Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Aldi Inc. plans to open about 150 new stores in 2022 in the U.S., including its first location in Louisiana.

• The Kroger Co. announced that Mark Tuffin, Senior VP of Retail Divisions, will be retiring on April 1. Kenny Kimball will be taking over for him.

• Kum & Go L.C. is introducing a new store prototype. The “Bistro” convenience store format is under 4,000 sq. ft. and designed for desirable locations that are too small for the retailer’s other store models.

• Murphy USA Inc. announced it plans to open as many as 45 new stores and remodel 35 locations in 2022.

• SpartanNash Company announced that customers are now able to pick up three complimentary N95 masks at pharmacies inside its corporate-owned grocery stores.

• Wakefern Food Corp. has announced Jeffrey Mondelli has been named VP of Grocery, Pat Mooney has been named VP of HBC and Nonfoods, Seth Nieman has been promoted to VP of Merchandising Support, Harshil Patel >

• ABC Supply Co. Inc. announced that it has acquired Seattle Cedar Supply, which has a single location at Snohomish, WA.
has been promoted to Director of Pharmacy, and Francisco Alberto has been promoted to Director of Marketing and Sales Planning. Also, Michael Day has now assumed responsibility for Business Development and Member Services, as well as the Real Estate Division.
 

Retail

• Amazon.com Inc. announced it has raised the price of its annual Prime membership from $119 to $139.

• The Container Store Inc. announced it will introduce a new loyalty program and launch a new mobile app at the end of March.

• Costco Wholesale Corp. has promoted COO Ron Vachris to President of the company.

• Do it Best Corp. announced Jake Willison has been named as a Software Engineer.

• Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. reported it will open its first New York City location next year, in Staten Island.

• Howard’s Appliances Inc. has announced Sabrina Bradford Warden as its new VP of E-Commerce.

• The Orvis Co. Inc. appointed Sheila Shekar Pollak to the newly created role of Chief Brand Experience Officer.

• PVH Corp. has appointed Zac Coughlin as Exec VP and CFO, effective April 4.

• The Sherwin-Williams Co. will open a new global headquarters in downtown Cleveland, OH. The new headquarters is expected to open by the end of 2024.

• Walmart Stores Inc. reported that Musab Balbale, VP and General Manager of Beauty, is leaving the company. He will be joining CVS Health as Senior VP and Chief Merchant at the end of the month.
 

Restaurant

• Artichoke Basille’s Pizza has opened a new location in Jersey City, NJ.

• Blaze Pizza Chief Culinary Officer Bradford Kent is planning to open his own restaurant, Bagel + Slice, in Los Angeles later this month.

• Cheba Hut has opened a new location in Albuquerque, NM.

• Chicken Guy! has hired Mark Ramage as VP of Franchise Sales.

• Clean Juice has promoted B. Quick Chadwick to Chief Marketing Officer.

• Dunkin’ Donuts has purchased 31 franchised locations with no plans to resell them.

• Huey Magoo’s has plans to open 50 new locations by the end of the year.

• Jeremiah’s Italian Ice has opened a new location in Melbourne, FL.

• Krystal has hired Manny Rodriguez as VP of Operations.

• la Madeleine has promoted Christine Johnson to COO.

• Taco John’s has opened a new location in Topeka, KS.

• The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill will be opening a new location in on February 14 in Charleston, SC.

• Wienerschnitzel has promoted president J.R. Galardi to the role of CEO and President.

• Zaxby’s has opened a new location in Chattanooga, TN.