UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 19, 2013

EXCEL TRUST, INC.

EXCEL TRUST, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

17140 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite 300

San Diego, California 92128

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 613-1800

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

As previously reported, on May 2, 2013, Excel Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) and Excel Trust, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”) entered into separate Amended and Restated Sales Agreements (collectively, the “Sales Agreements”) with each of Barclays Capital Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, each as sales agents and/or principals (collectively, the “Managers”). Under the terms of the Sales Agreements, the Company may issue and sell from time to time through or to the Managers, as sales agents and/or principals, shares of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $100 million (the “Shares”) in “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The issuances and sales under the Sales Agreements have been made pursuant to the Company’s existing shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-187871).

On June 21, 2013, the Company and the Operating Partnership filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a new shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-189517) (the “Universal Shelf”) to replace the Company’s existing shelf registration statement relating to the “at the market” offering program. In connection with the filing and effectiveness of the Universal Shelf, the Company and the Operating Partnership amended the Sales Agreements to reference the Universal Shelf and filed a new prospectus supplement, dated July 19, 2013, relating to the offer and sale of the remaining Shares not yet sold under the “at the market” program.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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