Supermarket/Grocery

Los Angeles -- Construction has begun on Nadel Architects-designed Juanita Tate Marketplace, a 77,096-sq.-ft. outdoor retail center in South Los Angeles. Owned by Regency Centers, the $21 million development will bring a full-service grocery and retail center to the highly underserved surrounding community.

The center is being designed by Nadel Architects.

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. — Mid-America Asset Management has announced three new retail leases in Chicago’s northwestern suburbs. Mid-America represented the landlord in each transaction.

Charles Schwab signed a lease for 4,339 sq. ft. at Shops of Uptown in Park Ridge, a northwestern suburb of Chicago. The store is expected to open next spring. The 70,800-sq.-ft. center features Trader Joe’s, Houlihan’s and Jason’s Deli. Colliers International represented the tenant.

New York -- Royal Properties has announced three lease signings in Orange County, N.Y. — two with Miracle Ear and one with Tiger Schulmann’s Mixed Martial Arts.

Miracle Ear has signed a seven-year lease with a five-year option for 1,500 sq. ft. at Wallkill Plaza in Middletown. Royal Properties and Rand Commercial Services were the brokers in the transaction. Wallkill’s co-tenants include Big Lots, Ashley Furniture, Hobby Lobby, Papa John’s, Texas Roadhouse and Boston Market.

Minneapolis – Supervalu Inc. beat Wall Street estimates with second quarter fiscal 2014 net earnings of $40 million, compared to a $111 million loss in the year-ago period.

The supermarket operator reported net sales of $3.95 billion, up 0.2% from $3.94 billion last year.

Same-store sales results varied by banner. Same-store sales in the Save-A-Lot network were negative 0.3, while same-store sales for corporate stores within the Save-A-Lot network were positive 4.6% and were negative 0.9% in the Retail Food segment.

Houston - Transwestern has completed the sale of Hannover Commons Shopping Center in Spring, Texas. After leasing the newly constructed 10,020-sq.-ft. shopping center to 100% occupancy, Transwestern represented the seller, Hannover Woods Retail Partners LLC, in the disposition of the asset to a local investor.

Supervalu’s renewed focus on driving sales and cash in all segments of its business seem to be paying off. The company has been working toward turning identical sales positive and posted net sales of $3.95 billion for the second quarter ended Sept. 7, up 0.2% from $3.94 billion for the prior-year quarter.

Kroger has named Michael L. Ellis as the company’s president and chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1, 2014, completing the succession plan announced in September. The company expects its board of directors to elect Ellis at the next board meeting in Dec.

NEW YORK — Néstle plans to launch a cup version of its popular Butterfinger candy bar next year, and will introduce the Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups in a Super Bowl commercial.

The company calls it one of its biggest candy launches and said it will be the first time it showcases one of its brands during the big game.

Centreville, Va. — Sleepy’s The Mattress Professionals has opened a 6,700-sq.-ft. store in Centreville Square II on Lee Highway in Centreville, Va.

A.J. Dwoskin represented the landlord in the lease negotiations. Centreville Square II is a 200,366-sq.-ft. neighborhood center. Current tenants include Party Depot, Five Guys, Wells Fargo, Hair Cuttery and The UPS Store.

Bentonville, Ark. – Kenyan retailer Naivas reportedly will not sell a controlling interest in the company to Wal-Mart’s South African subsidiary Massmart. According to Reuters, a Naivas executive said the retailer no longer plans to sell 50% plus one share of its stock to Massmart.