Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

Free Trial• Aldi Inc. has opened three new stores this week in Murrieta, CA, Crestview, FL, and Kent, OH.

• BP Products North America Inc. completed its acquisition of TravelCenters of America Inc.

• Fareway Stores Inc. will open its 135th location this month. The new 24,000 sq. ft. store will be in Clive, IA.

• The International Fresh Produce Association announced Natalie Dyenson as its new Chief Regulatory and Food Safety Officer, effective July 17.

• Jimbo’s Naturally! announced it is opening a new 25,000 sq. ft. store in San Diego, CA, in mid-2026.

• Meijer Inc. recently opened three new 159,000 sq. ft. supercenters in Elkhart, IN, Warren, OH, and Wooster, OH.

• Trader Joe’s Co. reported its CEO and Chairman, Dan Bane, will retire from his position effective July 2. Bryan Palbaum, the company’s current President and COO, will become the Chairman and CEO, and Jon Basalone will be promoted to the role of Vice-CEO and President.

 

Retail

• Bath & Body Works has named Maurice Cooper as Chief Customer Officer.

• Mango Inc. reported it plans to open nine new stores in the US, with its plan to have 40 stores operating here by 2024.

• The National Association of Home Builders has named James W. Tobin III as its new President and CEO. He will succeed CEO Jerry Howard. Additionally, Lake Coulson has been named as its new Senior VP for Government Affairs and Chief Lobbyist.

• Nordstrom Inc. has appointed Cathy R. Smith as CFO, effective May 29. She succeeds Michael Maher, who will be leaving the company.

• Torrid Holdings Inc. reported that Tim Martin, CFO and COO, is leaving the company. Paula Dempsey, Senior VP of Finance and Investor Relations, will assume the role of Interim CFO until a successor is named.

• Toys “R” Us Ltd. reported it plans to open the first-ever Toys”R”Us airport location.  The store will be located in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and is slated to open in time for holiday 2023.

• Von Maur Inc. plans to open 11 new Dry Goods locations in 2023, including its first stores in Alabama, Arkansas, and New York.

 

Restaurant

• Chick-fil-A will be closing their original restaurant located in Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta, GA. The restaurant opened in 1967 and the company has not given a reason for the closure.

• Fat Brands has promoted Jenn Johnston to Chief Marketing Officer. The company also appointed Allison Lauenstein to Brand President of Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery, and Pretzelmaker; and David Pear to Brand President of Round Table Pizza.

• Hooters has reached a franchise agreement to bring three new locations to Las Vegas, NV, and three to central Florida.

• Taco Bell is seeking to cancel the ‘Taco Tuesday’ trademark held by their rival Taco John’s. Taco John’s has held the trademark in 49 states since 1989. The trademark in New Jersey is held by Gregory Hotel. Taco Bell has argued that the phrase is too common to be trademarked and they have said that they have no intention of taking the trademark for themselves. This will be Taco John’s second time defending the trademark after NBA star LeBron James attempted to trademark the phrase in 2019.

• Wendy’s has partnered with logistics company Pipedream to create an underground autonomous robotic system for pick-up orders. The system would transfer pick-up orders from the restaurant into a pick-up portal beside designated parking spaces.