Supermarket/Grocery

Watchung, N.J. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. said that The Children’s Place will join the tenant roster at Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung, N.J., this spring.

Levin is the property’s managing and leasing agent.

Children’s Place leased 4,307 sq. ft. at the 419,000-sq.-ft. property, and will join other children’s retailers Toys “R” Us, Becker’s School Supplies and GameStop at the center, as well as Kohl's, ShopRite, Michaels and Marshalls, among others.

Washington, D.C. -- Nearly three-quarters (73.3%) of consumers say their spending plans are taking a hit due to the recent payroll tax changes, according to NRF’s 2013 Tax Returns Survey conducted by BIGinsight.
 
When asked how the new federal tax laws have affected spending, saving or budgeting of their households, nearly six in 10 (58.2%) of those polled say their plans have been either somewhat or greatly impacted. Specifically, nearly half (45.7%) say they will spend less overall, and 35.6% will watch for sales more often.
 

New York -- Walmart overcame a meager 1% same stores sales increase at U.S. stores to deliver better than expected fourth quarter profits on Thursday.

The company said total sales increased 3.9% to $127.1 billion compared to $122.3 billion last year. Without the benefit of a favorable currency exchange situation, sales would have increased a lesser 3.7% to $126.8 billion. Full year sales increased by 5% to $466.1 billion compared to last year’s total of $443.8.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. said that its fourth-quarter net income rose 13% to $244 million, far ahead of expectations, helped by its customer loyalty program. Safeway said the program, which offers personalized discounts based on past purchases, is driving market share gains and profits.
 
Quarterly sales rose to $13.77 billion from $13.60 billion a year ago. Same-store sales, excluding fuel, inched up 0.8%.

 

Atlanta -- Cincinnati-based Phillips Edison–ARC Shopping Center REIT has announced the acquisition of Macland Pointe, a 79,699-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by a Publix grocery store and located in the Greater Atlanta, Georgia Metro Area.  

The acquisition of Macland Pointe brings the company's total portfolio to 34 properties anchored by 13 grocers in 15 states.

Macland Pointe is 92.8% occupied and anchored by a 55,999-sq.-ft. Publix.

San Bernardino, Calif. -- Stater Bros. announced Monday that it has promoted Dan Meyer to EVP retail operations, charging him with oversight of retail operations for all 167 Stater Bros. supermarkets and the corporate training center.

A 42-year veteran of the company, Meyer most recently served as SVP retail operations.

New York -- Simons, Canada’s eclectic and fashion-forward department store retailer, received top honors in Chain Store Age’s 31st annual Retail Store of the Year design competition. The company’s 118,000-sq.-ft. store in West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Canada, was named Store of the Year. Designed by figure3, Toronto, Simons also was the winning entry in the department store category.

Reston, Va. -- Despite the backdrop of continued economic uncertainty, 2012 was a strong year for retail e-commerce, according to comScore’s “2013 U.S. Digital Future in Focus” report. Throughout the year, growth rates versus the prior year remained in the mid-teens to outpace growth at brick-and-mortar retail by a factor of approximately four times.