Supermarket/Grocery

St. Paul, Minn. — Paster Enterprises announced that grocer Jim’s Market will open a 24,800-sq.-ft. location at Doddway Center, located in St. Paul. 

The new Jim’s Market will be the fourth location in the St. Paul area, and will take the place of current anchor tenant, R.C. Dick’s Foods. Jim’s Market will make significant renovations to the property during the coming months, including new flooring, an updated front entrance and upgrades to the deli section, frozen foods department and meat counter. 

Goodlettsville, Tenn. — Dollar General Corp. announced that it plans to open its first stores in California in 2012 following successful expansions in such other western states as Arizona and Colorado in recent years.

“Our California stores will mark a significant milestone for Dollar General, giving us a coast-to-coast presence for the first time,” said Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO.

NEW YORK — Royal Ahold executive Kimberly Ross is joining beauty company Avon as EVP and CFO, reporting to Andrea Jung, Avon's chairman and CEO.

Ross currently is EVP and CFO and a member of the executive board of Royal Ahold N.V., a Netherlands-based international group, with more than 2,970 stores and supermarkets spanning Europe and the United States.

Las Vegas — The International Council of Shopping Centers has named Athleta, Smashburger, Aldi and Fossil as the 2011 Hot Retailer Award winners.

The annual awards, based on a survey of ICSC’s worldwide members, were presented Tuesday at the association’s global retail real estate convention, REConn.

Final attendance numbers aren’t available yet, and while RECon 2011 may not have been the really, really big show it was in 2007, the International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual Las Vegas convention was clearly a big event.

Pre-recession, the show attracted in excess of 50,000 retailers, retail service providers and shopping center executives to view the latest and greatest projects coming out of the ground. This year’s May 23 to 25 iteration didn’t pull 50k, but best guesses put attendance at over 30,000. 

WASHINGTON — Pamela Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), has announced the appointment of Sean Darragh as EVP global strategies, a newly created position within the association.

The EVP global strategies, is responsible for expanding GMA’s international program by defining and effectively executing a global policy and advocacy strategy that is fully integrated into the GMA strategic plan, the association reported. 

MONTVALE, N.J. — Grocer A&P has announced the launch of a brand-new line of Angus beef in its stores.

Woodson & James choice Angus beef, exclusive to A&P banner stores, will replace the current beef steak and roast offerings in all A&P, Pathmark, Superfresh, Waldbaum's and Food Emporium stores beginning May 27.

The new and exclusive Woodson & James Angus beef line features U.S. Department of Agriculture choice Angus beef that is grain-fed and single-sourced.

NEW YORK — Creative agency Kaplan Thaler Group has been tapped to run Supervalu’s latest ad campaign, according to a blog posted on the Kaplan Thaler Group site Monday.

As lead creative agency, the Kaplan Thaler Group’s responsibilities will encompass advertising, digital and direct marketing across all Supervalu banners — including Acme, Albertsons, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s/Star Market, Shop ‘n Save, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, Hornbacher’s and Save-A-Lot.

SAN FRANCISCO — Fresh & Easy has announced the opening dates for its first two stores in San Francisco.

The retail chain said that the stores, which will open on June 22 and Aug. 24, will create more than 50 jobs. What's more, Fresh & Easy also invites area residents to nominate a local, nonprofit organization to receive a $1,000 donation for each new store opening. Based on the nominations from the neighborhood, store employees will select the winning charity.

Sharp pricing on an expanded assortment of food and consumables is one way for Target to get customers to shop its stores more frequently, but this week saw the company break out another type of trip generator with the cover of its weekly ad featuring tee shirts and shorts at an opening price point of $3.

At that price, moms have pretty low expectations of quality. Cut and color matter more than the finish work on seams, since the clothes only need to last for a couple months until summer. The garments will be outgrown by next summer and the cycle repeats itself.