Supermarket/Grocery

Bethesda, Md. -- Washington Property Company announced it has acquired Ballenger Creek Plaza, a 75,527-sq.-ft. center located in Frederick, Maryland, for $9.5 million.

“Washington Property Company is excited about expanding its retail portfolio with the acquisition of Ballenger Creek Center,” said WPC president Charles K. Nulsen, III. “We plan to renovate and reposition this neighborhood center in the growing submarket of southwestern Frederick.”
 

Chicago -- Shoppers are making retailers wait for the back-to-school rush.

The majority (65%) of shoppers will start back-to-school shopping in the next few weeks, according to JLL’s Back-to-School Survey, which also revealed that 88% of shoppers will shop at a brick-and-mortar store for either school supplies or clothing, placing minimal online orders for merchandise.

Whole Foods, which is known for luxurious produce departments and an exhaustive assortment of natural foods, is adding "brewery" to its list of offerings.

The grocery chain has been opening brewpubs at select stores throughout the U.S. The beers have been so popular with shoppers that the retailer plans to distribute one of its beers to all of its Texas stores starting in September. 

Washington, D.C. — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 3.6% in August 2015 from the same month in 2014 as retailers begin to bring in merchandise for the holiday season. According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, imports for the year are expected to be up 4.2% from 2014.

Phoenix — Sprouts Farmers Market has a new CEO.

The company announced a leadership succession plan, effective Aug. 6, whereby CFO Amin Mereda has been appointed CEO. Doug Sanders, currently president and CEO, ascends to the role of  executive chairman.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. — A familiar face has returned to head up merchandising at Dollar General.

Dollar General said James W. “Jim” Thorpe had rejoined the company as executive VP and chief merchandising officer, effective immediately. Thorpe previously served as Dollar General’s senior vice president and general merchandise manager from May 2006 until he retired in July 2012. 

One of Whole Foods Market's key buyers and longtime employees has been honored by one of the leading nonprofit trade associations in the United States.

Cathy Strange was honored with the American Cheese Society's Lifetime Achievement Award on July 30 at the organization’s annual conference in Providence, R.I.

As kids prepare to head back to school this fall, the Walmart foundation is furthering its commitment to increase access to food and nutrition education for children with a whopping donation.

The retailer is making a $10.5 million donation to four national nonprofits implementing school meals programs.

New York -- The founder of the now defunct same-day delivery service Webvan is back — this time with a robot-powered would-be competitor to Amazon Prime, reports ReCode.  

Louis Borders is developing a $99 shopping club that plans to offer same-day delivery of groceries and other merchandise from participating retailers. But it’s the back-end of the operation that is so interesting.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Trademark Property Co. announced its Waterside mixed-use development, located in Fort Worth, Texas, will be the first ground-up project developed as part of Trademark’s Conscious Place initiative; a stakeholder-driven development model that aims to ensure that its properties are more than just places of commerce, but also places of community and meaning.