Large Chains

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market said Tuesday it has received a 2012 Green Power Leadership Award for sustained excellence from the Environmental Protection Agency for its renewable energy purchase of 800 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) last year.  

The annual award recognizes leading green power purchasers for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation's voluntary green power market.
 

LANDOVER, Md. — Giant Food is bringing back its A+ School Rewards program.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has expanded its offering of baked goods and desserts. The retailer has introduced more than 60 new products including new varieties of bagels, scones, cookies, breads, pies, cupcakes, and pastries. The new products include several seasonal flavored, gluten free and organic options and like all fresh&easy brand products, contain no artificial colors or flavors, high-fructose corn syrup, or added trans fats, according to the company.

QUINCY, Mass. — Stop & Shop customers and associates helped abate hunger by donating nearly $400,000 through the company’s first ever Healthy Ideas Food for Friends program. As part of the company’s hunger relief efforts, Stop & Shop will donate 100% of the funds to regional hunger relief agencies across the Northeast.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu on Thursday announced the appointment of Kathy Persian as senior VP and chief information officer of the company.  

Persian joined Supervalu in 2010 as group VP retail and merchandising systems, and later moved to group VP corporate planning, analysis and business process.

She replaces Wayne Shurts, who resigned to accept a position with another company.

Prior to Supervalu, Persian served as senior VP international business process and operations for Best Buy Co.

Publix is making its North Carolina debut with the planned opening of a new store in the greater Charlotte area.

The company has signed a lease for a store at Providence Road West and Johnston Road in Ballantyne. The store will be part of a new division based in Charlotte.

While Ballantyne marks Publix’s long awaited entry into North Carolina, the company is looking ahead to continued growth within the state and in its current operating areas of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets announced that it has signed a lease for its first store in the state of North Carolina. The company said it is looking forward to continued growth in the state, and that the new location will be part of a new division based in Charlotte.

The 56,000-sq. ft. store, which will be located in Ballantyne, N.C., is scheduled to open in early 2014.
 

South Plainfield, N.J. -- Charter Realty said it has been selected to lease Oak Park Commons located in South Plainfield, N.J.
 
The single-story, 136,939-sq.-ft. community shopping center is anchored by A&P Supermarket in 60,025 sq. ft. and includes a mix of national, regional and local tenants.
 
Oak Park Commons is currently 76% occupied with 33,508 sq. ft. of available space.
 

New York -- Tesco has opened its first all-LED store as the United Kingdom’s largest retailer continues its drive to reduce carbon emissions from its operations. Tesco expects that the use of the LEDs in its new Express location, in Loughborough, England, will produce a 30% energy savings compared to its other Express stores.