Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store
• Amazon.com Inc. is planning to open at least 28 new Amazon Fresh stores soon.
• The Fresh Market Inc. has made a preliminary filing for an initial public offering.
• The Giant Company announced Glennis Harris is joining the company as Senior VP of Customer Experience, succeeding John Ponnett, who is retiring.
• Hy-Vee Inc. plans to open 40 new locations in 2021.
• Plum Market announced it has opened a new store location in Cleveland, OH.
• Schnuck Markets Inc. plans to launch Schnucks Fresh, a smaller-format store set to open this summer in Jasper, IN.
• Sobeys Inc. plans to buy a 51% stake in Canadian grocer Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc.
• SpartanNash Company announced it has promoted Todd Riksen to VP, Corporate Controller. Tammy Hurley, VP of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer, will retire on April 23. The retailer appointed Jason Monaco as Exec VP and CFO. He will assume the position from Mark Shamber, who will remain with the company through the end of April to assist with a transition.
Retail
• Christopher & Banks Corporation announced that Keri Jones has resigned as President, CEO.
• Primark USA has opened its first store in the Midwest, in Chicago, IL. The retailer has also signed leases for a new store in Philadelphia and two stores in New York.
• Rocky’s Ace Hardware has acquired Clarke’s Hardware in New London, NH.
• Scotch & Soda will open 15 stores during the next six months, part of its three-year strategic plan to open at least 100 new stores and remodel at least 150 locations by the end of 2023.
• Tailored Brands, Inc. announced that Dinesh Lathi will step down from his role as President and CEO.
• Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. announced that Dave Kimbell, President of the company, will succeed Mary Dillon as CEO on June 2. In other changes, Kecia Steelman will be promoted to the role of COO.
• Walmart Canada plans to invest more than $500 million this year to remodel its stores.
• Walmart Stores Inc. has hired Brandon Maxwell as Creative Director for its fashion brands.
Restaurant
• Burger King announced that Tom Curtis has been hired as the company’s new COO.
• Crave Hot Dogs & Barbecue will be opening a new location in Concord, NC.
• Golden Corral Buffet & Grill has opened a new location in Effingham, IL.
• Noodles & Company announced that they have taken the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge. They join almost 2,000 other companies that have taken the pledge.
• Pizza Hut has launched a new marketing campaign that features an augmented reality version of the Pac-Man game that customers can interact with using their smartphone.
• Slim Chickens will be opening an express location at Pennsylvania State University later this year.
• Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill has named Nichole Robillard as VP of Marketing.
• Starbucks Coffee will be testing their new cold pressed coffee at select locations later this year. The company also announced that they plan to achieve carbon neutrality for their green coffee by 2030.
• Subway will be moving some of their departments away from their Connecticut headquarters and to Miami in 2022.
• Taco John’s has added a new value menu to all of their restaurants after a successful test run last year.
• Texas Roadhouse founder and CEO Kent Taylor has passed away. President Jerry Morgan has been promoted to the role of CEO as per a succession plan that Taylor laid out before his death.
• The Halal Guys have signed an agreement to open their first location in Ohio later this year.
• TopGolf International, Inc announced that Artie Starrs will take over as CEO effective April 5th.
• Torchy’s Tacos is planning to propose and IPO later this year.
• Walk-On’s Enterprises will be opening a new location in Melbourne, FL.
• Wingstop Restaurants Inc. announced that Chief Development Officer Madison Jobe has retired. No replacement has been named at this time.
