Large Chains

The former president of Trader Joe's has created a supermarket concept in the Boston area that offers fresh, healthy food at affordable prices. Now just a few months since opening, the store boasts over 300 customers visiting daily and has begun to look into expanding with a second location in the Boston area. [Food World News]

The emphasis is on fresh foods and convenience at bfresh, a new, urban-scale supermarket concept from Ahold’s Fresh Formats division.

Designed by Scandinavian design agency Blink, bfresh is part neighborhood grocery store, part food hall and part restaurant. The stores, which average about 9,000 sq. ft., have a modern look and a streamlined, simple layout. Digital price tags enhance the contemporary feel.

Supervalu’s Cub Foods division reimagined a former Kmart location in central Minnesota for a new format featuring a massive liquor store.

The demise of The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. elevated the retail vacancy rate along central New Jersey’s major shopping corridors to 8.8% from 7.5% in 2014.

That’s according to the latest study by R.J. Brunelli & Co. Despite the uptick, the region’s 2015 vacancy factor remained a healthy distance from the 10.2% recorded in 2013 and the eight-year high of 10.5% set in 2011, but was well above the period’s low point of 4.8% posted in 2008.

Schnucks Markets on Monday named industry veteran Mark Doiron its new chief merchant. Doiron, who has more than 25 years of experience in the food and grocery industries, will be responsible for procurement and merchandising throughout Schnucks’ 99 supermarkets. He serves on the company’s senior management team and reports to Schnucks chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck.

Stuart, Fla. -- Konover South announced the acquisition of 4.43-acres of land for its new 30,587-sq.-ft. Stuart Landings retail center in Stuart, Florida, for $2.25 million.

The center will be located at SE Federal Highway and SE Miami Ave., which shares U.S. 1 access with an adjacent Walmart Supercenter. Stuart Landings will feature a 17,837-sq.-ft. Aldi, a 3,500-sq.-ft. Aspen Dental with additional lease negotiations underway.

BJ's Wholesale Club has promoted its COO to president and chief executive officer just months after recruiting him from Hess Retail Corp.

The club retailer announced that Christopher J. Baldwin, BJ's president and chief operating officer, has been named president and CEO, succeeding Laura J. Sen, who is assuming the role of non-executive chairman. The appointment is effective Feb. 1.

The nation’s largest supermarket operator reported profit that surpassed Wall Street expectations and raised its annual forecast.

Kroger Co.’s third-quarter earnings rose 18% to $428 million.

Revenue inched up 0.4% to $25.08 billion for the quarter, ended Nov. 7. missing Street forecasts of $25.22 billion. Kroger cited lower fuel prices as impacting sales.

Same-store sales, excluding fuel, rose 5.4%, more than expected. It was the chain’s 48th consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales growth (excluding fuel.)

The nation’s largest supermarket operator reported profit that surpassed Wall Street expectations and raised its annual forecast.

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. -- Kimco Realty Corp. announced that it purchased Christown Spectrum power center in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona for $115.3 million. The property is an 850,000 sq. ft. center situated one mile east of Interstate 17 and lies adjacent to the second-busiest light rail station in Phoenix.