Supermarket/Grocery

Former Barnes & Noble executive Jamie Iannone was named president and CEO of Samsclub.com in a restructuring that elevates and integrates Sam’s Club’s online business into the Walmart’s Global eCommerce business unit based in California.

Iannone previously served as president of digital products at Barnes & Noble and oversaw the book seller’s Nook Media unit. He also spent seven years at eBay, earned a bachelor’s degree at Princeton and an MBA at Stanford.

Naples, Fla. - Retail and consumer products industry veterans Vince Burke, Jim Gillis and Rich Juliano have founded of the Burke Gillis Juliano Group, a global consultancy focused on the supermarket, mass retail, convenience, drug and specialty retail trade channels. Burke Gillis Juliano Group offers executive management, market strategy, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, business development, product marketing, trade relations and related services to retailers, suppliers and vendors in the U.S. and globally.

Minneapolis – Supervalu reported net earnings of $31 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2014, almost double the net earnings of $16 million reported in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. This dramatic increase came even as net sales slipped 1% to $4.1 billion from $4.5 billion.

Greenwich, Conn. — Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. has acquired two shopping centers in New Jersey: Boonton A&P Center in Boonton and Bloomfield A&P Center in Bloomfield.

The company paid $18.4 million, subject to an existing $7.8 million mortgage, for the 63,000-sq.-ft. Boonton A&P Center. Constructed in 1999, the center features a 49,463-sq.-ft. A&P plus Dunkin’ donuts, Chase Bank, Subway, Supercuts and Sprint. More than 90% of the tenants are national or regional names.

Supervalu reported net earnings of $31 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2014, almost double the net earnings of $16 million reported in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. This dramatic increase came even as net sales slipped 1% to $4.1 billion from $4.5 billion.

Regional discount retailer Fred’s is making some big changes to its merchandising and operations groups to begin 2014 and has retained several firms to review strategic opportunities.

Schnuck Markets chairman and CEO Scott Schnuck plans to transfer the latter title in March to his brother, president and COO Todd Schnuck.

Todd Schnuck will become president and CEO of the family-owned supermarket chain in March, while Scott Schnuck will remain chairman and assist in the transition through September. Meanwhile, Craig Schnuck will formally retire from the company and become chairman emeritus. Todd Schnuck originally began working at the company in 1987 as treasurer and served as corporate VP and CFO before becoming president and COO.

Retail and consumer products industry veterans Vince Burke, Jim Gillis and Rich Juliano have founded the Burke-Gillis-Juliano Group, a global consultancy focused on the supermarket, mass retail, convenience, drug and specialty retail trade channels.

The consultancy will offer executive management, market strategy, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, business development, product marketing, trade relations and related services to leading retailers, suppliers and vendors in the United States and around the world.

Giant Eagle's new Market District Express prototype combines fresh, chef-created meals with traditional and specialty groceries in a 15,500-sq.-ft. supermarket/convenience store hybrid format. The store also includes a restaurant and pharmacy with drive-through access.

Giant Eagle views this latest development as a test. According to various reports, however, plans are already on the drawing board to build two additional Market District Express locations in Ohio, one in the Columbus market and the other in the Cleveland area.

Los Angeles — The retail availability rate fell 70 basis points in 2013, reaching 12% and reflecting continued net absorption gains, according to a report from CBRE. The rate fell 30 basis points in the fourth quarter, which matches the momentum of the first half of 2013 after a flat third quarter.