Personnel Updates

• Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. (123) has promoted Jenny Love Meyer to Exec VP and Chief Culture Officer, a newly created role.

Financial Focus

• Dean Foods Company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to sell the company.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Parkland Fuel Corporation has entered into an agreement through its U.S. subsidiary Parkland USA to acquire Ken Bettridge Distributing Inc.

• Smoker Friendly International LLC has acquired Smoker’s Outlet, a 33-store chain operating in Missouri.

Industry Insight

• Aldi Inc. has recently added alcohol to its national grocery delivery partnership with Instacart.

• Kum & Go LLC will open an urban convenience store without gasoline in downtown Des Moines, IA. The 3,000 sq. ft. store is scheduled to open in spring 2020 and is a new concept for the retailer.

Real Estate

• Buc-ee’s Ltd. announced it will open its first Georgia location in 2021.

Technology News

• Under a partnership with Takeoff Technologies, Loblaw Companies Limited plans to pilot an automated warehouse inside a Toronto store to fulfill online grocery orders for its PC Express pickup service.