Personnel Updates:
Ahold announced that Jeff Martin, Exec VP of Merchandising and Marketing at Ahold USA, is leaving the company “for personal reasons,” the company said on Friday. His role will be filled by Carl Schlicker, COO of Ahold USA, until a full-time replacement is named.
Golub Corporation announced that Richard Reed has been hired into the position of VP, Produce and Floral Merchandising. Christina Maltbie, the company’s Vice President, Assistant Treasurer, has been promoted to the position of Vice President, Treasurer.
Kroger announced that Jill McIntosh, currently Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations for Corporate Brands and Manufacturing at Kroger’s General Office, has been promoted to VP Human Resources for the Fred Meyer Division.
Kum & Go President and CEO Kyle J. Krause announced today that David Miller has been named the company’s new Senior VP of Marketing.
Haggen announced four new hires and one promotion to its senior staff. New hires include John Turley as Senior VP of Operations; Clement Stevens as Senior VP of Sales and Merchandising; Guy DiPasqua as VP Pharmacy; Ronette Snyder as VP of Marketing; and Renee Glondo as the Director of Bakery.
Hy-Vee announced that Randy Edeker has been named chairman and CEO. His predecessor, Ric Jurgens, announced his retirement in December and nominated Edeker for the top spot.
The National Grocers Association announced that Hayley McConnell has been hired as the new Director of Communications; Christine Cunnick has been named Director of Marketing and Promotions, and Kailee Tkacz as Manager, Government Affairs.
Publix Super Markets Inc. announced a promotion for Gino DiGrazia, the company’s VP and Controller for business analysis and reporting, to the role of VP of Finance.
Sobeys said Marc Poulin would succeed Bill McEwan as its President and CEO effective June 29, 2012.
Save Mart Supermarkets said Roger DeGray has been named Senior Director of Meat and Seafood. Also, Save Mart Supermarketsannounced the hiring of Brett Wing as VP FoodMaxx Operations. Wing comes from Cub Foods/Supervalu in Hudson, WI.
SUPERVALU INC. announced that Tim Lowe, current President of SHOPPERS, will join the company’s merchandising organization as Senior VP, reporting to Janel Haugarth, Exec VP of Merchandising and Logistics. Lowe will transition to this role over a period of time, continuing to also lead SHOPPERS until a new president is named. Kevin Holt, the recently named Exec VP of Retail Pperations, will identify a replacement for Lowe at a later date.
Whole Foods Market named Scott Allshouse, Omar Gaye and Rob Twyman as regional Presidents following the promotion of David Lannon and Kenneth Meyer to Exec VP of Operations. Allshouse fills Meyer’s former role as President of the company’s Mid-Atlantic Region. He moves from his position as President of the South Region. Gaye takes the South Region pPesident position vacated by Allshouse, moving from his position as the South Region’s VP. Twyman is now President of Whole Foods Market’s Northern California Region. He fills David Lannon’s former role and moves from his position as VP of the Northeast Region.
Financial Focus:
Casey’s General Stores Inc. reported fiscal 2011 sales of $6.98 billion.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Harris Teeter Supermarketshas agreed to acquire 10 Lowes Foodssupermarkets in the central Carolinas region in exchange for six Harris Teeter locations in western North Carolina and an additional $26.5 million. The transaction is expected to close during Harris Teeter’s fiscal third quarter, which ends July 1, 2012.
Nash Finch Co. agreed to acquire the 18-store No Frills Supermarketschain, based in Omaha, Neb. – the wholesaler’s second acquisition of a large customer in the region this year. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of third quarter.
Giant-Carlisle has agreed to transfer a former Genuardi’s store to McCaffery’s Supermarkets to satisfy federal antitrust concerns around its Genuardi’s acquisition.
Sprouts Farmers Marketand Sunflower Farmers Marketannounced the completion of their merger, creating a 144-store company with project 2012 revenues of close to $2 billion. According to the company, “The addition of the Sunflower stores expands Sprouts’ geographic footprint to Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Oklahoma and further extends its presence in the states of California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas. All of the Sunflower stores will be re-branded under the Sprouts banner. The conversions will begin in July and occur in phases through the end of the year. The stores will receive new interior and exterior signage, updated fixtures and an expanded merchandise mix. “Sprouts will remain headquartered in Phoenix, and Sunflower’s corporate headquarters in Phoenix and Boulder will be consolidated into the Sprouts office.”
Industry Insight:
Fairway Market opened its newest store, and 10th overall, in Woodland Park, NJ.
Plum Market Corp. will open a store in Chicago’s Old Town on the Near North Side, leasing about 28,000-sq. ft. of ground-floor space in a 250-unit apartment building. The Old Town store will be full service, with produce and meat departments, prepared foods and will also carry items from Zingerman’s, which operates several specialty food-related businesses in Ann Arbor, MI.
Real Estate:
Brookshire Grocery Co. is looking for new locations for possible store growth throughout southern AR, LA and eastern TX during the coming 18 months. Typical leases run 15 to 20 years. Major competitors include Albertson’s, Kroger and Walmart Supercenter. A land area of five to six acres is required for freestanding locations. The company prefers to acquire sites.
Spartan Stores’ new Valu Land discount concept will add three to five new stores this fiscal year, and officials see the potential for the banner as an organic growth vehicle outside of Michigan.
Technology News:
Maverik convenience stores is one of 30 merchants that plans to use the NFC payment system this summer. This summer, customers in Salt Lake City, Utah and Austin, Texas will be able to buy products at convenience stores with a wave of their smartphones instead of handing over cash or a credit card.
Green Initiatives:
A Food Lion store in Williamsburg, Va., was recognized for environmental and energy features with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification from the Green Building Council. Features include on-site recycling, bike racks, LED lighting in frozen-food cases, an energy-efficient roof and a system for harvesting rainwater.
A newly-opened Lunds supermarket opening in downtown Minneapolis is not only the first full-service food store in that area, it will serve as the retailer’s first environmentally friendly store.
Rouses Marketscreated a Sustainable Aeroponic Rooftop Garden above its Downtown New Orleans store.
A Price Chopper Supermarkets store in Warwick, N.Y., received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold certification. The store has hot-water efficiency and reduced outdoor lighting, and nearly 25% of its building material was made from recycled material.
Weis Markets said it would build its first new store that meets LEED certification standards from the U.S. Green Building Council.
