Supermarket/Grocery

The 15 coolest spots in urban retail
If you want to ferret out the hottest new concepts in retailing, head to the coolest streets in the city, not the suburban mall. So states a new report from Cushman and Wakefield, which rated the 100 hippest and edgiest neighborhoods in America based on assessments from its brokers, appraisers, and property managers nationwide.
Walmart Canada promotes COO to top spot
Walmart Canada has appointed Lee Tappenden, COO, Walmart Canada to the position of president and CEO, Walmart Canada, effective Aug. 15. Tappenden joined Walmart in 1996 and has held a number of global leadership roles with the company, including chief merchandising officer with Walmart Japan and VP of merchandising for the international division.

NRF backs reduction in corporate tax rate

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is publicly supporting a tax reform proposal released today by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas.
Whole Foods gets intellectual in Chicago

Whole Foods Market continues its expansion in the Chicago market, opening a store in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood. It’s the grocer’s 26th Chicagoland location.
Survey: Shoplifters, dishonest employees continue to plague retail industry

With all the attention placed on cybercrime, it is easy to overlook the threat posed by old fashioned shoplifters and dishonest employees.
Longtime Kroger exec retires

After 44 years of service, Donna Giordano, president of the Ralphs division of The Kroger Co., is retiring. Giordano’s retirement from the company will be effective July 23. She joined the company's King Soopers banner as a courtesy clerk in 1972, while still in college, and was named store manager at King Soopers in 1982. Giordano later held various director-level positions in key areas, including advertising, bakery, general merchandise, grocery, and pharmacy.
Discount retailer in expansion mode

Meijer is on the move again. The company on Tuesday opened a 192,000-sq-.ft. supercenters in Flossmoor and Round Lake Beach, Illinois. The two new stores are part of an investment of more than $400 million in new and remodeled stores that Meijer is making this year, which is creating 3,000 new jobs across the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer's six-state foot print.
Wegmans Brooklyn debut moving along
Walmart makes big move in China with stake in Internet giant

In a big step to grow its business in China, Walmart has entered into an agreement to acquire a 5% stake in JD.com, China’s second largest e-commerce company.
Chick-fil-A and Zoe’s Kitchen to join Kroger at Springwoods Village

Regency Centers announced the signing of nine new tenants for The Market at Springwoods Village, a Kroger-anchored center slated to open in 2017 in the outer northern beltway of Houston. New neighbors of the 100,000 sq.-ft. Kroger Marketplace will be Chick-fil-A; Cold Stone Creamery; Lovett Dental; Nails of America; MOD Pizza; Supercuts; Tarka’s Indian Kitchen; Torchy’s Tacos; and Zoe’s Kitchen. Retail space in the first phase of The Market totals 170,000 sq. ft.
Grocery giant invests in exit signs that put high-tech spin on glow in the dark

The Kroger Co. is installing cutting-edge exit signs as part of a $4 billion store- investment program. The chain is deploying photoluminescent exit signs developed by Cincinnati start-up MN8 at all new and renovated stores nationwide. The LumAware signs differ from standard glow-in-the-dark products in that they also emanate light. The signs, which consumer no energy, eliminate the need for batteries, light bulbs, electricity or maintenance.
Family Dollar exec moves to Vitamin Shoppe

Vitamin Shoppe on Thursday announced that it has hired Jason Reiser as COO effective July 11.