Supermarket/Grocery

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has given Steve Frisby, the added responsibility of the company's Seattle division after the exit of the current president, Greg Sparks. Frisby, who joined Safeway in 1972, currently serves as the president of its Portland, Ore., division.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales continue to rise for 2012 as the U.S. Census Bureau reported results of February sales on Tuesday.

U.S. retail and food services sales for February, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $407.8 billion, an increase of 1.1% from the previous month and 6.5% above the year-ago period. Retail trade sales were up 1.1% from last month and 6.3% above last year.

QUINCY, Mass. — A Northeastern supermarket chain has made a business magazine's list of the top 10 most innovative companies in the food industry.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — In effort to further its commitment to sustainability, Safeway's brand Softly bath and facial tissue and Ultra Thirsty paper towels are now certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Rainforest Alliance. 

Safeway's paper products earned the FSC seal by being produced from fiber sourced from suppliers who have been independently certified to follow the strictest standards in sustainable, ethical forestry management and production chain controls. 

CINCINNATI — Sustainability is a core part of most retailers' strategies, but unless you have someone to lead the charge, those efforts can fall by the wayside. Kroger has taken steps to ensure its sustainable initiatives are met by hiring Suzanne Lindsay to fill the new role of director of sustainability. Lindsay will direct Kroger's internal sustainability initiatives and will lead the company's sustainability leadership team.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation released information on Tuesday that showed a year-over-year retail sales rise of 8.6% in February, marking 20 consecutive months of sustained growth.

The seasonally adjusted increase -- stronger than expected -- was 0.5%, which excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. said Tuesday that Steve Frisby, president of its Portland division, will assume added responsibility for the company's Seattle division.

Frisby replaces Greg Sparks, who is leaving to pursue another business opportunity.

Atlanta -- Wren Solutions said Tuesday it has launched a retail audit software offering Encapsulon Assessment, as well as a new customer relationship with Big Y, a supermarket chain operating 61 stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Encapsulon Assessment enables loss prevention and store operations professionals to streamline and simplify the process of designing, conducting, and following up on audits.

Cincinnati -- Kroger announced Tuesday that it has named Suzanne Lindsay as its director of sustainability.

In the newly created position, Lindsay — who previously created and led sustainability initiatives at PetSmart — will lead Kroger's internal sustainability initiatives and will lead the company's sustainability leadership team.

Indianapolis -- Kite Realty Group announced that Subway has leased 1,600 sq. ft. at Traders Point II, located in Indianapolis.

Traders Point is a 395,435-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by Bed Bath & Beyond, Books-A-Million, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Marsh Supermarket, Michael’s, Old Navy, PetSmart and AMC Theatre.