Supermarket/Grocery

Greenville, S.C. -- Grocer Bi-Lo LLC said Monday that it has acquired southern supermarket chain Winn-Dixie, in a $560 million transaction that will take Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. private and create the largest grocery operator in the South.

The merger will combine Winn-Dixie’s 480 supermarkets in five southern states (Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi) with Bi-Lo’s 207 stores in the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee to create a company with 690 stores and 63,000 workers in eight states.

The Network of Executive Woman, or NEW, is holding a new event in Dallas next year and has signed on Walmart’s top diversity executive as a featured speaker.

NEW YORK — Duane Reade is set to put its signature “New York Living Made Easy” vision on full display on Friday with the unveiling of its expanded store located at 1657 Broadway in New York.

The new 24-hour location, which opened Friday, will serve as an amplification of the retailer’s continued rebranding and aggressive transformation initiatives to date.

Tarrytown, N.Y. – DLC Management Corp. announced a new deal signed with Wal-Mart Stores to open a 44,271-sq.-ft. Walmart Market at DLC’s Bethesda Walk Shopping Center in Lawrenceville, Ga.

The deal, which was finalized on November 21, marks the grocery-only concept’s first store in the Atlanta metro area.

New York City -- Duane Reade, a division of Walgreens, spotlights its “New York Living Made Easy” format on Friday with the unveiling of its expanded store located at 1657 Broadway in New York.
The new 24-hour location reflects the chain’s focus on rebranding and aggressive transformation initiatives to date.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Foundation on Thursday announced it is investing nearly $1.4 million in neighborhoods across the Southeast through partnerships with 116 nonprofit organizations, providing a broad range of services.

By providing grants to programs that feed the hungry, assist women and children in need, help the sick and address inequalities in education and health, the Winn-Dixie Foundation reaches out to neighbors in five states across the Southeast, the foundation noted.

Granada Hills, Calif. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that it has leased 7,083 sq. ft. of retail space in Granada Hills, Calif., among three new tenants at Granada Village.

Carter’s leased 3,866 sq. ft., and hair salon Fantastic Sams leased 1,217 sq. ft.  Both are slated to open for business in March 2012. Opening in second quarter 2012, Freebirds World Burrito has leased 2,000 sq. ft. of restaurant space.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Ric Jurgens, chairman and CEO of Midwestern supermarket chain Hy-Vee, will retire on June 1, the company said Wednesday.

Jurgens, 62, began working for Hy-Vee 42 years ago while a student at Iowa State University, taking a full-time position after his graduation. In 1995, he was named SVP and chief administrative officer, becoming president in 2001, CEO in 2003 and chairman in 2006. Jurgens said he will ask the company's board of directors to elect president and COO Randy Edeker as chairman and CEO.

Dallas — Davaco has acquired Ecoxera, an Austin, Texas-based retail sustainability consulting firm. Justin Doak, who is the founder of Ecoxera, will continue to serve as president.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Ric Jurgens, chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee plans to retire on June 1, 2012.

Jurgens, said he will ask the company's board to elect Randy Edeker, president and COO, to succeed him.