Supermarket/Grocery

As their merger enters the home stretch, Delhaize Group and Ahold have reached agreements with buyers to divest 86 U.S. stores.   The two international companies announced their intent to combine forces back in June 20115. The merger is set for completion at the end of July, pending final approval by the Federal Trade Commission.  

The $11 billion purchase of Belgium-based supermarket operator Delhaize Group by Netherlands-based grocery conglomerate Ahold is coming closer.   The two companies both announced they expect the deal, approved by the shareholders of both companies in March 2016, to go through before the end of July 2016, subject to regulatory approval by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).   

Bob Mariano, CEO of the Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. division of The Kroger Co., will retire effective Sept. 1, 2016.   After retiring, Mariano will serve as strategic adviser to Kroger and Roundy's for two years. Don Rosanova, president of Mariano's, and Michael Marx, president of Roundy's Supermarkets Wisconsin, will continue to serve in their current roles leading the two supermarket divisions.  

Specialty pet retailer Pet Supplies Plus is entering three new states as part of an aggressive 2016 expansion plan.   The chain is entering California, Colorado and Oklahoma, as well as furthering its expansion in the states of New Jersey, Texas, Missouri, Iowa and Georgia. In addition, Pet Supplies Plus recently signed a deal to open 10 new stores in Kansas City, and is on target to open approximately 60 new stores by the end of the year.  

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has been actively campaigning to keep federal caps on debit card swipe fees, and now its constituents are speaking out.  

Sales and purchases of shopping center assets at Kimco Realty Corp during the second quarter of 2016 exceeded $1 billion dollars, according to details released by the company.   The Hyde Park, New York-based Kimco sold 22 Canadian shopping centers totaling 28 million sq. ft. for $474.4 million, which included the assignment of $213.5 million of existing mortgage debt. It also disposed of 12 unencumbered U.S. properties totaling 1.5 million sq. ft. for $220.5 million.  

Stater Bros. Markets is decreasing electricity output this summer.   The San Bernadino, California-based regional supermarket chain is voluntarily reducing lighting energy use by 50% in all 168 Stater Bros. locations during the summer months. This reduction will decrease electricity use by 425,000 kWh per month, which is the equivalent of powering 470 homes per month. It also reduces the possibility of rotating outages during the summer.  

Walmart has reportedly begun deployment of shelf-stocking carts designed to improve the produce shopping experience.   According to Reuters, the retailer has so far implemented what it calls “quality carts” at 500 U.S. stores, with plans to have them available at almost all locations in the U.S. by the end of the third quarter.