Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

Free Trial• 7-Eleven Inc. and Speedway LLC are hosting a National Hiring Day event on April 25 across more than 13,000 locations in the United States and Canada. The convenience retailer is looking to hire employees to fill 50,000 positions.

• B & R Stores Inc. reported it has promoted Nick Kelso to the position of VP Store Operations.

• The Food Industry Association has promoted Dana Graber to Associate General Counsel and Senior Director, Legal and Regulatory Affairs.

• Fresh Thyme Market is launching a new service enabling customers to pick up online orders at its stores.

• Kwik Trip Inc. announced it plans to open its first convenience store in Illinois. The company expects to open 32 new locations, including 10 in Minnesota, by early 2024.

• Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. reported it plans to remodel 200 locations during the next five years.

• Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. has completed the acquisition of Carey Johnson Oil Co. The transaction includes 22 stores.

• Meijer Inc. announced it will open 159,000 sq. ft. supercenters in Elkhart, IN, and Warren and Wooster, OH, in May.

• Pilot Flying J announced Adam Wright will join the company as CEO and Joe Lillo will become CFO, on May 30. The CEO, Shameek Konar, and CFO, Kevin Wills, will leave their positions.

• Whole Foods Market Inc. has opened a new 50,000 sq. ft. store in Rochester, NY.

 

Retail

• Bath & Body Works announced that Wendy Arlin will step down as CFO, effective July 29. The retailer has started a search for a new CFO. The retailer also named Thilina Gunasinghe to the new role of Chief Digital & Technology Officer, effective April 17.

• Dollar General Corp. announced that Peggie Fort has joined the company as VP, Inventory and Demand Management. Kelly Collier has been promoted to Senior VP, Assistant General Counsel.

• Esco Ltd. has filed for bankruptcy. The company will start going-out-of-business sales at all 39 Shoe City locations.

• Lids Sports Group announced it will open a new 1,318 sq. ft. Lids HD store in Houston, TX, on April 14.

• Lowe’s Companies Inc. has appointed Juliette Pryor as Exec VP, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, effective May 3, 2023.

• Nordstrom Inc. plans to open a new 25,000 sq. ft. Nordstrom Rack store in Elk Grove, CA, in spring 2024.

• Rite Aid Corporation recently opened a new Rite Aid Pharmacy in Scottsville, VA, the company’s third small-format store in rural Virginia. Another location in Grottoes, VA, is expected to open later this month.

• Walmart Stores Inc. has hired A. Denise Malloy-Deaderick as its first-ever Chief Belonging Officer.

• Walmart Stores Inc. announced it plans to close four underperforming stores in Chicago, IL, including three Neighborhood Market locations and one Supercenter, along with its adjacent Walmart Health center and Walmart Academy.

 

Restaurant

• Carrols Restaurant Group Inc. has hired Deborah Darby as CEO. Interim CEO Anthony Hull will remain as CFO.

• Chipotle has unveiled a new restaurant design that uses 100% renewable energy. The design features biodegradable kitchen utensils and charging stations. The company plans to open over 100 of these new restaurants next year.

• Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has signed a franchise agreement to bring 20 new locations to Toronto.

• Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. has named Dirk Montgomery as CEO. He previously served in an interim role.

• Inspire Brands has announced several executives changing positions. Sonic President Claudia San Pedro is stepping down from her role as President and will be replaced by Jim Taylor. Rita Patel will be assuming the role of President at Arby’s and Ellen Rose will take over as CMO.

• McDonald’s has named Michael Gonda as Senior VP and Chief Impact Officer.

• Playa Bowls has named Dan Harmon as CEO.

• Taco John’s has opened a new location in Milwaukee, WI.