Personnel Updates

• C & S Wholesale Grocers Inc. (40) announced Chris Smith is joining the company as Chief Supply Chain Officer. He succeeds Peter Fiore, who plans to retire at the end of 2018.

• Kings Food Markets Inc. (44) announced it has hired Stephen Corradini as Senior VP of Merchandising and Marketing.

• Raley’s Family of Fine Stores (41) announced Keith Knopf, President and COO, has been promoted to President and CEO, succeeding Owner Michael Teel, who will continue as Chairman of the company.

• SpartanNash Company (76) announced Joseph McQuesten has been named Senior VP of Center Store and Fresh Merchandising.

• Tops Markets LLC (41) promoted Doug Stoll to Manager Retail Pricing, Analytics, and Ken Brown to Manager, Food Safety.

• United Natural Foods Inc. (19) has named COO Sean Griffin as incoming CEO of Supervalu Inc. Mr. Griffin will take over for Mark Gross, who is slated to step down upon Supervalu’s acquisition.

• Weis Markets Inc. (95) has promoted John Evans to the role of Director of Private Brands, reporting to Richard Gunn, Senior VP, Merchandising and Marketing.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Andeavor has acquired Croix Oil Co.’s convenience retailing assets, consisting of all 13 of Croix’s company-operated convenience stores.

• B&R Stores Inc. plans to buy the Heartland Foods supermarket in Beatrice, NE.

• Coen Markets Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the outstanding stock and operating assets of Pittsburgh-based CoGo’s Co., which operates 38 convenience stores in western and central Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland.

• Giant Eagle is buying Ricker Oil Co. Inc. The deal includes 56 stores.

• Marathon Petroleum Corporation and Andeavor have agreed to a merger.  The combined company’s headquarters will be in Findlay with an additional office in San Antonio, Andeavor’s hometown.

• Empire Company Limited is acquiring 26-store fresh grocer chain Farm Boy Inc. Plans call for Farm Boy to be set up as a separate company within Empire.

• Supervalu Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to sell 19 of its 36 Shop ‘n Save grocery stores, which are mainly located in the St. Louis area, to Schnuck Markets Inc.

Industry Insight

• Aldi is officially launching its grocery delivery to 75 major markets across the country, by Thanksgiving.

• Publix Super Markets Inc. plans to expand its headquarters and bolster its workforce. The Southeastern grocer said it aims to enlarge its corporate office in Lakeland, FL, and add 700 jobs by the end of 2027.

Real Estate

• 7-Eleven Inc. is opening its first location at a professional sports venue. The convenience store will open at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX.

• Giant Food Stores LLC announced it will debut a new, smaller store concept called “Giant Heirloom Market”. The first location will open later this year in Philadelphia, PA.

• McLane Comany Inc. has announced it will open its newest grocery distribution center, in Fort Worth, TX. The 625,000 sq. ft. facility is expected to open next year.

• Publix Super Markets Inc. opened its first GreenWise Market store format in Tallahassee, FL. The store is part of five planned GreenWise Market locations for the retailer.

• Sprouts Farmers Market has opened its first store in Pennsylvania.

• Whole Foods Market Inc. announced it will open its first two 365 stores in Georgia later this year, located in Decatur and Buckhead. The stores will include partnerships as part of the “Friends of Whole Foods Market” program and feature an onsite restaurant and a coffee shop.

Just because we don’t mention it here doesn’t mean it didn’t happen – or we didn’t capture it. In the past four weeks, we’ve updated more than 435 companies in the Supermarket, Grocery, & Convenience Stores PLUS Database, with many of those companies’ records updated at multiple points.