Mass Merchant

By Bill Bishop, Brick Meets Click   Online food shopping has grown slowly until now, but it’s about to pick up speed. In fact, momentum is so strong, Brick Meets Click now projects online grocery will exceed 10% of total grocery sales in many larger markets by 2020. For some areas in the US, online grocery spending has already reached 6% or higher.  

Tampa, Fla. -- Northbrook, Illinois-based Pine Tree Commercial Realty, LLC announced that it has acquired South Pasadena Shopping Center, a grocery-anchored community shopping center located in South Pasadena (Tampa), Florida, for $21.1 million.    The recent acquisition is Pine Tree’s 73rd and brings the company’s current portfolio to 3.5 million sq. ft. in 15 states.  

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. was named Employer of the Year by the Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities for significantly contributing to employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.   Kroger was nominated for this recognition by the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The company received the award at a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse on Oct. 16.  

Watchung, N.J. -- Tuesday Morning is set to join the tenant mix at Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung, New Jersey, with plans to open an 11,000-sq.-ft. store at the 419,000-sq.-ft. shopping center.  

New Delhi, India –- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has named Murali Lanka as COO of its Indian operation effective Dec. 1. Lanka has held various positions with Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club since 1989 and served as head of operations of Wal-Mart India from 2008-2013, and most recently held the position of regional general manager for Wal-Mart in Texas.  

Wakefield, Mass. -- Ninety percent of consumers said they expect the customer experience to be consistent across channels and devices used to interact with brands this holiday shopping season, according to a global study by SDL. The figure represents a 17% increase from what consumers reported last year.  

Toronto, Canada - An $87 million, 200,000-sq.-ft., 50-store expansion has been opened to the public at Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre, operated by Ivanhoe Cambridge. The expansion on the east side of the property features an Event Court, a digital lounge and a Sport Neighborhood.   

Fraser, Mich. -- Mid-America Real Estate Corporation’s Investment Sales team recently brokered the sale of Fraser Shopping Center in Fraser, Mich. The 68,326-sq.-ft. center was purchased by a private investor represented by Sterling Heights, Michigan-based Showcase One Real Estate Group.