Personnel Updates:
A&P said Paul Hertz has been named President and CEO, effective immediately. Hertz, who had been A&P’s COO since 2010, assumes the role vacated by Sam Martin late last year. Greg Mays, who had been leading the company since Martin’s departure, will continue to serve as Chairman of the board of directors.
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. announced that corporation founder Alain Bouchard has decided to take a new role as founder and Executive Chairman of the board of directors starting Sept. 24, 2014, the date of the next Couche-Tard shareholders’ annual meeting. Couche-Tard’s COO Brian Hannasch will be promoted to the position of President and CEO.
Associated Grocers of New England promoted Cindy Caldwell to VP of Finance and Chris Lyle to Comptroller.
Key Food Stores Co-operative hired John Durante as VP of Business Development for the New York-based independent store network, effective 4-14-2014.
Kroger announced that Senior VP Robert “Pete” Williams plans to retire in May 2014 after 37 years with the company. No successor has been named.
Weis Markets said that Brian Bosworth, the company’s Center Store Sales Manager, has been promoted to the role of Director of Center Store Sales. At the same time, Maria Panko, Manager of Private Brands, has been promoted to Senior Manager, Private Brands and specialty, organic, natural and ethnic foods. And John Evans has been promoted to Center Store Sales Manager.
The Spinx Co. Inc. has announced the promotion of Cheryl Szczesniak, CIO, and Steven Visser, CFO, to the convenience store retailer’s executive leadership team.
SUPERVALU Inc. named Mike Stigers President of Cub Foods. At Cub he succeeds Brian Audette, who will become Senior VP of merchandising, marketing and sales for Supervalu’s wholesale division — a new position.
The Pantry, Inc. announced the Board of Directors of the Company has elected Thomas W. “Tad” Dickson, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Inc., to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors effective April 2, 2014. He replaces Edwin J. Holman who was Chairman of the Board since September 2009.
Financial Focus:
Associated Wholesale Grocers reported fiscal 2014 sales of $8.4 billion.
Industry Insight:
Unified Grocers has renewed its supply agreement with independent grocer Haggen for an additional five years. “The new agreement will provide additional efficiencies for both companies while providing consistent execution with access to the greatest variety of products for Haggen’s customers,” said Leon Bergmann, Unified’s executive vice president of sales and procurement.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
A 62,000-sq. ft. Dominick’s store in the Chicago area purchased by Butera Finer Foods Inc. will be converted into a Piggly Wiggly.
Real Estate:
7-Eleven (Hawaii) plans to double the number of stores in Hawaii to 100 and employees to 1,600 over the next few years.
Mariano’s/Roundy’s Supermarkets CEO Robert Mariano announced plans to transition eight former Dominick’s stores into Mariano’s by the end of 2014, with a goal of operating about 50 stores in the Chicago market. The company hopes to launch a Mariano’s brand line in 2015, Mariano said.
Mrs. Green’s Natural Market announced it planned to open more than 20 new stores this year, more than doubling the size of the Irvington, N.Y.-based natural foods retailer.
