Supermarket/Grocery

Cincinnati - Phillips Edison Grocery Center REIT II announced the acquisition of Spivey Junction, an 81,475-sq.-ft. grocery store-anchored shopping center in Stockbridge, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.   Spivey Junction is anchored by Kroger, and features a fuel center. Other national and regional tenants at the center include Great Clips, Workout Anytime, Domino's Pizza, Subway, Goodwill and Miracle Ear.

Kroger announced that Nora A. Aufreter has been elected to the company's board of directors.

Longtime Kroger executive and current chairman David Dillon is retiring Dec. 31 after 38 years with the company. Dillon, 63, will be replaced as chairman by Rodney McMullen, who also succeeded Dillon as CEO at the start of 2014, the company said. McMullen has served on the board since 2003.

CINCINNATI — David Dillon, who led Kroger's development of the company's successful Customer 1st Strategy, will retire as chairman of the board on Dec. 31 after 38 years of service.   As expected, the Kroger Board of Directors on Thursday elected Rodney McMullen, Kroger's CEO, to the additional post of chairman, commencing Jan. 1, 2015. McMullen has served on the board of directors since 2003.  

The globalization of Walmart’s domestic operations continued this week with the appointment of Judith McKenna to the role of chief operating office for Walmart U.S.

Washington, D.C. – Retail sales showed slow but steady growth during November 2014. According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales, not including automobiles, gasoline stations or restaurants, increased 0.6% seasonally-adjusted from October and 3.2% unadjusted from November 2013.  The increases were in line with NRF’s holiday sales forecast, which anticipates an increase of 4.1% from 2013.   

Timing is everything. The Bentonville Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce had already secured Judith McKenna as a speaker for an upcoming event when she was given a major promotion this week.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart Stores on Wednesday announced that Judith McKenna has been promoted to COO for Walmart U.S. McKenna succeeds Gisel Ruiz, who has been appointed EVP of Walmart’s International People Division.    McKenna will assume her responsibilities immediately and will continue to report directly to Walmart U.S. president and CEO, Greg Foran. Ruiz will also assume her responsibilities immediately and will report to Walmart International president and CEO, David Cheesewright.