Supermarket/Grocery

Amid a fast-changing industry in which retailers seek to harmonize their online and physical stores, the largest retailer in the world has announced the date of its annual shareholders meeting.

Wal-Mart Stores announced the meeting will be held on June 5 at 7 a.m. CDT in the Bud Walton Arena at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.

The meeting will be webcast on the company’s website at http://stock.walmart.com. The company also announced that April 10 is the record date for that meeting.

Whole Foods Market is trying to increase its share of the explosive growth in the beauty industry by hosting its first ever “Beauty Week.” 

Rite Aid has become one of the key retail partners in a first for the U.S. market: a coalition loyalty program called Plenti that includes the likes of American Express, AT&T, Direct Energy, Exxon/Mobil, Hulu, Macy's and Nationwide.

Business innovation and technology leader Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) hosted a category review for Bi-Lo Holdings at ECRM’s Snack & Dry Grocery event in February.

Bi-Lo, which operates approximately 800 stores under the Bi-Lo, Harveys, and Winn-Dixie supermarket banners, met with more than 70 suppliers over three days, including potential participants in its Supplier Diversity Program.

Columbus, Ohio - Easton Town Center, a 1.7 million-sq.-ft. “New Urban” shopping center, has announced that 13 new tenants have signed lease agreements to be included in the shopping center’s new 500,000-sq.-ft. north district, Easton Gateway. The announcement was made by Easton Town Center co-developers Steiner + Associates and The Georgetown Company.

Columbus, Ohio - The Kroger Co. has named Joe Grieshaber, who has served as president of the Dillons banner since 2010, as president of Kroger's Columbus division. Grieshaber replaces Bruce Macaulay, who is retiring after 42 years with Kroger.

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) has formally asked the House to approve legislation that would overturn a National Labor Relations Board(NLRB) regulation allowing what it terms “ambush” union organizing elections, saying the rule infringes on employee and employer rights and is an attempt to favor union organizing. The Senate approved the legislation earlier this month by a vote of 53-46, and the House is expected to take it up later this week.

St. Petersburg, Fla. - Publix will anchor the Shoppes at Trinity Lakes, a 76,000-sq.-.ft center located in Trinity, Florida. The 45,600-sq.-ft. Publix joins three other tenants who have already signed leases at the center: Haircuttery, Majik Touch Cleaners, and China Wok, each of which will occupy 1,200 sq. ft.