Supermarket/Grocery

Rincon, Ga. -- Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. announced the acquisition of Fort Howard Square in Rincon, Georgia, for a purchase price of approximately $11.5 million, using a combination of cash and debt to pay for the property.

The center is 95% leased and anchored by Lowe’s and Walmart Supercenter.

Supervalu announced that president and CEO Sam Duncan will retire at the end of the company’s fiscal year. The company also elevated two other executives to key senior leadership roles and affirmed its commitment to exploring strategic alternatives for the Save-A-Lot retail division.

The $18 billion grocery wholesaler and retailer said Duncan would remain with the company until February 29, 2016. He joined the company in February 2013 in connection with the sale by Supervalu of five retail banners to Albertsons.

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Company and Forge Capital Partners announced the purchase of Disston Plaza in St. Petersburg, Florida, which will be added to Forge Real Estate Partners III investment fund. The 123,000 sq. ft. shopping center is currently 98% occupied and is anchored by Publix and also includes Bealls Outlet and Dollar Tree.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.