Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store
• Couche-Tard Inc. plans to acquire an independent convenience store and fuel network with 79 company owned locations under the Esso, Wilsons Gas Stops and Go! Store brands.
• Parkland USA has entered into an agreement to acquire Red Carpet Carwash, a 12-unit car wash, retail fuel and convenience-store business located in western North Dakota.
• Refuel Operating Company, LLC has entered into an agreement to acquire Albemarle Oil Co. Inc., with 28 conveniences stores in North Carolina and South Carolina.
• United Natural Foods Inc. announced that it has named J. Alexander Miller Douglas, Jr. as its next CEO, replacing Steven Spinner.
Retail
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. reported it will open two new regional distribution centers. The first will be located in Frackville, PA, and will open in fall 2021. The second will open in 2022, in Southern California.
• Bloomingdale’s will officially open the first location of its all-new store concept “Bloomie’s” in Fairfax, VA, on August 26.
• Boise Cascade LLC announced that it has promoted Tom Hoffmann to Senior VP.
• Conn’s HomePlus has appointed Chandra Holt as CEO and President. She succeeds Norm Miller, who will transition to the role of Executive Chairman.
• Designer Brands Inc. announced exclusive distribution for Hush Puppies in North America, through a partnership with Wolverine Worldwide, Inc.
• Dollar General Corp. has promoted Sanja Krajnovic to Senior VP of Store Operations.
• Foot Locker Inc. has entered into a deal to acquire footwear and apparel retailer WSS, which operates 93 stores in California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada. In addition, Foot Locker will acquire Text Trading Company, which owns and licenses a streetwear brand based in Japan.
• Nation’s Best Holdings LLC announced it has acquired Hipp Modern Builders Lumber & Hardware in Mountain View, AR, and Panhandle Lumber & Supply in Bonifay, FL.
• Signet Jewelers Limited is debuting a new brand name, Banter by Piercing Pagoda. The retailer plans to roll out the new name to more than 500 U.S. locations. Banter by Piercing Pagoda plans to open up to 100 new locations in its current fiscal year.
• Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. reported it has acquired activewear brand Sweaty Betty.
Restaurant
• Church’s Chicken has been purchased by High Bluff Capital Partners.
• Crave Hot Dogs & Barbecue has opened a new location in Jackson, MI.
• Dog Haus International LLC has added plant based menu items featuring Beyond Meat chicken tenders.
• Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has hired Paul Damico as CEO.
• Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs has opened a new location in Jefferson City, TN.
• Ike’s Love & Sandwiches will be opening their first location in Denver, CO.
• Panera Bread, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Caribou Coffee have combined to form Panera Brands. Panera CEO Niren Chaudhary will oversee the new group.
• Scooter’s Coffee LLC has hired Richard Heyman as Chief Information Officer.
• Slim Chickens has opened a new location in Tuscaloosa, AL.
• Starbucks Coffee has accelerated the timeline for wage increases from January to October.
• The Dolly Llama will be expanding into Bethlehem, PA, in 2022.
• The Kroger Co. has partnered with Kitchen United to offer delivery meals from area restaurants that are prepared by Kitchen United off-premise restaurants located within Kroger.
• TopGolf International, Inc. has promoted Genifer Gray to COO. The company has also hired Geoff Cottrill as Chief Marketing Officer and Kristi Maynor as Chief People Officer.
• Tropical Smoothie Café has opened four new restaurants in Chicago, IL.
• Walk-On’s Enterprises has opened a new location in Katy, TX.
