Real Estate

MONTVALE, N.J. - The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company on Friday announced an agreement to sell eight stores in northern New England to GU Family Markets. The transaction will conclude A&P's previously announced divestiture of operations in northern New England.

LONDON - Ahold announced on Friday that it has no fixed deadline for an internal investigation of its accounting.

AUSTIN, Texas, -- Whole Foods Market celebrated the grand opening of its new 40,000 square foot store in Midtown Atlanta today with a Bread-Breaking ceremony featuring celebrity chef Alton Brown, star of The Food Network's popular "Good Eats."

MINNEAPOLIS - Monrovia, Calif.-based Trader Joe's Co. is looking for up to 10 locations as it prepares to enter the Twin Cities, according to real-estate sources cited by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Birmingham Business Journal has recognized Publix's entrance into the Birmingham market as its 2002 Retail Deal of the Year. Judges cited the swiftness and magnitude with which Publix launched, combined with the expected impact on fierce competition.

ATLANTA - Two years after closing its Atlanta area Cub Foods, national wholesaler Supervalu is pushing into the metro Atlanta market again with discount formats, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

CINCINNATI - The Kroger Co. on Monday announced plans to combine its two retail divisions headquartered in Livonia, Mich., and Columbus, Ohio, in an effort to reduce operating costs, improve administrative efficiencies, and invest additional capital in the core grocery business to drive sales growth.

TORONTO - Wal-Mart Canada on Monday said it would open Sam's Club warehouse stores in three cities in Ontario, triggering more competition among retailers and grocers in Canada.