Personnel Updates
Bi-Lo Holdings announced that Randall Onstead, President and CEO, is leaving, effective March 1, 2015.
The Fresh Market announced that Craig Carlk, President and CEO, and a member of the Board of Directors, has left the company and has resigned as a member of the board. The board has appointed Sean Crane, Exec VP and COO, as interim CEO.
Lucky’s Market appointed Steve Black as President.
Natural Markets Food Group named Tim Milano Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer.
Fran Duskiewicz retired from Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes.
Quik Mart founder Wes Little passed away.
RaceTrac Petroleum named Billy Milam President.
Insights
Chevron will install Apple Pay.
Unified Grocers Inc. will become the primary supplier for all of Haggen’s newly acquired stores in California, Nevada, and Arizona, and will be a substantial supplier for the Oregon and Washington stores.
QuikTrip introduced a made-to-order food concept in 87 Phoenix locations.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Albertsons and Safeway have entered into agreements to sell 168 stores across eight states to: Associated Food Stores (8), Associated Wholesale Grocers (12), Supervalu (2), and Haggen (146).
Couche-Tard will acquire The Pantry. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2015.
CST Brands Inc. and CrossAmerica Partners LP announced that they have agreed to jointly purchase 22 convenience stores in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, from Landmark Industries.
Empire Petroleum Partners LLC has acquired 13 former Corner Store locations in Colorado from CST Brands Inc.
GPM Southeast LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of GPM Investments LLC, signed an agreement with Arey Oil Co. Inc., to acquire eight One Stop Food Store convenience stores with gasoline sales. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015.
Arthur T. Demoulas completed the $1.6 billion deal to acquire Market Basket.
Spinx is converting 13 Gas Stations to the Shell brand.
Stater Bros. announced that the Vons Supermarket located in Hemet, FL, will become a Stater Bros. Supermarket.
Tops Friendly Markets is closing pharmacy departments in 27 of its 162 locations this month and transferring pharmacy prescriptions and inventory to 5 CVS/Pharmacy and 22 Rite Aid locations near each affected store.
Real Estate
Aldi is opening a 17,000-sq. ft. location in Garner, NC, and will open a store in Roseville, MN.
Harris Teeter is closing one of its stores in Nashville, TN.
Heinen’s is building a $9 million expanded facility in Warrensville Heights. It will be 70,000 sq.-ft. and is expected to be completed in 2016.
The Kroger Co. will be investing millions to renovate, expand, and add fuel centers to it Michigan stores over the next 10 years. It is also renovating one of its stores in Louisville, KY.
Lucky’s Market opened a store in Gainesville, FL.
Market Street Grocery will open in downtown Pittsburgh.
Mom’s Organic Market will open in Philadelphia in 2016.
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage will open its first store in Tucson, AZ, and plans to open 18 stores in 2015.
Publix Super Markets opened a store in Mint Hill, NC.
QuikTrip is opening two stores in Wichita, KS.
Save-A-Lot will open a store in Columbia, SC.
Sprouts Farmers Market announced that it plans to open its first stores in Tennessee and Missouri in 2015, as well as locations in Fort Worth, TX; Hoover, AL; Lawrence, KS; Owasso, OK; Peoria, AZ; San Rafael, CA; Smyrna, GA; and Wheat Ridge, CO.
A Sunoco near Pittsburgh International Airport is closing for renovation.
Trader Joe’s will open a store in Orlando, FL.
Walmart opened a Neighborhood Market in San Antonio, TX; Waxhaw, NC; Citrus Heights, CA; Springfield, MO; and will open a store in Charlotte, NC.
Wawa is opening two stores in Polk County, FL, and plans open 100 stores in the Tampa-Orlando area by the end of 2016.
Wegmans will open a store in Chantilly, VA.
Whole Foods opened a store in Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; and will open four stores in South Florida.
