Personnel Updates:
Ahold USA announced that Paula Price is stepping down as Exec VP and CFO. Current Senior VP B0usiness Planning and Performance Dan Sullivan would become the new Exec VP and CFO, effective Jan. 1. Sullivan will report to COO James McCann.
Natural and organic food retailer Alfalfa’s said that John Varsames has been named VP Operations.
Associated Food Holdings said that Stuart Stoller has been appointed CFO.
Coborn’s Inc. promoted four of its executives on 1-1-2014: District Managers Dave Meyer, Bruce Miller and Rick Parker and Marketing Director Dennis Host. Meyer will be promoted to VP of Operations; Miller will be promoted to VP of Coborn’s Stores; Parker will be promoted to VP of Cash Wise Stores; and Host will be promoted to VP of Marketing.
The Kroger Co. announced that Paul W. Heldman, a 31-year Kroger veteran who has been serving as the company’s general counsel since 1989, secretary since 1992, and Exec VP since 2006, will retire in the spring of 2014. He will be succeeded by Christine S. Wheatley, currently Kroger’s VP Senior Counsel and assistant secretary.
The Kroger Co. announced that Mark Tuffin, President of the company’s Smith’s Food & Drug Division, has been named Senior VP of Kroger’s Retail Divisions. He succeeds Michael Ellis, who has been promoted to become Kroger’s President and COO.
Publix Super Markets Miami division VP Bill Fauerbach has announced his decision to retire at the end of March 2014. Stepping into the role in his place will be Kevin Murphy on 4-1-2014.
Safeway announced that it has named Brian Baer, most recently the President of its Dominick’s division in Chicago, as President of the company’s Eastern Division.
Stater Bros. Markets announced the promotion of David Harris to the position of Exec VP Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer.
Financial Focus:
Ingles Markets reported fiscal 2013 sales of $3.738 billion.
The Pantry reported fiscal 2013 sales $7.821 billion.
Stater Bros. Holdings reported fiscal 2013 sales of $3.873 billion.
Unified Grocers LA reported fiscal 2013 sales of $3.7 billion.
Industry Insight:
Delhaize America said its Green Cove Springs, FL distribution center serving Harveys stores would close upon the completion of the sale of the chain to Bi-Lo Holdings 2-9-2014.
Natural Markets Food Group is shuttering its six Fresh & Green’s supermarkets in the Washington, DC and Maryland market at the end of December.
Piggly Wiggly Carolina said it will shut down its warehouses in North Charleston and in Jedberg, SC and outsource its distribution to C&S Wholesale Grocers.
TCF National Bank, which has local branches at 155 Jewel-Osco stores, said it plans to close 37 of those locations at stores in Illinois and Indiana by the end of March 2014.
Jewel-Osco is set to reopen four Dominick’s locations January 2014 in Chicago. The stores, acquired from Safeway last month, will be rebranded, have different signs and feature “other noticeable changes,” a spokeswoman says.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Albertson’s sold its Amarillo and Wichita Falls, TX stores to Lawrence Brothers in hopes of gaining Federal Trade Commission approval of its purchase of United Supermarkets.
Dan’s SuperMarket announced that its two Dickinson locations have been sold to SpartanNash Co. The transaction and a name change are expected before the New Year.
Roundy’s Markets has signed a definitive agreement to pay $36 million in cash to Safeway to purchase 11 Chicago-area Dominick’s locations, which will be converted to the Mariano’s banner early next year.
TravelCenters of America LLC announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of 31 convenience stores with retail gasoline stations for $67.9 million from Fred’s Minit Mart LCC, Bowling Green, KY.
Real Estate:
Giant Eagle opened its first Market District Express in Pittsburgh.
Walmart is scheduled to open a 45,000-sq. ft. grocery store in Escondido, CA, January 2014.
Green Initiatives:
Food Lion debuted a new store format at a current remodeled location in Concord, NC. The store has a walk-in cooler to keep produce fresh and a wider selection of organic and gluten-free products.
