Supermarket/Grocery

Beijing -- Wal-Mart Stores announced a series of initiatives to make the company's supply chain in the United States, China and around the world more sustainable.

New York -- Multiple reports on Monday suggested that private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, which owns the struggling Albertsons LLC, may be putting together a deal to buy all or part of the grocery chain.

Cerberus is said to be seeking $4 billion to $5 billion in debt financing from banks to back a bid and is looking at investing $800 to $900 in equity in its takeover quest, a person familiar with the matter is reported to have said. That same source cautioned that the figures could change.

By Jeff Weidauer, [email protected]

Talk to anyone who has been in the retail business for a while, and they will tell you that the world has changed, and continues to do so. Technology is changing daily how shoppers think about the trip, how retailers track sales and shopper behavior, and the way CPG manufacturers approach category management. Metrics abound, and the seemingly simple business of retail now depends on complex algorithms and data analysis to grow and profit.

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based Fameco Real Estate said that Party City and VisionWorks have signed leases at Upland Square, located in West Pottsgrove, Pa.
 
Party City has signed a lease for 9,000 sq. ft. and VisionWorks has signed a lease for 3,825 sq. ft. These retailers will join anchors Target, Giant, Best Buy, LA Fitness, TJ Maxx and Bed, Bath & Beyond at the 600,000-sq.-ft. power center.

Milwaukee -- Opus Development Corp. announced the scheduled openings of T.J Maxx, Ulta Salon and Cosmetics, Rue 21 and Charming Charlie’s by Oct. 28 at the company’s Shoppes at Fox River development in Waukesha, Wis.

Opus broke ground on the first development in Phase II of the Shoppes at Fox River in April 2012. The development includes more than 47,000 sq. ft. of retail space on six acres of land adjacent to the existing Phase I buildings, which opened in 2009 and include Target and Pick ‘n Save.

Melrose, Mass. -- Charter Realty and Development Corp. said it has acquired the 52,000-sq.-ft. Towers Plaza for $8.6 million.

The neighborhood shopping center, located in Melrose, Mass., a suburb of Boston, was originally built in 1965 and later renovated and expanded. It is anchored by Johnnie’s Foodmaster Supermarket and Rite Aid.  

Charter said it anticipates doing a façade renovation as well as upgrades to the common area. The work will commence this fall and continue in the spring.

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that American Eagle Outfitters plans to open a 5,732-sq.-ft. store at its Plymouth Meeting Mall property in spring 2013.

In addition, Mercy Health System, a consumer health and wellness satellite aligned with Mercy Suburban Hospital, recently opened, expanding the mall’s variety of services into the health sector.

Plymouth Meeting Mall is anchored by Macy’s, Boscov’s and Whole Foods Market and Café.

Franklin Township, N.J. -- Crossroads Cos., based in Mahwah, N.J., announced that three new Crossroads at Somerset lease agreements have rendered the retail Phase II component of the grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping center fully occupied.

Integrated Health, La Vida Massage and and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital will join the 118,000-sq.-ft, mixed-use project, already tenanted by Verizon Wireless, My Tokyo Sushi, Let’s Yo Frozen Yogurt, Frank’s Pizza and Hair Cuttery.

WASHINGTON — A revised antitrust settlement on the issue of credit card swipe fees doesn't go far enough, The National Retail Federation said Friday. 

Washington, D.C. -- A revised antitrust settlement on the issue of credit card swipe fees doesn't go far enough, The National Retail Federation said Friday.