Personnel Updates:
Ahold USA has named Paul Scorza, a 30-year veteran of IBM, as its CIO.
Associated Wholesale Grocers announced that Jeff Pedersen has been promoted to a newly created position of Senior VP of Member Services, responsible for strategic and managerial oversight of corporate sales and development, education and training, and communications. Danny Lane will replace Pedersen as Senior VP & Division Manager.
Big Y Foods has promoted Michael J. Galat to VP of Employee Services and Jason Corriveau to Director of Frozen Foods and Dairy.
Jim Perkins, most recently regional VP at Giant of Maryland, has been named President of ACME Markets. Perkins also has worked at Albertsons LLC, a subsidiary of AB Acquisition, which bought ACME in January.
Kroger announced the planned retirement of VP and pension investment officer, Rich Manka.
Kum & GO named David Lemons VP Operations for its Western Division. Steve Kimmes, previous division VP for the West Division at convenience retailer has left the company. “After serving 25 years, Steve Kimmes announced his decision to depart Kum & Go in March to pursue other opportunities.”
Lund Food Holdings announced that Phil Lombardo VP of Sales and Marketing, has been promoted to the new position of Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer. At the same time, Jim Geisler, the company’s Senior VP of Operations, has been promoted to the new position of COO.
Weis Markets promoted Paul Stombaugh to VP/corporate controller. Weis Markets announced that Gretchen Suydan, former director of Marketing and Advertising for Farm Fresh, has joined the company as Director of Marketing. In addition, Weis Markets has promoted Brian Bosworth, a category manager with the company, to Sales Director, and Maria Panko, Center Store Category Manager, to Private Brands Manager
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Jump Oil Co. Inc. is selling its chain of gas stations and convenience stores and one other retail location in accordance with its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. Jump Oil is a Phillips 66 and Shell jobber. Twenty-four of its stores currently sell Conoco or Phillips 66 branded motor fuels, five sell Shell branded motor fuels and one currently sells Sinclair branded motor fuels. As part of the structured sale to be managed by Matrix Capital Group Inc., the company is also offering the sale of its related dealer leases and fuel supply agreements, and five unimproved parcels of commercial real estate. Thirty of the stores are currently operated by dealers who pay rent to the company and purchase fuel from Jump Oil at a specified markup over rack price. The dealer agreements can potentially be terminated by Jump Oil at the time of closing if the buyer or buyers wish to company-operate those locations. On the other hand, the agreements may be assigned if the buyer or buyers wishes to continue to lease the sites to the dealers and supply fuel to the locations, according to Matrix Capital.
Industry Insight:
Kroger Co. began construction of its first Marketplace superstore in South Carolina as part of a new mixed-use project on Hilton Head Island.
Real Estate:
ShopRite is seeking possibile new site locaitons for growth opportunities throughout MD and Washington, DC during the coming 18 months, with representation by Paraclete Realty.
Green Initiatives:
Six newly constructed Ahold supermarkets received LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The stores include Stop & Shop locations in Cranston, RI; Roslindale, MA; Arverne, NY; Oceanside, NY; a Giant-Landover location in Burtonsville, MD; and a Giant-Carlisle location in Trexlertown, PA,
Food Lion, Harveys Supermarket and Reid’s Groceries have been recognized for the 12th straight year with an Energy Star award from the Environmental Protection Agency. The award is given to organizations that exhibit leadership through the Energy Star program, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and establish an energy-efficiency plan.
LED lighting from Cree has been chosen by Tops Markets for a Geneva, N.Y., store, which opened in November.