Supermarket/Grocery

WASHINGTON – Retail sales increased 0.4% last month, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, buoyed by rising gasoline revenue. The gain in March, the ninth consecutive monthly increase, was the smallest since the string began last summer.

The increase shrank to a 0.1% when sales at gasoline stations were excluded. However, the biggest decline in auto sales in more than a year also pulled down overall sales. When taking out sales at gas station and of autos, retail sales rose 0.6%.

Irving, Texas -- SAF U.S.A. announced that Delhaize America, the primary subsidiary of Delhaize Group, has selected SAF RetailSuite Store to support its in-stock conditions and align its inventory with consumer demand.

Delhaize America, which operates under the banners Food Lion, Bloom, Bottom Dollar Food, Harveys, Hannaford and Sweetbay, will implement the solution in its 1,500 stores across 16 states.

Dallas -- Davaco a provider of retail and restaurant services, announced that the company is partnering with their clients to execute safety audits across stores and restaurants, nationwide.

By Dwayne Shackelford, [email protected]

Proposed new lease accounting rule changes will have a significant impact on many retail and restaurant companies. The good news is that rent will no longer appear on the income statement; the bad news is that it will be replaced by amortization and interest charges, which will generally be larger in the first years of a lease and lower in the latter years.

New York City -- Leonard Green & Partners is expected to make an opening-round offer on Wednesday for BJ’s Wholesale Club, the New York Post reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

Bidders picked for the second round will probably be asked to make binding offers by the end of May, the newspaper said.

Washington, D.C. -- Retail sales increased 0.4% last month, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, buoyed by rising gasoline revenue. The gain in March, the ninth consecutive monthly increase, was the smallest since the string began last summer.

The increase shrank to a 0.1% when sales at gasoline stations were excluded. However, the biggest decline in auto sales in more than a year also pulled down overall sales. When taking out sales at gas station and of autos, retail sales rose 0.6%.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods Market announced that it is on track to stop selling all red-rated swordfish and tuna at its seafood counters nationwide by this Earth Day, April 22.