Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store
• 7-Eleven Inc. recently laid off 900 of its corporate staff members.
• Amazon.com Inc. recently opened new Amazon Fresh stores in Paramus, NJ and Oceanside, NY. The retailer’s Amazon Fresh first locations in those states.
• The Giant Company has promoted Manuel Haro to VP Finance and Strategy. Tim Santoro has been named Divisional VP of greater Philadelphia. Daren Russ has been promoted to the role of VP of Omnichannel Operations. Joanna Crishock was promoted to VP of Marketing and Commercial Planning.
• H-E-B has opened a new 50,000 sq. ft. e-commerce fulfillment center in Leander, TX.
• Hy-Vee Inc. announced Aaron Wiese will take over as its new CEO, succeeding current Chairman and CEO Randy Edeker. The transition will take place October 1.
• Mountain Express Oil Inc. has acquired Team Schierl Companies. The transaction includes 26 convenience stores with gasoline in Wisconsin and Michigan.
• Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. announced Irene Willins has been promoted to VP of Finance.
Retail
• Caleres reported that Diane Sullivan will retire as CEO January 15, 2023 and will assume the role of Executive Chairman. Jay Schmidt, currently the company’s President, will succeed her as CEO.
• Dollar General Corp. plans to build three new distribution centers in North Little Rock, AR, Aurora, CO, and Salem, OR.
• Dollar Tree Stores Inc. announced Bobby Aflatooni has joined the company as its new CIO.
• Forever 21 Inc. reported it will move its headquarters to downtown Los Angeles, CA.
• Gucci America Inc. has opened its first store location in the state of Ohio.
• Isabel Marant has opened a new location in New York City. It is the biggest store in the company, at 2,950 sq. ft.
• Lids Sports Group is opening a new concept, called Lids U, dedicated to collegiate sports product and apparel. The first Lids U opened this month in Gurnee, IL. The retailer plans to expand the concept with approximately 11 locations in 2022 in AL, GA, IN, LA, NC, SC, and TX.
• Macy’s Inc. announced it plans to open three new The Market by Macy’s stores this fall.
• Nordstrom Inc. announced it will open two new Nordstrom Rack locations in spring 2023. The retailer will open a 24,000 sq. ft. Nordstrom Rack in Chattanooga, TN, and a 28,000 sq. ft. location in Wichita, Kansas.
• Target Corporation said it plans to open three new distribution centers in the next year, two in greater Chicago and one in the Denver metro area.
• Vera Bradley, Inc. announced that its President and CEO, Robert Wallstrom, plans to retire by early 2023.
• Walmart Stores Inc. plans to remodel 28 of its stores in Wisconsin.
• W.E. Aubuchon Co. Inc. announced it will acquire Martin’s Hardware & Building Supply in Vermont.
• Williams-Sonoma, Inc. said that Ryan Ross, President, has resigned. The company has appointed Felix Carbullido, formerly Exec VP and Chief Marketing Officer, as the new President.
Restaurant
• Caribou Coffee has hired Matthew Walls as Chief Franchise Operator.
• Chipotle is planning a second menu price increase in August after seeing positive benefits from their previous increase.
• Clean Juice has opened a new franchised location in Jacksonville, FL. This location is their first in partnership with former NFL player Tim Tebow.
• Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is opening their second location in Pakistan.
• Fatburger has opened a new location in Wichita, KS.
• FOCUS Brands has hired Mike Woodward as Senior VP of Franchise Sales.
• McDonald’s Corporation has raised their prices and their CEO does not see automation as a solution to rising inflation costs.
• Southern Proper Hospitality Group has hired Christopher Harter as COO.