Supermarket/Grocery

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Food Marketing Institute on Thursday named Hannah Walker director of government relations to represent food retailers on Capitol Hill.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Shopping center owner Regency Centers said Thursday that it will install electric vehicle charging stations at 19 of its grocery-anchored and community shopping centers in Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

Regency is partnering with Ecotality to install Blink Level 2 EV charging stations at the 19 centers; the rollout is part of The EV Project, the largest national deployment of commercial and residential charging stations in major U.S. cities and metropolitan areas.

MEMPHIS — Regional discounter Fred’s made good on its promise of a year ago to further expand a new merchandising initiative, but an intensely competitive market made fourth-quarter sales tough to come by.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets is expanding its presence in the digital space.

The company earlier this month launched a free mobile application, which allows customers to view its weekly circulars and compile detailed shopping lists on their iPhone and Android smartphones. Settings for the app can be customized so customers can view weekly circular specials at their local store and lists can be synchronized between the list on their device and their list on WeisMarkets.com. Additional features include:

All retailers want to be perceived as great places to work and build a career as it aids in recruitment and retention of employees in an industry where costs associated with notoriously high rates of turnover cause a drag on performance.

WABAN, Mass. — There most be something to that REDcard Rewards program. Target this week was among the companies with the most loyal customers, according to a new study by Temkin Group. The report, "2012 Temkin Loyalty Ratings," rated the loyalty that consumers have to 206 large companies across 18 industries.

Target with a rating of 59%, ranked No. 8 on the list. Sam's Club earned the top spot with a loyalty rating of 65%.

WILTON, Conn. — Skin care company Beiersdorf, whose brands include Nivea, Eucerin and Aquaphor, has announced changes to its sales organization.

Tina Jackse has been promoted to the newly created position of VP global sales of Walmart, where she will be responsible for all Walmart business internationally. She will work collaboratively across the Beiersdorf affiliates around the world to help lead, develop and further strengthen Beiersdorf’s Walmart business globally. 

Memphis, Tenn. -- Fred’s reported Wednesday that net income for the fourth quarter jumped 14%, boosted by more robust sales and a favorable tax adjustment.

Profit for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose to $9.8 million, from $8.6 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 2.5% to $497.6 million, missing Wall Street’s expected $498.4 million in sales.

Same-store sales were flat.

Morrisville, N.C. -- Columbus, Ohio-based Casto announced that construction will commence on the next phases of the mixed-use lifestyle center, Park West Village, located in Morrisville, N.C.

Another 200,000 sq. ft. of retail space launches construction this month, according to Shannon Dixon, VP development, leasing and asset management for Casto’s Southeast operations.

Joining the next phase of Park West Village is a 55,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art 14-screen cinema, operated by Stone Theatres, formerly Consolidated Theatres.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has joined forces with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion on an initiative to develop and promote dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers.