Personnel Updates:
Ahold USA has promoted Erik Keptner to Exec VP of Marketing. The search for an Exec VP Merchandising is ongoing, the company said.
Atlas Oilhas named James Fiene as Exec VP of Retail Operations. Fiene comes to Atlas from Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin Inc., Pleasant Prairie, WI where he served as COO since 2003. He will report to CEO Sam Simon and also join the company’s senior leadership team.
Associated Grocers of the South Inc. announced that Gerry Totoritis, President and CEO, plans to retire effective 8-3-2012. Stan Alexander was named to succeed Totoritis as President and CEO.
Buehler’s Food Markets has named Mark Klingbeil as its new CFO.
Golub Corporation announced that Jay Mandrillo has been hired as Director of Bakery Merchandising.
NACS announced that it has hired Leva Grimm as its Senior Director of Education Services. Grimm comes to the association after more than a decade with Sheetz, where most recently she was Operations Manager.
New Seasons Market announced that it has hired Michelle Lantow be its new Chief Administrative Officer. In addition, Chris Tjersland has been hired as the company’s first Private Brand Development Manager.
SUPERVALU announced that Wayne C. Sales has been named President and CEO, replacing Craig R. Herkert. Sales will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board. Director Philip L. Francis has been elected lead director. Nick Bertram joined Jewel-Osco as Senior VP of Operations effective July 30, 2012. Tom Lenkevich, second in command at Supervalu’s Save-A-Lot division, will be leaving the discounter to pursue other opportunities at the end of the summer.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
7-Eleven Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire the Tetco Stores’ company-operated convenience stores. Sources said the acquisition will be effective November 1, 2012.
EZ Energy USA Inc. announced that the convenience store chain is selling all if its 91 sites. Parent company Israeli-owned EZ Energy Ltd. is selling all of its gas station and convenience store operations for $64 million to a foreign gas station operator. The company would not disclose the buyer, pending the closing of the deal.
Tops Friendly Markets has agreed to acquire 21 supermarkets in upstate New York and Vermont — mostly under the Grand Union banner.
Industry Insight:
C&K Market said it is acquiring two stores that will be converted to the Ray’s Food Place banner next month.
Sentry food stores in West Allis and Menomonee Falls, WI will become Piggly Wiggly supermarkets Aug. 23.
Piggly Wiggly Midwest said that a Sendik’s store in Brookfield, WI will begin trading under the Piggly Wiggly banner.
Wawa Inc.’s celebrated the grand opening of its first Florida convenience store, located at Central Florida Parkway and International Drive in Orange County, FL across from SeaWorld Orlando.
Real Estate:
Coborn’s Inc. plans to open five new stores in North Dakota by 2014, in the cities of Stanley, Tioga, Watford City, Dickinson and Minot. The move is part of a broader move into the state.
Whole Foods announced that it plans to open 70 stores over the next two years, in addition to the 25 being unveiled this year. The company currently operates 329 units.
Green Initiatives:
Ingles Markets said its new store in Mills River, NC has received an Energy Star certification from the EPA.
A 23,000-square-foot Urban Fare Express store that Overwaitea Food Group opened near Vancouver, British Columbia, uses a carbon dioxide transcritical booster refrigerant system that is free of R-22 refrigerants or hydrofluorocarbon. Hill PHOENIX developed the system.
Safeway has opened the first LEED for Retail certified store in the state of Montana, in the town of Bozeman.
Shaw’s stores in Cranston and Barrington, RI are diverting 90% of waste from landfills through measures including recycling, composting and donation to food banks.
