In Other Business News

Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Fareway Stores Inc. has begun accepting PayPal and Venmo payments for transactions at all its stores.

• Harps Food Stores Inc. announced Robert Acord has been promoted to VP of Pharmacy; Layne Chastain has been promoted to VP of Meat & Seafood; Mike Roberts has been promoted to VP of Produce; Hydie Hale has been promoted to VP of Bakery and Deli; Shannon Kincade has been promoted to VP of General Merchandise; and Randall Harp has been promoted to VP of Distribution & Grocery Procurement.

• King Kullen Grocery Co. Inc. reported that James A. Cullen Jr. has been appointed as Chairman, taking over from Ronald Conklin who retired.

• SpartanNash Company announced David Petko has been promoted to Exec VP. The company also promoted Adrienne Chance to Senior VP of Communications.

• T & T Supermarket Inc. plans to open four new stores in 2022, including its first Quebec supermarket, in Montreal.

• Weis Markets Inc. announced Mike Gross has joined the company as VP of Center-Store Sales and Merchandising.

Retail

• Citi Trends Inc. plans to open 35 new stores and remodel 50 store locations this year.

• Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. reported it will open a 20,000 sq. ft. Dick’s House of Sport store in Minnetonka, MN, in May.

• Floor & Decor Outlets of America said it plans to open 32 locations this year with as many as 500 openings over the next 8 to 10 years.

• Lululemon Athletica Inc. announced it will begin selling running shoes for women starting March 22. The retailer said a separate footwear line for men will debut next year.

• Macy’s, Inc. announced that Emily Erusha-Hilleque has joined the company as Senior VP for Macy’s Private Brands.

• Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation has agreed to acquire Lifemark Health Group.

• Talbert Building Supply has opened its sixth branch after purchasing the Danville, VA, location of Plyer Supply Company.

• True Value Company reported that it will acquire The Yenkin-Majestic Paint Corporation, an Ohio-based manufacturer of coatings and coatings resins.

• Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. reported that Elena Kraus, Senior VP and General Counsel, is leaving the company.

• Walmart Stores Inc. announced it plans to open a new 1.8 million sq. ft. e-commerce fulfillment center in Shippensburg, PA.

• Walmart Stores Inc. reported it plans to add more than 50,000 associates across its U.S. operations in the fiscal 2023 first quarter to help drive growth and innovation.

Restaurant

• BBQ Holdings Inc. has purchased Barrio Queen for $28 million and the deal is expected to be completed in April.

• Blaze Pizza has signed a franchise agreement to bring three new units to Chattanooga, TN over the next several years.

• Eggs Up Grill has opened a new location in Johnson City, TN.

• Fazoli’s CEO Carl Howard has retired. Doug Bostick will be promoted to the role of President and will lead the company.

• Marco’s Pizza has signed a 46-unit development deal for the Phoenix area over the next 6 years.

• Red Lobster has hired David Schmidt as Chief Financial Officer.

• Starbucks announced that CEO Kevin Johnson will be retiring on April 4th, 2022. Former CEO and founder Howard Schultz will take over as interim CEO on that date until a replacement can be found.

• Torchy’s Tacos founder Mike Rypka is returning to the company as CEO.

• Twin Peaks will be bringing 7 new locations to Chicago starting in 2023. A new location will open each year.

• Whataburger has hired Elena Kraus as Executive VP and Chief Legal Officer.

• Wing Zone has hired Myles Gift as VP of Operations.

• Wingstop CEO Charlie Morrison has resigned to become the CEO of Salad and Go. Current President and COO Michael Skipworth will take over as CEO of Wingstop.