Supermarket/Grocery

Cullman Shopping Center now 100% leased
Cullman, Ala. -- Merchants Retail Partners announced a milestone achievement for revitalized Cullman Shopping Center in Cullman, Alabama. The center recently reopened 100% leased with more than 400,000 sq. ft. of retail space.
A new look for fresh merchandising at Walmart
The produce department at Walmart is about to take on the appealing look of a country market thanks to a new supply chain and merchandising solution.

Walmart plans to begin using a new style of wood grain reusable plastic containers (RPCs) for wet and dry produce such as apples, potatoes, onions and citrus items.

Report: Struggling grocer turning out the lights

Fresh & Easy, which opened its first store in 2007 and was U.K. giant Tesco’s first U.S. venture, is closing its stores, the Los Angeles Times reported. The chain, which was never able to gain a foothold in the competitive U.S. grocery market, filed Chapter 11 in 2013, and was acquired by grocery billionaire Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. with a loan from Tesco. [Los Angeles Times]
A singular honor for Food Lion associate

An associate at Food Lion has been honored by the Environmental Protection Agency for his efforts to reduce the chain’s refrigerant emissions.

Nick Cordasci has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2014 Distinguished Partner Achievement Award, one of the agency's individual honors for commercial refrigeration achievements, by the GreenChill Partnership.
Holiday shoppers may never need to leave home

It’s not like the holidays weren’t going to be challenging enough, but now Amazon.com is expanding its free same-day delivery service to more markets.

Amazon.com said it expanded it Prime free same-day delivery to Chicago and Orlando and new locations in the greater New York, northern New Jersey and Philadelphia area. The service, which does require an annual $99 Prime membership fee, is now available in 750 cities in 16 metropolitan areas. It launched in May.
Target rolls out 8 new sustainability goals

Amid a slew of news from Target HQ on Monday, the retailer also announced that, as part of the White House’s Climate Pledge, it would be working toward eight new sustainability commitments. The company has had success so far when it comes to sustainability, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 9% since 2012 and eliminating more than half a million metric tons of carbon dioxide from its buildings.

The commitments are for the company to achieve the following benchmarks by 2020:
ShopperTrak: Holiday sales to rise 2.4%

Price-conscious consumers looking for a good deal are expected to fuel a sales surge on Black Friday, but not enough to lift overall holiday sales higher than last year, according to ShopperTrak.

The analytics firm predicts that Black Friday 2015 will surpass Black Friday 2014 due to the shopper who is motivated by sales and exhibits a growing tendency toward shopping earlier. In addition, an early Hanukkah, which begins 10 days sooner this year than last, will generate November sales at the expense of December.
The Fresh Market explores bid for company

Just a few weeks after installing a new CEO, the Fresh Market is planning to conduct a strategic review that may include a sale of the specialty grocery chain.

The company says it has retained J.P. Morgan Securities as its financial advisor to assist in this process, which may result in the company continuing to pursue value-enhancing initiatives as a standalone company, capital structure optimization, or a sale of the company or other business combination.
Development boom continues on Philadelphia’s North Broad Street corridor

Philadelphia -- Metro Commercial Real Estate has been named the exclusive listing agent for 1300 Fairmount, located in Philadelphia, steps from the Fairmount Station of SEPTA’s Broad Street Line and bus system.

The mixed-use project by RAL Development Services, LLC and Amalgamated Bank’s Longview Ultra Fund, will consist of 486 apartments and structured parking above approximately 84,000 sq. ft. of retail space geared towards national and regional retailers.
Wegmans set to open its 87th store

Wegmans has confirmed the next location of the family-owned supermarket chain's 87th store.

The retailer plans to build a store in Lancaster, Pa. The store is expected to be up to 120,000 sq. ft. in size and similar in design to Wegmans’ newest stores.
Target increases food focus with eye toward future

Target Corp. has made grocery and perishable products a big part of its turnaround strategy, and is committing to do so for the forseeable future.

Target is partnering with the MIT Media Lab and global design firm Ideo on a multi-year collaboration, known as the Food + Future coLAB, to explore the future of food. The work will focus on areas such as urban farming, food transparency and authenticity, supply chain and health.
Technology summit comes to Walmart’s back yard

Northwest Arkansas isn’t the first place that comes to mind when the phrase “hotbed of start-up activity” is uttered, but organizers of a first-of-its-kind technology summit are looking to change that perception.

On November 10, more than 800 people are expected to gather at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers, Ark., for the Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit, an event organized by the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest Arkansas Council.