Supermarket/Grocery

Supervalu directors Mark Neporent and Lenard Tessler have stepped down from the company’s board of directors as a result of Cerberus-owned Albertsons’ deal to acquire Safeway.

Neporent and Tessler were both appointed to the Supervalu board in 2013 as designees of Symphony Investors, a Cerberus Capital Management L.P.-led investor consortium. Symphony Investors owns approximately 20.9% of Supervalu’s outstanding common stock, and has the right to designate replacement directors for Neporent and Tessler.

Air Wick has launched a Familiar Favorites collection, which is inspired by the scents of brands like Snuggle, Cinnabon and Baby Magic.

"Scent has the power to evoke a unique sense of comfort when you surround yourself with fragrances you know and love," said Domenick Tiziano, senior brand manager, Reckitt Benckiser. "We're thrilled to be partnering with three of America's most recognizable and beloved brands for this new collection, so consumers can enjoy the comforting scents they love at home anytime."

New Albertson’s has acquired five Dominick’s locations and appointed Shane Sampson, currently president of the company’s Boston-based Shaw’s division, as president of the Jewel-Osco division based in Chicago.

Sampson fills the role that had been held by interim division president Jim Rice since January 2014.

Sampson’s first project highlights the company’s commitment to investing in Chicago: Remodeling and reopening five additional former Dominick’s locations.

Bi-Lo Holdings, parent company of the Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie supermarket chains, plans to convert seven existing Harveys stores to Winn-Dixie stores and three existing Winn-Dixie stores to Harveys stores.

The stores are part of the pending acquisition of 134 operating stores from Delhaize Group.

New York -- Private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management has reached a preliminary agreement to buy Safeway Inc. for over $9 million, the Wall Street Journal reported. The deal is subject to board approval.

As part of the deal, Cerberus would pay roughly $40 a share for Safeway.

The Kroger Co., which recently completed its acquisition of Harris Teeter, reportedly was also interested in making a bid for Safeway. Even if a deal is announced between Cerberus and Safeway, Kroger could still mount a bid.

Cincinnati – The Kroger Co. earned a better-than-expected $422 million in its fourth quarter, down from $462 million in the year-ago period, which included an additional week of sales. The nation’s largest supermarket operator issued a better-than-expected profit for the year ahead.

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Café has signed a new multi-unit development agreement to open its first restaurants in Indianapolis beginning later this year and the remaining sites over the next six years.

New York – Following a bitterly cold and stormy January that left many retailers with disappointing monthly sales figures, February’s sales results were generally s bit more encouraging. Chain store sales posted a gain of 2.7% for the fiscal month of February on a year-over-year basis, according to a tally of comparable-store sales compiled by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Duluth, Ga. - NCR has released the NCR Silver subscription-based iPad POS solution aimed at helping small businesses create, run and manage reward programs. Loyalty complements the existing automated email and social marketing functionality in NCR Silver, making it even easier for cafés, shops, restaurants, boutiques, food trucks, and any small business to reward customers for repeat purchases.

Los Angeles — A private buyer has acquired Huntington Plaza, a 57,148-sq.-ft. shopping center in Monrovia, Calif., in the San Gabriel Valley. Anchored by Sprouts Farmers Market and Walgreens, the center was 96% leased at the time of the sale. The tenant roster includes McDonald’s, Jersey Mikes, Flame Broiler, Great Clips and Pacific Dental.

The owner engaged Studley and Colliers International to offer the property for sale. The two companies have jointly handled the leasing of Huntington Plaza for more than six years.