Personnel Updates:

Albertsons LLC named Amy Kirby VP Marketing, a new corporate position. Daniel Salemi has been named President of the company’s pharmacy division and Jerry Callahan as VP Produce Merchandising. Salemi, who will be based in the Chicago area, will be responsible for continuing to grow sales and profits across all pharmacy operations; he will report to Justin Dye, incoming COO of New Albertsons Inc. (NAI), which will oversee pharmacy.

Basha’s named Edward Basha 3^rd Chairman, President and CEO. His father, Eddie Basha, formerly chairman of the board, will serve as Chairman emeritus, and Darl Andersen, who has been president and CEO, will become executive advisor to the president and chairman for the final year of his contract, which expires at the end of 2013. In another change, Don Ulrich has been named executive COO. Ulrich joined the Bashas’ board in January 2011 as an independent director.

The Fresh Market said that Randy Kelley, Senior VP of Real Estate and Development is leaving the company to pursue another business opportunity.

Kehe Distributors named supermarket veteran Scott Silverman Executive Director of natural and organic product at the wholesaler’s new sales and marketing headquarters.

Kroger promoted Robert Clark, 28-year veteran, as Group VP Non-perishables.

Laurel Grocery announced that David Pearson has been named President. Pearson joined the company in 2011 and is the planned successor to Dennis Butler, who will become President of sister company Retail Marketing.

Marsh Supermarkets has hired Michele Pascoe as CFO. Pascoe most recently was CFO and Senior VP of Charming Shoppes’ Fashion Bug.

Publix Super Markets announced that Dave Bornmann, VP Grocery/Non-Foods, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Corporate Purchasing. In addition, Pete Mowitt, Business Development Director of Grocery, has been promoted to Vice President     Grocery/Non-Foods. And, Publix said that Mike Smith, Vice President of Manufacturing, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Manufacturing. Succeeding him will be Jeff Stephens, the current Director of Manufacturing Operations, who will become Vice President of Manufacturing.

Stater Bros. has promoted Dan Meyer to the position of Exec VP Retail Operations. In his new position, Meyer will report to Jim Lee, President and COO.

Al Plamann, CEO of Unified Grocers, plans to retire from the company, effective May 1. The company named Bob Ling CEO as his replacement.

Weis Markets promoted Rick Seipp to VP of Pharmacy. Prior to his promotion, he was the company’s director of pharmacy operations. In his new position, Seipp will oversee the day-to-day merchandising, operation and management of Weis Markets’ 131 pharmacies. He will also oversee the company’s Lifestyle Initiatives’ team, which focuses on health and wellness issues. He reports to Kurt Schertle, Exec VP Sales and Merchandising. Prior to joining Weis in 2010, Seipp worked at Rite Aid.  Weis Markets also promoted Mike Mignola to Senior VP of Store Operation.

Financial Focus:

Nash Finch reported fiscal 2012 sales of $4.82 billion.

Kroger reported fiscal 2012 sales of $96.75 billion.

Publix Supermarkets reported fiscal 2012 sales of $27.5 billion.

Safeway Inc. reported fiscal 2012 sales of $44.2 billion.

Mergers and Acquisitions:

Acosta Sales & Marketing acquired two foodservice companies: Juhl Brokerage and Mid-State Food Brokers. The combined organizations will integrate with Acosta’s rapidly growing foodservice division and will extend the coverage of the company’s sales and marketing services across the East and Midwest.

Jahnke Foods in Spicer, MI has sold the store to Teal’s Market, a family-owned chain with stores in Minnesota and the Dakotas.

The Spinx Co. acquired three Pumper’s convenience stores, located in the upstate South Carolina area. The move grows the retailer’s footprint in Greenville, its hometown.

Industry Insight:

A&P plans to close its Pathmark store in East Meadow, N.Y. when its lease expires in May, officials said.

Whole Foods Market will open a new store at the site of a former Genuardi’s in Cherry Hill, the retailer said.

A Hy-Vee store in Overland Park KS has a bar that sells wine and beer by the glass and bottle and is attached to a full-service restaurant. It is the second Hy-Vee store with the amenity — the other is in Urbandale, Iowa — and the company plans to open more.

Marsh Supermarkets closed a store in Marion and another in Columbus rather than renew their leases,” saying that management “is committed to improving operating results and strengthening the company’s position in our marketing areas.”

The Pantry will open a ground-up store built with its Bean Street coffee and other foodservice offers. In recent years, The Pantry has been focused on upgrading its portfolio of “Kangaroo” branded stores to a more contemporary, foodservice-oriented look and feel, having been converting dozens of stores last year with 70 more remodels planned for 2013.

Real Estate:

Casey’s General Stores Inc. is expanding in the greater Wichita, Kansas. That includes one c-store in Wichita and one in Valley Center. A third store will be announced soon. None of the stores is under construction yet. They will be ready in late summer at the earliest.  

H.E. Butt Grocery will break ground next week on a new 96,000-sq.-ft. store in the Rio Grande Valley community of Palmhurst, TX.

Kwik Trip is eying a new market: Superior WI. The La Crosse, Wis.-based convenience store chain has purchase agreements on two locations in Superior and is eyeing two more possible sites, said Kwik Trip’s chief financial officer Scott Teigen.“We’ll probably add approximately 15 new stores in 2013,” he said. “There’ll be at least two of them in Superior.”

Luke Oil is pursuing an “aggressive” growth strategy in 2013, the Hobart, Ind.-based company has announced. In addition to growth in its wholesale, transport and car wash divisions, Luke Oil anticipates adding at least six new retail convenience store sites in 2013, it said.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage opened a new location in Lubbock, TX March 5. The Lubbock store will be the company’s 12th Texas location, and will carry only natural and organic products on its shelves. USDA-certified organic produce, meats from animals raised naturally without the use of antibiotics or hormones, as well as other organic and natural groceries will be sold, as well as dietary supplements and body care products and a selection of gluten-free and other special dietary need products.

Green Initiatives:

A MOM’s Organic Market store in Waldorf, MD is the first in the chain to add solar panels, which are expected to provide 15% or more of the energy used. “The Waldorf solar array is the first of many,” founder and CEO Scott Nash said. “We plan to install solar panels on every store that we can in the future.

A Safeway store in Bozeman, MT is the first supermarket in the state to gain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. The store received LEED Silver certification for efforts that include diverting 97% of construction waste from landfills and eliminating flow to storm sewers through on-site water retention and filtration.