Mass Merchant

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market announced the addition of Blake W. Nordstrom to the company's board of directors, increasing the size of the board to 12 members. He will serve on the audit committee.

Nordstrom, 50, has been president of Nordstrom since 2000 and has served as a member of the company's board of directors since 2005.
 

New York City -- The U.S. shopping-center industry grew to approximately 108,000 centers in 2010, according to the latest statistics from CoStar Group. The data, compiled on behalf of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), marked the slowest U.S. industry growth (+0.2% or 259 centers) on record since at least 1971 for which consistent data exist.

As part of our ongoing coverage of RECon, the annual retail real estate convention conducted by the International Council of Shopping Centers and held May 22-25 in Las Vegas, Chain Store Age talked with Andy Graiser, co-president of DJM Realty, a Gordon Brothers Group company, based in Melville, N.Y., about his key takeaways from RECon 2011.

Now that RECon 2011 has drawn to a close and we are all settling back into our daily work routines, what are your key takeaways from this year’s show?

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. announced that Diane von Furstenberg will design a collection for the GapKids and babyGap brands. The collection is expected to be available for purchase to customers in March 2012 through GapKids and babyGap stores in almost 30 countries including United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, France, China, Japan and Australia as well as online in 75 countries.

New York City -- Centro Properties Group said Wednesday that Tuesday Morning stores have recently opened in Centro shopping centers in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The retailer opened a 10,440-sq.-ft. store at New Britain Village Square, located in Chalfont, Pa., and a 17,089-sq.-ft. store at Jefferson Green, located in Newport News, Va.

Boulder, Col. -- Discount grocer Aldi ranks as the nation’s low-price grocery leader, according to a recent consumer survey conducted by Market Force Information.

New York City -- A $15 billion share buyback program, unveiled earlier in June, will allow Wal-Mart Stores’ founder Sam Walton’s descendants to see their stake in the chain edge up above 50%.

After Walton died in 1992, family members retained a stake of around 38% from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. Starting in 2003, a series of big share buybacks began to push the family stake higher, to 43% in 2008 and now to 49%, according to the latest filings.

Atlanta -- Jones Lang LaSalle said Tuesday it has been named the new leasing and/or property manager for five retail properties in Arkansas, North Carolina, New York and Ohio.

The portfolio, owned by a variety of institutional investors, includes open-air shopping centers and a single-tenant property in Manhattan.