Supermarket/Grocery

Omnichannel comes of age with new index
The National Retail Federation and e-digital consultancy FitforCommerce have launched a first-of-its-kind Omnichannel Retail Index to help retailers benchmark against industry best practices.
Walmart enhances e-commerce shipping with latest fulfillment center
Walmart offered a sneak peek of its new fulfillment center in the Atlanta area on Thursday on the heels of announcing that it would bring grocery pickup to the region this month. Walmart says the new facility is dedicated to filling online orders and is the latest addition to the next-generation fulfillment network Walmart is building to support its rapidly growing e-commerce business.

The hottest trend in food retailing is getting hotter

What growth there is in the food channel these days is being driven by specialty products and the trend shows no sign of abating.
Virtua Express Urgent Care Center to join Fairground Plaza in New Jersey

Mount Holly, N.J. -- Levin Management announced that Physician network Virtua Medical Group has leased 5,800 sq. ft. of space at Fairground Plaza in Mount Holly, New Jersey, where it plans to open its Virtua Express Urgent Care Center. Fairground Plaza is located on Route 541, serving a residential population of more than 81,000 people within a five-mile radius. The center is anchored by Acme supermarket and Staples.
Phillips Edison acquires Publix grocery-anchored center in Florida

Cincinnati -- Phillips Edison & Company announced it has acquired Berry Town Center, located in Davenport, Florida, 15 miles southwest of Orlando. The grocery-anchored shopping center is 99,441 sq. ft. anchored by Publix and features retailers Leslie’s Pool Supplies, Regis, and Linksters Tap Room.
Kroger launches appeal to the ‘epicurious’

Kroger has a history of successful private brand launches and it is putting that track record to the test with a new globally inspired line called HemisFares.
Publix pledges $4 million to Habitat for Humanity

After a new donation pledge from Publix Super Markets, the international nonprofit Habitat for Humanity will be able to build 40 new houses in 2016 in the Southeast, where Publix serves all of its customers.

The $4 million donation, announced Monday, will go to more than 80 different Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Hussman acquires Commercial Refrigerator Door

Hussmann Corporation has acquired Commercial Refrigerator Door Company, Sarasota, Florida.

Family owned and operated since 1975, Commercial Refrigerator Door offers a full line of Styleline products, including heated and energy-free glass door and frame systems for walk-in coolers and freezers and a wide range of shelving and merchandising accessories.
Trend Talk

Chain Store Age talked with Michael Puline, senior VP of leasing, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, for DLC Management Corp., about trends, technology, and projects on the board.

[quote-from-article] If you could isolate five current trends in retail real estate, what would they be?
Here are my top five:
Target kicks off the holiday price wars

The competition for retailers selling online just got a lot more intense with a new price-match policy from Target just ahead of the prime holiday shopping season.

Beginning Oct. 1, Target will price-match the websites of 29 major retailers in stores and for purchases from their website.
Costco readies expansion ahead of holidays

A strong dollar and tumbling gas prices made Costco’s fourth quarter sales results seem weak. They weren’t and now the company plans to open 12 more clubs before year end.
America’s Top Redevelopers

In its 11th year, the Top Redevelopers survey remains relevant as more shopping center companies redevelop than build anew – although the redevelop vs. develop scales are more in balance now than they were five years ago.