Supermarket/Grocery

New York City -- The National Retail Federation said Thursday that it expects retail sales growth of 4% this year, the biggest increase since 2006.

However, the group warned that shoppers are likely to remain cautious as they cope with slow job growth and rising prices.

The NRF said it expects retail sales to reach $2.47 trillion in 2011, up from $2.37 trillion in 2010, excluding automobiles, fuel and restaurants.

London -- A survey released Thursday said sales growth at Britain's Tesco PLC, the world's third biggest retailer, will outpace its major international rivals -- including Wal-Mart Stores -- in coming years as it expands in Asia, the Associated Press reported.

The report by London-based food and grocery analyst IGD says that Tesco will grow its business at a compound annual rate of 7.5% between 2010 and 2015, taking sales to euro106 billion ($143 billion).

Walmart earlier this week named Cindy Davis EVP of a newly created global consumer insights business unit. She will be responsible for understanding broad consumer trends world wide and creating advanced analytical tools to support Walmart’s business, a sizeable task considering Walmart’s expanding global empire and the diversity of markets being served.

CINCINNATI — Kroger said it is kicking off a year-long initiative to raise funds for armed forces members in partnership with the USO, the leading organization for morale-boosting programs and services for American troops and their families.

Kroger said the campaign will include in-store and online promotions and a text-to-give campaign that encourages Kroger customers to text "USO" to 27722 during the race to donate $10 to USO programs.

New York City -- Family Dollar Stores received a buyout offer on Tuesday from a New York hedge fund at $55 to $60 per share, a 36% premium over yesterday’s closing price. The offer, which values the company at up to $7.6 billion, was made by Trian Group, which is headed by activist investor Nelson Peltz.

Trian Group has been accumulating shares of the discount retailer in recent months, and Peltz has met with management to discuss ways to boost its performance.

El Segundo, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has added four more GreenChill certified stores this year, including a Gold certified store opening Wednesday in Oceanside, Calif.

Fresh & Easy opened its first GreenChill certified store in September 2010, and now has a total of eight stores currently certified through the program -- the most of any grocer in the country. Only 45 of the nation’s more than 35,000 grocery stores have received GreenChill Store Certification awards.

Minneapolis -- Another Target store is coming to downtown Chicago as the retailer disclosed it would open a small-format store under the new CityTarget banner in the Sullivan Center development at South State Street and Madison.

Middletown, N.J. -- Fameco Real Estate, L.P. said that Bone Fish Grill and Hand & Stone Massage have signed leases at the Chapel Hill Shopping Center, in Middletown, N.J.

Chapel Hill Shopping Center is a 64,507-sq.-ft. community shopping that was renovated four years ago and is anchored by a 45,000-sq.-ft. Whole Foods supermarket.

Bone Fish leased a 5,400-sq.-ft. endcap position. The restaurant is expected to open in September. Hand & Stone leased 3,600 sq. ft. of in-line space. The retailer is expected to open in April.