Supermarket/Grocery

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market announced that it has relaunched its Design-A-Bag contest, inviting Fresh & Easy customers to design and vote on the grocer's next reusable bag. Customers can submit their original bag designs at www.freshandeasy.com/designabag through May 15. Based on feedback Fresh & Easy has expanded the contest this year to anyone 13 years of age or older in Arizona, California and Nevada.

HOUSTON — Sharps Compliance's TakeAway envelope solution is making its way to Kroger and its family of stores.

Kroger, which operates stores under several banners across 31 states, will offer the the medication disposal envelopes at its pharmacy counters. The goal: To offer a safe and environmentally-responsible means of disposing unused, expired or unwanted noncontrolled prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Kroger joins such retailers as Rite Aid, which recently implemented Sharps Compliance's TakeAway program in its stores.

Bedminster, N.J. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. said that Great Clips has opened a 960-sq.-ft. salon, and Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa (2,317 sq. ft.) along with eateries Panchero's (2,500 sq. ft.) and Subway (1,240 sq. ft.) will all open shortly at The Hills Village Center, in Bedminster, N.J.

Flushing, N.Y. -- Onex Real Estate Partners said that Payless ShoeSource has opened a new store at Sky View Center, the 800,000-sq.-ft shopping center located below Sky View Parc, Queens’ new mixed-used residential development.

The new 4,200-sq.-ft. Payless location, on level D of the Center, officially opens on April 9.

Minneapolis -- Opus Development Corp. announced that John Gelderman has been hired as senior VP national retail development.

In his new position, Gelderman will lead the current Opus retail team, oversee all existing retail development and will be responsible for seeking all new retail development opportunities across the country.

Union, N.J. -- A Seabra Foods and Koki Japanese Buffet opened at Galloping Hill Center in Union, N.J., according to Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp., the property’s exclusive leasing and managing agent.

A Seabra Foods is a full-service grocer and will open a 30,861-sq. ft. space formerly housed by another supermarket tenant.

Koki Japanese Buffet leased 5,500 sq. ft., joining other retailers and services including Mandee, Memory Lane Hallmark, Citibank, Weight Watchers, Radio Shack and Manhattan Bagel.

Mendota Heights, Minn. -- St. Paul, Minn.-based Paster Enterprises announced that the new Walgreens at Mendota Plaza in Mendota Heights, Minn., is officially open.  

The 14,820-sq.-ft. Walgreens is a new prototype featuring, in addition to exterior design enhancements, improved aisle graphics, more accessible shelving, polished concrete floors and an updated photo finishing area.

CHICAGO ─ Faced with rising food costs, U.S. consumers are turning to the cost savings tactics they’ve mastered over the past few years, according to The NPD Group.

NEW YORK — An overwhelming majority of Consumer Reports readers are highly satisfied with their independent pharmacy experiences, as compared with experiences at some of the national chains, a report to be published in the May issue found.

Chicago -- A report released Tuesday by The NPD Group said that U.S. consumers have emerged from the recession with a honed ability to stretch their dollars and, now faced with rising food costs, they are turning to the cost-savings tactics they’ve mastered over the past few years.