Large Chains

Griffin, Ga. -- The Kroger Co. and Collins & Arnold said they have broken ground on Phase II of Griffin Pavilion, a retail development located in Griffin, Ga., and developed by The Sofran Group.

The final phase of the project will consist of a 94,000-sq.-ft. Kroger with an 18- pump Fuel Center.  The grocery store site will include 20,000 sq. ft. for future expansion.

Phase I of Griffin Pavilion was completed in 2004 and includes a Lowes Home Center, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Wells Fargo bank.

Bentonville, Ark. -- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has ordered Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to pay more than $4.8 million in back wages and damages to some 4,500 employees nationwide.

The assessment follows a departmental investigation of the retailer that uncovered violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime provisions.

Wal-Mart has been assessed another $463,815 in civil money penalties.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Net sales for Ingles Markets experienced a spike during the second quarter and first half of fiscal year 2012, the retailer reported Monday.

Dallas -- The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) announced that it has entered into a strategic business partnership with TopSource LLC, a sourcing company and wholly owned subsidiary of Topco Associates LLC. FMI said the partnership will provide its members the opportunity to support the foundations of their growing businesses with significant savings related to costs in not-for-resale areas.

Macon, Ga. -- Westwood Financial Corp., one of the nation’s largest owner-operators of shopping centers, has purchased Wesleyan Station, an 86,631-sq-.ft, retail center in Macon, Ga., for $8.9 million from a private seller.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Recent events, which have driven Wall Street analysts to speculate that Safeway is a buyout target, are not interrelated, Safeway chairman and CEO Steve Burd assured analysts Thursday morning during the grocer's first-quarter conference call.

Sunbury, Pa. -- Weis Markets said it will invest $125 million in its 2012 growth program, a 25% increase compared with 2011.

“Our budget includes two new stores and 18 major remodels,” Weis Markets vice chairman Jonathan Weis said. “In addition, we expect to soon complete the purchase of three Genuardi's units near Philadelphia which we hope to reopen later this summer.”

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway's first quarter net income rose to $81.6 million, from $25.1 million in the year-earlier period. Sales edged up 2.4% to $10 billion, from $9.8 billion last year. Same-store sales were flat.

Southbury, Conn. -- Real estate firm RHYS Commercial announced that T.J. Maxx has signed a long-term lease to open a 22,000-sq.-ft. store at Southbury Plaza, located in Southbury, Conn.

Southbury Plaza, owned by Gatto Development Corp., is a 300,000-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by Stop & Shop Supermarket, Kmart and Panera Bread.
 

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. reported Thursday that net income for the first quarter rose to $81.6 million, from $25.1 million in the year-earlier period.

Sales edged up 2.4% to $10 billion, from $9.8 billion last year. Same-store sales were flat.

“We continue to believe sales will grow as our new marketing initiatives take hold," said Steve Burd, chairman and CEO.