“We are pleased with our second quarter performance overall, and we’re focused on continuing our momentum as we move into the second half of the year,” said Glenn Murphy, chairman and CEO of Gap Inc.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $7.87 billion for the month of July, the four weeks ended August 4, an increase of 7% from $7.36 billion during the similar period last year.

For the 48 weeks ended August 4, the company reported net sales of $94.91 billion, an increase of 8% from $87.7 billion during the similar period last year.

New York – Fairway Market will be the anchor grocer at the Hudson Yards residential/retail complex being developed by Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group in Manhattan. The 45,875-sq.-ft. store will be located in the Hudson Yards South Tower.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart is considering entering the bidding for Hong Kong-based grocery chain ParknShop, Reuters reports. Wal-Mart is currently exploring options to enter the initial bidding process for ParknShop, which closes Aug. 16.

ParknShop is owned by Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., which in turn is owned by Li Ka-shing, reputedly the wealthiest man in Asia. The chain may be valued as high as $4 billion.

Wal-Mart, which has not commented publicly, said last year it would open 100 new stores in China by 2015.

NEW YORK — Jordache has chosen supermodel, designer, entrepreneur and host of television’s Project Runway and America's Got Talent, Heidi Klum, as the face of its latest ad campaign.  

Shot by photographer, director and longtime Klum collaborator, Rankin in Los Angeles, the commercial casts Klum as a pied piper who leads a suburban cast and a not so suburban cast to the beat of Bee Gees Stayin' Alive.