Personnel Updates
Kroger said that Scot Hendricks has been promoted to President of its delta division, based in Memphis and overseeing stores in western Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri. Hendricks succeeds Tim Brown, recently named President of Kroger’s Cincinnati/Dayton division.
Supervalu’s CFO of its Save-A-Lot division Rob Anderson will join PetSmart next month as its Senior VP and CFO.
Tedeschi Food Shops’ former employee Joe Hamza has joined Nouria Energy’s executive team as the convenience-store and fuel chain’s COO for retail and marketing.
Publix said that David Bridges, VP of fresh product business development, announced his decision to retire 01/01/2016. Chris Litz, Atlanta division regional director for Publix Super Markets, will become the company’s VP of fresh product business development
Industry Insight
Food Lion has expanded its Food Lion private label line to include produce, adding carrots, apples, potatoes, mushrooms, onions and other items.
Japanese retailer FamilyMart is closing all eight of its Famima!! convenience stores in the United States, is liquidating Famima Corp. USA and will withdraw from the United States
Marsh Supermarkets and the Indiana Grown Initiative have partnered to roll out kiosks at 50 of the chain’s grocery stores in the state that will promote up to 100 products grown or produced in Indiana. The partnership furthers the retailer’s commitment “to move locally sourced products from farm to table,” Marsh CEO Tom O’Boyle said.
Grocery delivery service Instacart launched services in the Minneapolis area and said the city will be the first test market for new retail partner Target. Instacart’s national retail partners include Whole Foods, Costco and Petco.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Kocolene Marketing is selling its 14 Fast Max convenience stores to Circle K.
A US Bankruptcy Court judge has approved the sale of 95 Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. stores for $370 million, with 71 units going to Acme Markets and 24 stores to the Stop & Shop Supermarket Co.
Woods Supermarket acquired three Paul’s Supermarket locations. The three stores, located in Eldon, Osage Beach and Lake Ozark, will retain the family-owned and operated tradition of Paul’s, including employees.
Lund Food Holdings Inc. purchased Glen Lake’s Market in Minnetonka, MN.
Real Estate
CST Brands Inc. will open 40 to 50 new locations across the U.S. and Canada in 2016. The company is seeking to establish its own identity after spinning off from Valero Energy Corp.
H-E-B opened a location in Texas City, TX
Hy-Vee opened locations in New Hope and Oakdale, MN.
Mi Pueblo Supermarket will open a location in Gadsden, AL.
QuikTrip will open a store near Lincoln, KS, with more stores planned for the Wichita area.
Grocery Outlet will open 14 stores throughout the Los Angeles area beginning this December, and continuing at a rapid pace throughout 2016.
Smart & Final Stores said it plans to open more than 100 stores in the next four years as part of “Project 100.”
Green
Hy-Vee said it has been awarded two GreenChill program awards from the EPA for its efforts to reduce refrigerant emissions at store level.
