Supermarket/Grocery

Zaandam, The Netherlands -- Ahold plans to significantly expand its Peapod presence in the U.S. market.

"Peapod is expected to double its capacity in the U.S. in 2014," Dick Boer, Ahold CEO, told analysts during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call.

Phoenix – Same-store sales and strong performance at new stores helped drive impressive net come and revenue growth at Sprouts Farmers Markets Inc. during the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2014. On a year-over-year basis, net earnings more than doubled to $9.3 million from $5.9 million in the quarter and almost tripled to $51.3 million from $19.5 million.

Plainville, Mass. – Honey Dew Donuts plans to open a new store inside a YMCA in Quincy, Mass. In an interesting twist, the store reportedly won’t actually serve the retailer’s titular product.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong-based supermarket chain ParknShop has chosen Galleria Retail Technology Solutions to further enhance its merchandising operations. ParknShop will use Galleria category planning, automation and optimization solutions to obtain insights via clustering and demand signal analytics, as well as optimize and execute its store strategy.

Roundy's chairman, president and CEO Robert A. Mariano was optimistic following fourth quarter and full year results for the period ended Dec. 28, 2013.

The grocer saw a net sales increase of 2% to a little more than $1 billion, with net income at $8.7 million, or $0.19 diluted net earnings per common share. For the full year 2013, the company saw net sales increase by 1.5% to $4 billion. Net income was $34.5 million, or $0.76 diluted net earnings per common share.

By Carrie Smith, [email protected]

It is undeniable that fast-casual restaurant chains in North Florida and South Georgia are resuming their expansion plans. The local unemployment rate ended 2013 under 6%, home building permits jumped nearly 30%, and car sales climbed — all signs of an improving local economy.

San Bruno, Calif. -- WalmartLabs, Walmart’s online and digital development division, has acquired Seattle-based recipe technology startup Yumprint to expand its online grocery delivery services.

Yumprint has a website and mobile app to search and discover new recipes from thousands of food blogs, plan meals and calculate nutritional information.

New Delhi, India – Narendra Modi, candidate of opposition party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for Indian prime minister, reportedly has made statements in favor of global online retailing and India’s small retailers learning to compete with large retailers. According to Reuters, at a meeting of the Confederation of All India Traders, Modi said small local retailers should improve the quality of their goods to a level closer to that of large global competitors, and also consider entering contracts with large online retailers to create virtual trade.

Aventura, Fla. — Starbucks has signed a long-term lease at The Shops at Fisherman’s Wharf in Jupiter, Fla., according to the property’s owner, Elion Partners. Avison Young represented Starbucks in the transaction. Atlantic Retail Properties represented Elion Partners.

The news comes a few weeks following the announcement that The Fresh Market will anchor the center.

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. — Mid-America Real Estate Corporation’s Investment Sales team recently brokered the sale of The Shops of Uptown in Park Ridge, Ill. Phillips Edison-ARC REIT purchased the 70,402-sq.-ft. center for $27 million.

Trader Joe’s anchors the center, which also hosts Jos. A. Bank, Chico’s, LensCrafters Optique, Houlihan’s, Jason’s Deli and Noodles & Company.