Supermarket/Grocery

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Publix Tuesday reported fourth-quarter sales of $6.4 billion, a 4.4% increase from last year’s $6.1 billion. Comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter of 2010 increased 3.2%.

Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2010 were $342.1 million, compared with $284.2 million in 2009, an increase of 20.4%. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter increased to 44 cents for 2010, up from 36 cents per share in 2009.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Food Lion is promoting its private labels by offering its loyalty club members the opportunity to earn up to $10 in free groceries when they buy private brand products through March 29. 

Atlanta -- Columbia, S.C.-based Edens & Avant said that Seed Kitchen & Bar will open at its Merchant’s Walk retail redevelopment, located in the East Cobb area of Atlanta.

Moorestown, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) said that Elevation Burger has opened a 2,245-sq.-ft. restaurant at Moorestown Mall, located in Moorestown, N.J.

The casual eatery is located next to Bistro Express, with both a mall entrance and an outside entrance, and is a market first for the concept.

Another new concept to South Jersey also recently opened at Moorestown Mall -- Bubby’s Brisket. The 1,017-sq.-ft. restaurant is located in Moorestown Mall’s Food Court.

Retailer demand for new locations is up across the board, according to ChainLinks Retail Advisors’ just-released National Retailer and Restaurant Expansion Guide. The report details the current expansion plans for hundreds of the largest U.S. retail and restaurant chains.

“As 2010 came to a close, growth plans were up 30% from the levels we recorded last year,” said ChainLinks’ research director, Garrick Brown,/ Right now, expansion plans are up 40% over last year’s levels.”

New York City -- Retailer demand for new locations is up across the board, according to ChainLinks Retail Advisors’ just-released National Retailer and Restaurant Expansion Guide. The report details the current expansion plans for hundreds of the largest U.S. retail and restaurant chains.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation last week responded to the Federal Reserve's proposal to cap debit card swipe fees at 12 cents per transaction.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion announced Friday that it would add more of its MVP savings center kiosks to help customers save on their grocery bills.

MVP savings center kiosks, which are part of Food Lion's MVP customer loyalty card program, were introduced in stores last year. Since their introduction, kiosk coupons have up to five times the redemption rate when compared with coupons delivered via traditional distribution channels, Food Lion said.

Money-saving coupon kiosks also can be found at Bloom and at Harveys.

Target is set to report February same-store sales this Thursday and offer the first data point of the new fiscal year in which same-store sales are forecast to increase in the range of 4% to 5%. For February, the company has forecast a low single-digit increase and last week in conjunction with the release of fourth-quarter results confirmed it was on track to meet the low single-digit number.

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Monday announced the promotion of Mir Aamir to president customer loyalty and digital technologies, reporting to Diane Dietz, EVP, chief marketing officer. In this new role, Mir will lead Safeway's loyalty programs and oversee digital and mobile efforts related to loyalty. He will also continue to be responsible for marketing strategies, shopper analytics and insights, club card strategies and pricing.