Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store
• Fareway Stores Inc. reported it is relocating its headquarters to Johnston, IA.
• Golden Pantry Food Stores Inc. plans to open its first autonomous store. It will be located in Watkinsville, GA.
• H-E-B reported it is opening its largest ever ecommerce distribution center in Katy, TX. With more than 100,000 sq. ft., it is twice the size of its typical distribution centers.
• The Save Mart Companies announced it has partnered with Uber Eats for on-demand and scheduled delivery.
• Sprouts Farmers Markets has hired James Bahrenburg as its new Chief Technology Officer.
• Sprouts Farmers Markets recently opened its 400th store location.
• United Natural Foods Inc. announced the appointment of Mario Maffie to the role of CIO.
Retail
• The Aaron’s Company Inc. announced the promotion of Russell Falkenstein to the position of Exec VP, COO, Lease-to-Own.
• Beacon Roofing Supply Inc. has recently opened new locations in Grand Haven, MI and Joplin, MO.
• Birkenstock reported it has filed for an initial public offering.
• BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. announced that Anjana Harve has been named as Exec VP, CIO.
• CVS Health announced Shawn Guertin, current CFO, will now also serve as President of Health Services. Prem Shah, Chief Customer and Experience Officer, will now be President of Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness.
• Do it Best Corp. has promoted Mike Beerens to Principal IT Project Manager. Trisha Fuller has been promoted to Senior IT Project Manager. Scott Hamman has been promoted to Senior IT Application Analyst. Sam Huff has been promoted to Senior IT Business Analyst. Kim Hoffmann has been promoted to Senior IT Software Engineer. Lauren Mungovan has been promoted to Human Resources Talent Manager. Savannah Myers has been promoted to Senior IT User Experience Designer. Andy Pinkerton has been promoted to Senior IT Application Analyst. Melissa Renninger has been promoted to Senior IT Business Analyst. Brian Scott has been promoted to Information Security Officer. Hilary Weaver has been promoted to Senior IT Data Analyst. Nick Stauffer has been hired as IT Software Engineer.
• DTLR Holding, Inc. reported it has promoted Todd Kirssin to the role of CEO.
• Express Inc. has appointed Stewart Glendinning as its new CEO.
• Fanatics Inc. announced Andrew Low Ah Kee has been appointed as the CEO of E-Commerce. He replaces Doug Mack, who will retire at the end of the year.
• Macy’s Inc. announced that it has named Olivier Bron as CEO of Bloomingdale’s, effective in November.
• Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams recently closed all of its store locations and has gone out of business.
• Nordstrom Inc. announced Jamie Nordstrom was appointed as Chief Merchandising Officer. Fanya Chandler was promoted to President, Nordstrom stores. Gemma Lionello was promoted to the newly created role of President, Nordstrom Rack.
• Rue 21 reported it has named Scott Saeger as its new CIO.
• Sephora USA Inc. announced it will open 750 sq. ft. in-store Sephora shops at 45 Kohl’s Corporation store locations this fall.
• Signet Jewelers Limited announced Amy Robinson has been named as President of Banter by Piercing Pagoda.
• Soft Surroundings has filed for bankruptcy and plans to close its 44 store locations and to sell its online and catalog business to Coldwater Creek Direct, LLC.
• Spahn & Rose Lumber Co. reported it has agreed to acquire City Lumber Co.
• Target Corporation announced it has partnered with Kendra Scott Design, Inc. to carry exclusive collections of its jewelry at 150 Target store locations.
• W.E. Aubuchon Co. Inc. is now part of Ace Hardware Corp. As part of the transition that will take three years, 76 of the Aubuchon stores will be converted to Ace branded stores and 36 stores will stay independent, locally branded stores due to the proximity to existing Ace Hardware stores.
• Wilson Lumber Co. Inc. announced that it has promoted Josh Hendrickson to its new President.
Restaurant
• Applebee’s has named Shannon Johnson to VP of Culinary, Johnson previously worked at the company from 2003 through 2011.
• Baskin-Robbins announced a collaboration with Instagram influencer DeuxMoi that will bring an ice cream truck that also sells merchandise to New York’s Fashion Week.
• California lawmakers and restaurant owners have reached an agreement regarding The Fast Act that was signed by California Gov, Gavin Newsome last year. A nine person council will be convened to determine the wages for fast-food employees in the state and the minimum wage for those employees will be raised to $20 an hour.
• Cracker Barrel will be launching their first loyalty program at the end of September. The company also admitted that their marketing strategies contributed to the decline of traffic during their fourth quarter.
• Papa Johns has promoted Amanda Clark to Chief Operating Officer and Joe Sieve has taken over the role of Chief International and Development Officer.
• SPB Hospitality has named Tom Petska as VP of Franchise Sales.
• Starbucks’ former CEO, Howard Schultz, has officially stepped down from the company’s board of directors.