Personnel Updates:

Ahold said that Carl Schlicker will retire as COO of Ahold USA after 25 years with the company. James McCann will become COO of Ahold USA on Feb. 1, 2013.

Ahold USA announced that David Lessard has been promoted to VP of Produce and Floral, effective immediately.

Delhaize America announced that Beth Newlands Campbell has been named to succeed Cathy Green Burns as President of Food Lion. Brad Wise, who had been senior vice president of human resources for Delhaize America, was named president of Hannaford and Sweetbay. Mike Vail, the former president of Delhaize’s Tampa, Fla.-based Sweetbay chain, was named chief supply chain officer for Delhaize America. In addition, Greg Amoroso, formerly senior vice president for the business service center and sustainability, was named chief financial officer of Delhaize America.Meg Ham will remain president of Bottom Dollar Food. Also, Linn Evans will remain senior vice president of legal and government affairs for Delhaize America, and Deborah Dixson will remain chief information officer for Delhaize America.

Four B Corp. said Mike Beal has been promoted to chief operating officer, reporting to David Ball, who remains chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Englefield Oil named Greg Ehrlich VP of Retail Sales pending the retirement of Ed Stephens and named Christopher Beem CFO after the retirement of Fred Kaseman.

New Seasons Market said that it has hired Wendy Collie to be President/CEO of the company, succeeding Lisa Sedlar, who left the chain earlier this year to start her own chain of healthy convenience stores.

The National Grocers Association announced the appointment of Lauren Edwards Hefner, CAE, as Director of Communications.

The Fresh Market announced that its Exec vice president/CFO Lisa Klinger is leaving the company “to accept a similar position with a private equity-backed apparel retailer.” A search has been launched for her replacement; in the meantime, Sean Crane, executive vice president/COO, will assume the role of interim CFO.

Kum & Go President and CEO Kyle Krause announced that Mark Hasting has been named the company’s new Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.

Marsh Supermarkets, based in Indianapolis named Thomas O’Boyle, who resigned just days ago from his post as an executive vice president at the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P), has been named chairman/president/CEO.He succeeds Bill Holsworth, who has beens serving as interim CEO since Joe Kelley left Marsh to become president of Ahold-owned Stop & Shop.

Nash Finch Co. has hired Kevin Elliott, the former senior vice president of merchandising, logistics and marketing at 7-Eleven, to be its new COO, succeeding Christopher Brown, who left the company earlier this month.

Publix Super Markets announced that Chuck Roskovich, SVP product business development, will become division VP for the Charlotte Division. Alison Midili-Smith, director of organizational development, has been named VP talent and organizational development. Erik Katenkamp, director of business application delivery, will assume the role of VP information systems — application development. Renee Kelly, director of business application delivery, also has been named VP information systems — application development. Tom Larson, director of IS engineering, has been named VP information systems — engineering and operations. Steve Wellslager, director of architecture and engineering, has been named VP information systems — architecture and security.

Unified Grocers announced that Susan M. Klug, formerly President, Southern California Division, of Supervalu-owned Albertsons has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Unified Grocers also announced that Leon G. Bergmann has been named Senior Vice President, Sales – a new position at Unified. Bergmann comes to Unified from Supervalu, where he was President, Independent Business and was responsible for supporting the growth and success of independent retailers.

URM Stores Inc. has announced that Ray Sprinkle has been named to succeed the retiring Dean Sonnenberg as the company’s president/CEO.

Valero Energy Corp. named Kim Bowers to Exec VP and retail president of the company’s convenience store division in the United States and Canada, Gary Arthur will become corporate senior vice president of wholesale marketing at Valero.Jay Browning, current corporate senior vice president and corporate secretary, to Bowers’ position as general counsel; Jim Gillingham, current corporate senior vice president of alternative energy and project development, to the position of corporate senior vice president of specialty products; Martin Parrish, current corporate vice president of crude, feedstock supply and trading, to the position of corporate vice president, alternative energy and project development; and Gary Simmons, current corporate vice president of supply chain optimization, to the position of corporate vice president of crude, feedstock supply and trading.

Weis Markets has named Kevin E. Broe as its new VP of Center Store Sales and Merchandising.

Financial Focus:

Ingles Markets reported fiscal 2012 sales of $3.71 billion.

The Pantry Inc. reported fiscal 2012 sales of $8.25 billion.

Mergers and Acquisitions:

Eby-Brown Co. LLC has announced that it has signed a letter of intent to purchase the assets of Dearborn Wholesale Grocers LP, which is based in Chicago.

RPCS Inc. said that it has completed the acquisition of Summer Fresh Supermarkets. Summer Fresh operates eight stores under the Summer Fresh banner and two Save-A-Lot stores in Missouri. Employee-owned RPCS operates 48 stores under several banners including Rameys, Price Cutter, Smitty’s and Food Pyramid. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Four of the five stores of Houston’s Rice Epicurean Markets are set to close, and The Fresh Market will take over the locations. The Levy and Freidlander families, who founded Rice Epicurean more than 75 years ago, will retain ownership of the properties. Rice Epicurean will operate one remaining store in Houston.

Strack & Van Til agreed to acquire seven grocery stores from WiseWay Supermarkets, according to the companies. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal is expected to close in December. The WiseWay stores are expected to become Strack & Van Til stores, and PayLow locations will be converted to Ultra Foods. Merrillville-based WiseWay will continue to operate its WiseWay store in Winfield and the WiseGuys Discount Liquors chain.

Industry Insight:

Love’s Travel Stops has opened two new travel stops in Williston, N.D., at Highway 2 and 42nd Street, and in Leary, Texas, at Interstate 30, Exit 213.

Kum & GO opened a new store which features more square footage focused on fresh food, expanded product options and sustainability located in Ankeny, Iowa at 3603 NE Otterview Circle. This newly constructed store, the company’s fifth in Ankeny, expands Kum & Go’s presence in the Des Moines metropolitan market.

Real Estate:

Wawa is planning an aggressive expansion in North Jersey, including Bergen and Passaic counties. The company, which has 602 stores, is looking to open 30 more in five northern counties, according to the developer.

Green Initiatives:

Sheetz announced that more than 130 Sheetz locations now feature state-of-the-art LED lighting by Cree Inc. The installation of energy-efficient Cree interior and exterior lighting at Sheetz retail gasoline locations is delivering a 45% reduction in energy costs for interior lighting and 50-55% reduction in exterior lighting.

Weis Markets is partnering with Clearly Clean Products on modified atmosphere packaging meat trays that are recyclable and contain 80% recycled plastic.

A refrigerated warehouse of Wakefern Food’s distribution center in Keasbey, N.J., will be powered by solar energy when a 2.4-megawatt system from NJR Clean Energy Venture is operational by year-end. The system, being installed by Advanced Solar Products, is expected to cut emissions by 2,000 metric tons.