Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Bristol Farms plans to open a new 31,000 sq. ft. Lazy Acres location in Los Feliz, CA, in 2022.

• Buehler’s Fresh Foods has appointed Rich Bidinger as VP of Construction, Real Estate and Store Operations Support.

• Circle K Stores Inc. announced it expects to add 20,000 new employees this summer.

• Foxtrot Ventures Inc. announced Mitch Madoff has joined the company as Senior VP of Private Label and Supply Chain, and Tae Strain as Corporate Executive Chef.

• FreshDirect Inc. announced its co-founder and CEO David McInerney has stepped down. Farhan Siddiqi will take over as interim CEO.

• The Kroger Co. has launched a pilot to deliver online grocery orders by autonomous drones.

• Refuel Operating Company, LLC has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Wag-A-Bag Inc., which owns and operates 16 convenience stores in the greater Austin, TX, market.

• Sysco Corporation recently named Ron Phillips as its new Exec VP and Chief Human Resources Officer.

Retail

• Ashley Stewart announced it has named Lloyd Boston as Chief Creative Officer.

• Best Buy Co. Inc. announced Mike Mohan will step down as President and COO of Best Buy, effective on July 1.

• Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. is opening a new off-price concept called Going, Going, Gone! New stores will open on May 28 in Avon, IN, and Monroeville, PA.

• Gap Inc. has entered into an agreement to sell its luxury apparel brand Intermix, including its 31 store locations.

• L.L. Bean Inc. announced it will open seven stores in 2021. The retailer plans new locations in MA, NH, NY, and 4 stores in Canada.

• Lowe’s Companies Inc. said it plans to fill 50,000 full- and part-time positions this spring.

• Tailored Brands, Inc. announced John Tighe has been appointed Exec VP and Chief Customer Officer, Karla Gray has assumed the role of Exec VP and Chief Stores Officer, and Tim Cooksey has joined the retailer as Senior VP of Real Estate.

• Tapestry, Inc. named Scott A. Roe as CFO, effective June 1, 2021. He replaces Andrea Shaw Resnick, who has acted as Interim CFO and will assume the newly created role of Chief Communications Officer.

• US LBM Holdings, LLC reported that it is acquiring Higginbotham Bros. & Co. LLC.

• Walmart Canada plans to open a new distribution center in Moncton, NB, in the fall of 2022.

Restaurant

• Arctic Circle Restaurants Inc. has promoted Kasey Christensen to President.

• BurgerFi has hired Henry Gonzalez as Chief Marketing Officer.

• Doctor’s Associates Inc. has named Donagh Herlihy to the roles of Chief Digital Officer and Chief Information Officer.

• Freddy’s Frozen Custards & Steakburgers announced that Randy Simon has stepped down as CEO and he will be replaced by Chris Dull.

• Greens Restaurant Group LLC announced that tennis star Naomi Osaka has become the brand’s first national athlete ambassador and youngest investor.

• Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs has opened a new franchised location in Birmingham, Al.

• Dutch Bros. Coffee could be moving towards an IPO later this year.

• Jack in the Box has hired Steve Piano as Chief People Officer and Carlson Choi as Chief Information Officer.

• Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation has filed the paperwork to launch an IPO this year.

• Shake Shack has promoted Diane Neville to Chief People Officer.

• The Hummus & Pita Co. have opened a new flagship location in Los Angeles, CA.