1 minute business reads from today

New brewery to open and holiday sales predicted to be strong.

New brewery to open

The region's newest brewer, Heavier than Air Brewing Co. — located at 497 Miamisburg-Centerville Road in the Normandy Square Shopping Center — will unveil its first year-round beer Saturday and will be pouring a couple more of its own brews in addition to beers from other Dayton-area breweries.

Heavier Than Air opened “softly” on Aug. 26, but waited a month to host a grand opening to install signage and ramp up its own brewing operation. It will serve other breweries’ offerings alongside its own.

Brewery co-founder Nick Tarkany Sr. has been an avid home-brewery for more than a decade. The brewery will be overseen by Tarkany and his brother and co-founder Chris Tarkany, with an assist from two of Nick’s sons, Ben and Nick Jr.

RETAIL

Holiday sales expected to increase this season

Retail sales are expected to rise more than 4 percent compared to last shopping season, according to Deloitte’s annual retail holiday sales forecast.

Total holiday sales — seasonally adjusted and excluding motor vehicles and gasoline — are expected to reach $1.04 to $1.05 trillion between November and January, Deloitte reported. Deloitte also forecasts an 18 to 21 percent increase in e-commerce sales in 2017 compared with 2016. E-commerce sales are expected to reach $111 to $114 billion during the 2017 holiday season.

"The projected uptick in holiday sales ties to four primary factors affecting consumer spending, starting with anticipated strong personal income growth," said Daniel Bachman, Deloitte's senior U.S. economist. "Last year, disposable personal income grew 2 percent over the year to the holiday period, and we may see that rise to a range of 3.8 to 4.2 percent this season." This is partly attributed to elevated consumer confidence and a strong labor market. KARA DRISCOLL

EMPLOYMENT

Kroger ranks as one of healthiest workplaces

Kroger Co. has been named one of the healthiest companies for employees in the United States. Cincinnati-headquartered Kroger was named one of the “Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America” by the Healthiest Employers, which evaluates employers’ efforts in corporate health. Kroger has been honored twice in three years for the award. Kroger ranked 38th overall this year.

“Our goal is to offer something for everyone to help with their overall well-being: physically, financially and emotionally,” said Theresa Monti, Kroger’s vice president of total rewards and HR systems.

More than 5,000 employers applied for the award. The top 100 employers were chosen for: culture and leadership, foundational components, strategic planning, communication and marketing, programming and interventions, and reporting and analysis. KARA DRISCOLL

RETAIL

Local mall owner sells off portion of Beavercreek restaurant property

The parent company of the Mall at Fairfield Commons has sold a restaurant outparcel near the Beavercreek shopping center.

Washington Prime Group, which owns both Dayton Mall and the Mall at Fairfield Commons, announced it has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of 41 restaurant outparcels to Four Corners Property Trust Inc. for more than $67 million.

The outparcels included in the transaction are currently occupied under leases with a weighted average term of eight years, representing approximately $4.5 million of annualized net operating income, the company announced. The deal is expected to close in two tranches beginning in the fourth quarter of 2017 with the second tranche expected to be completed in the first half of 2018, pending closing conditions. KARA DRISCOLL

About the Authors