Personnel Updates:

A & P announced that Christian Haub, Chairman, plans to retire from the company following the retailer’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Big Y Foods announced that Guy McFarlane was named Senior Director of Fresh Food and Gary Bolduc was promoted to McFarlane’s old position of Director of Meat and Seafood.
Kings Super Markets has named Bill Hedge director of prepared foods, a newly created position.
Kroger banner Smith’s has a new President. Mark Tuffin will succeed Jim Hallsey, who is retiring from his post after 47 years of service with Smith’s and Kroger

The Kroger Co. named Donna Giordano President of Ralphs, the company’s 256-store division in Southern California. Giordano, 57, has been president of the chain’s 68-unit Quality Food Centers division in Seattle since 2002. She succeeds Mike Donnelly, who was promoted to senior vice president, merchandising, for Kroger, as previously announced. The company has not yet named a successor to Giordano at QFC.

The Ohio Grocers Association has named Nate Filler to succeed Tom Jackson as President and CEO.
Karen Roberts was named EVP and President of Walmart Realty on Friday, filling a position vacated by the company’s long time real estate executive Eric Zorn who retired after a 20-year career.
SUPERVALU named Leon Bergmann as President of its Independent Business organization, reporting to Craig Herkert, chief executive officer and president. He replaces Mark Anderson, who will be retiring from SUPERVALU later this summer
Walmart announced that John Westling, Executive Vice President of General Merchandise and Replenishment, is retiring after 23 years with the company.
As a result, John Aden has been promoted to Executive Vice President, with responsibility for General Merchandise.  And Pam Kohn has also been promoted to lead a new Merchandise Services organization as Executive Vice President.
Weis Markets promoted Mike Mignola to vice president of store operations. Bruno Garisto took his old post, vice president of center store sales and merchandising. At Weis, Mignola has held jobs including regional vice president and regional deli manager; Garisto was director of private brands.
Mergers and Acquisitions:

Sunoco Inc. has acquired leasehold interests in 14 convenience stores in central Pennsylvania from the Shipley Group, a private York, PA company that operates the outlets as Tom’s Stores.
Industry Insight:

Core-Mark Holding Co. Inc. will serve as the broadline supplier to Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.’s Circle K stores in the southeastern United States, the company announced. The agreement will lead to the creation of a new division in Tampa, Fla. Additionally, Core-Mark and Couche-Tard have reached a preliminary agreement to renew their existing supply agreements for stores located in the western U.S., which operate under the Circle K banner, and in western Canada, which operate under the Mac’s banner.
D’Agostino Supermarkets joined Allegiance Retail Services, a new division created by Foodtown, which offers independent retailers the benefits of a cooperative membership while retaining their own store banners. The transition will take place over the next few months.
United Natural Foods Inc. has signed a three-year supply agreement with Safeway, Pleasanton, CA.
Real Estate:

Calhoun Enterprises committed to build 10 stores by 2016 in AL and TN
Brown’s Super Stores committed to build one store and expand one store by 2016 in Philadelphia, PA.
Kum & Go announced a major economic investment in Central AK. He said the company will be investing $70 million to $80 million in the next five years and creating approximately 150 new jobs by the end of 2012. Within the next five years, Kum & Go will have 20 to 25 stores in Central AK. Kum & Go plans to break ground
in August and September 2011 on three new Central Arkansas stores, in North Little Rock, Little Rock and Cabot. Kum & Go anticipates having its first grand-opening event in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Green Initiatives:

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market added 25 vehicles powered by compressed natural gas to its distribution fleet. The Ryder System trucks, expected to cut emissions by as much as 30% compared with diesel vehicles, became available through a public-private partnership that includes Ryder, the U.S. Energy Department, the California Energy Commission and other organizations.