Supermarket/Grocery

GREENVILLE, S.C. — BI-LO and Winn-Dixie Stores on Monday announced that the companies will merge to create an organization of approximately 690 grocery stores and 63,000 employees in eight states throughout the Southeastern United States.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, BI-LO will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Winn-Dixie stock in the merger. Winn-Dixie shareholders will receive $9.50 in cash per share of Winn-Dixie common stock, representing a premium of approximately 75% over the closing price of Winn-Dixie common stock on Dec. 16.

 BLOOMSBURG, Pa. — Weis Markets announced that it has raised $100,000 for Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that raises awareness and enlists public support for the needs of injured service members. The company's Bloomsburg store associates presented the check to Jeff Combs, who is a warrior outreach coordinator for Wounded Warrior Project and a former US Marine who was severely wounded while serving in Iraq.

A new Target store in San Clemente, Calif., was the recipient of a GreenChill GOLD award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There are a lot of certifications and awards being handed out these days in the world of sustainability, but what makes EPA’s GreenChill GOLD award noteworthy is that the Target store is only the 27th retail location to earn the distinction.

Greenville, S.C. -- Grocer Bi-Lo LLC said Monday that it has acquired southern supermarket chain Winn-Dixie, in a $560 million transaction that will take Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. private and create the largest grocery operator in the South.

The merger will combine Winn-Dixie’s 480 supermarkets in five southern states (Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi) with Bi-Lo’s 207 stores in the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee to create a company with 690 stores and 63,000 workers in eight states.

Granada Hills, Calif. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that it has leased 7,083 sq. ft. of retail space in Granada Hills, Calif., among three new tenants at Granada Village.

Carter’s leased 3,866 sq. ft., and hair salon Fantastic Sams leased 1,217 sq. ft.  Both are slated to open for business in March 2012. Opening in second quarter 2012, Freebirds World Burrito has leased 2,000 sq. ft. of restaurant space.

Tarrytown, N.Y. – DLC Management Corp. announced a new deal signed with Wal-Mart Stores to open a 44,271-sq.-ft. Walmart Market at DLC’s Bethesda Walk Shopping Center in Lawrenceville, Ga.

The deal, which was finalized on November 21, marks the grocery-only concept’s first store in the Atlanta metro area.

The Network of Executive Woman, or NEW, is holding a new event in Dallas next year and has signed on Walmart’s top diversity executive as a featured speaker.

New York City -- Duane Reade, a division of Walgreens, spotlights its “New York Living Made Easy” format on Friday with the unveiling of its expanded store located at 1657 Broadway in New York.
The new 24-hour location reflects the chain’s focus on rebranding and aggressive transformation initiatives to date.