Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store
• Alta Convenience has acquired Western Oil’s 46 Petro-Mart convenience stores and 39 wholesale dealers.
• Hy-Vee Inc. announced that Jay Marshall, Vice Chairman and President of Supply Chain, and Mike Skokan, Exec VP, CFO and Treasurer, are retiring. The company has promoted Jeremy Gosch to President and COO, Aaron Wiese to Vice Chairman and President of Supply Chain, and Andy Schreiner to Senior VP, CFO and Treasurer.
• The Kroger Co. announced that it has named Laura Gump as President of its Houston division.
• The Kroger Co. plans to build a 200,000 sq. ft. Ocado-powered automated warehouse in North Carolina.
• Kwik Trip Inc. reported it is switching to pre-payment only at its fuel dispensers beginning next year.
• Meijer Inc. announced plans to open a 40,000 sq. ft. store in Cleveland, OH, in 2023.
• Pilot Flying J has acquired Southern Counties Oil.
• Raley’s Family of Fine Stores announced the completion of its acquisition of Bashas’ Inc.
• Speedway LLC announced Exec VP and COO Glenn Plumby will retire at the end of first-quarter 2022.
• United Natural Foods Inc. reported that Mark Bushway has been promoted to Chief Supply Chain Officer.
Retail
• Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. reported Corey Whitely has been promoted to the position of Exec VP, Operations. Amy Franks has been promoted to Exec VP, Retail Network & Business Development. Matthew McNulty has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Treasurer and CFO.
• Hot Topic Inc. announced its CFO George Wehlitz will retire at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2022.
• Janie and Jack LLC has appointed Linda Heasley as President and CEO.
• JCPenney Company, Inc. announced a curated assortment of products from Forever 21 Inc. will be available in 100 JCPenney stores and online at jcpenney.com.
• L & W Supply has opened a new branch in New Castle, DE. It’s the third in the state for the company.
• Motherhood Maternity has made a return to brick and mortar and opened two new A Pea in the Pod stores in Chicago and New York.
• Nike Inc. and Designer Brands Inc. announced it will stop selling its products in DSW stores in 2022.
• Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. is teaming up with delivery provider Delivery Solutions to launch same-day delivery in 40 stores across 10 major U.S. markets.
• RH reported that it will begin its global expansion in 2022 with the opening of RH England.
• Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. announced that nine Village Medical at Walgreens primary care practices are set to open over the next year.
• Walmart Stores Inc. plans to open its first fulfillment center in the state of Utah. The 1 million sq. ft. fulfillment center will open in Salt Lake City in summer 2022.
• Your Building Centers Inc. announced that it is acquiring Allensville Planing Mill Inc.
Restaurant
• Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar will be selling NFT’s as part of their “Metaverse Mondays” promotion.
• Dave’s Hot Chicken has opened a new location in Port Hueneme, CA.
• Dog Haus International LLC has partnered with Impossible Foods to launch the delivery-only The Impossible Shop that will operate out of 40 existing Dog Haus locations.
• Krystal has partnered with Victor Cruz to bring five locations to New Jersey by 2023. The new restaurants will be branded as “Victor Cruz’s Krystal”.
• Landry’s Restaurants Inc. owner Tilman Fertitta will pay $33 million to back out of his SPAC merger with Fast Acquisition Group.
• McDonald’s Corporation settled a lawsuit and paid $6.5 million to former operators James and Darrell Byrd after the franchisees accused the company of favoring white operators.