Supermarket/Grocery

NEW YORK — Next to gas, the rising cost of food almost always tops consumers' list of spending concerns, and those concerns will surely rise as food prices reached peak levels last month, according to the Labor Department's Producer Price Index. The particularly high increase in the cost of both fresh and dry vegetables not only hurts consumer wallets, but could also curtail efforts, such as this partnership between First Lady Obama and Walmart, to encourage Americans to eat healthier.

New York City -- Shareholders of Jo-Ann Stores on Friday approved a $1.6 billion merger with an affiliate of Leonard Green & Partners.

Of all the shares that were voted, more than 99% were in favor of the agreement. Those in favor of the pact represented 82 of outstanding shares. The company expects the deal to close Friday.

The company will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

NEW YORK — After Apple began giving consumers the option to receive paperless receipts, it seems that other retailers are following suit, according to published reports.

A first of its kind conference focused on shopper behavior is scheduled for May 12 in Fayetteville, Ark., home of the Center for Retailing Excellence within the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. The conference is called SHOP and features a number of thought leaders in the field of consumer research and shopper insights and was designed to complement the Center’s Emerging Trends in Retailing Conference that is held each fall.

New York City -- The Labor Department’s Producer Price Index rose last month, primarily due to higher energy costs and the biggest rise in food prices in 36 years, USA Today reported.

Food prices rose 3.9% last month, the highest increase since November 1974.

The steep rise was due, in large part, to higher vegetable costs, which were up nearly 50%.

Chicago -- Walmart has announced two additional store openings for Chicago, bringing the total number of stores it plans to open in the Windy City by 2013 to six.

The new stores will create close to 1,000 new jobs and nearly 200 construction jobs putting Walmart on the path to meeting the goals outlined in its "Chicago Community Investment Partnership."

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said the stores will bring fresh food and groceries to some of the city's most underserved neighborhoods.

By Jeff Green

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers announced that it has opened three new grocery-anchored shopping centers totaling 263,000 sq. ft. over a 30-day period.

The centers -- Market at Colonnade in Raleigh, N.C., Harris Crossing in Wake Forest, N.C. and NorthGate Village in Greeley, Colo. – represent a combined investment of $41 million.

Market at Colonnade is a 57,503-sq.-ft. neighborhood center anchored by Whole Foods Market and includes 17,503 sq .ft. of additional retail space. Whole Foods Market opened March 16.