Personnel Updates
Albertsons announced that Tamara Pattison has been named Senior VP of Digital Marketing & eCommerce.
Acosta Sales & Marketing Co. announced that Tom Corley has joined the company as COO. He succeeds Greg Delaney who retired at the end of 2015 but remains a Director.
CST Brands hired Jenny Bullard as Director of Technology Innovation.
Coborn’s Inc. named Tom Williams Director of Produce and Floral Merchandising reporting to VP of Fresh Merchandising Emily Coborn.
Kroger announced the retirement of Rick Going, President of the company’s Nashville division. He will be succeeded by Zane Day, VP Operations for the Smith’s division. Current VP Katie Wolfram has been named President of the division, succeeding Jeff Burt, who recently was named president of Kroger’s Fred Meyer division. Jeff Wojtkowiak has been named VP of Operations for the company’s Atlanta Division replacing Charles Mitchell, who retired in December.
Publix promoted CFO David Phillips to Exec VP along with his CFO position. In addition, Kevin Murphy was named Senior VP of retail operations; Bob Bechtel will succeed him as Miami division VP and Sam Pero will become Lakeland division VP.
Golub Corp. has named President Scott Grimmett as the company’s new CEO. Grimmett will replace Jerry Golub, and he will be the first CEO in the company’s history that is not a member of the Golub family.
Schnucks Markets announced that Laura L. Freeman has been named its new Chief People Officer.
SUPERVALU INC. announced the appointment of Mark Gross as President and CEO, effective February 5, 2016. Gross succeeds Sam Duncan who has previously announced he will be retiring.
Industry Insight
Kroger plans to launch its online grocery-ordering system in Rutherford County, TN. In addition, the company is planning to add the grocery ordering service at five more Nashville-area stores this year.
Kroger opened a new store banner named Main & Vine banner. The 27,000-square-foot store located in Gig Harbor, WA, includes large selections of produce and bulk items, a cafe, a “Surprise & Delight” section with items such as local cheeses, imported wines and prepared foods, a “Nourishing Living Center” that allows shoppers to order health and beauty items to be shipped to their homes and an “Event Center” in the center of the store that will feature cooking demonstrations, tastings and a “What’s for Dinner Tonight” program.
Xpect Discounts, a discount food chain, plans to close its final three Connecticut locations.
Real Estate
Lidl has outlined its requirements for new stores it plans to open in the U.S. Site requirements include space for a 36,000 square foot stand-alone store on a minimum of 3.5 acres in densely populated areas with high vehicle traffic. Lidl said it preferred to purchase pads and sites.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Convenience store chain GPM Investments LLC announced two acquisitions: the purchase of 67 Apple Market Stores from Fuel USA, and 21 Gas-Mart USA Stores in the Midwest. Both deals are expected to close in the early half of 2016.
The Key Food Stores Co-Operative acquired the SuperFresh brand from bankrupt supermarket chain A&P.
Mother’s Market & Kitchen, a natural foods retailer with locations in California, has been acquired by Mill Road Capital, a private investment firm, with the hopes of eventually opening additional locations, the company announced.
