Supermaket, Grocery, & C-Store
• Albertsons LLC has launched a new grocery service at more than 2,000 of its store locations. The service offers DriveUp & Go and delivery options in half an hour. The new service is now available at Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, ACME, and Tom Thumb stores.
• Aldi Inc. has expanded its partnership with DoorDash to include alcohol delivery from more than 1,200 of its store locations.
• EG America LLC has appointed John Carey as its new CEO and President.
• The Fresh Market Inc. has partnered with Uber Eats to offer on-demand and scheduled delivery to customers from all if its store locations.
• H-E-B reported it is planning to open three new locations in North Texas. The stores are planned for the cities of Melissa, Prosper, and Rockwall, and all are expected to open in 2025.
• Sheetz Inc. recently opened its 700th convenience store location.
Retail
• Amazon.com Inc. plans to hire 250,000 logistics workers for this holiday shopping season.
• The Hershey Company has named Deepak Bhatia as its first Chief Technology Officer.
• Macy’s, Inc. announced plans to hire more than 38,000 seasonal employees this upcoming holiday season at its Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury stores, as well as its distribution centers.
• Marc Jacobs reported it plans to open 20 new store locations in the next 16 to 18 months.
• Target Corporation announced it plans to hire 100,000 seasonal workers this year.
• True Religion Apparel Inc. has opened its first new store since 2019. The 2,000 sq. ft. store is located in Atlanta, GA.
• Walmart Stores Inc. has opened its first Walmart Pet Services center, at its store in Dallas, GA.
Restaurant
• Blaze Pizza, Dog Haus, and Wetzel’s Pretzels, founders have come together to found a new taco concept called Taco/Social that will be based in Los Angeles.
• California could soon allow marijuana dispensaries to have on-site food and beverage sales. The change would look to emulate the cafes found in Amsterdam.
• Cousins Subs has named Mike Arend as VP of Finance.
• Panera has added Crunch Time Ordering to their app which allows customers to order items with a single swipe in an industry first.
• Portillos has plans to expand to three new markets: Atlanta, Denver and Las Vegas. The company is also planning a new restaurant design that will be smaller with a more efficient kitchen and support for off-premise sales. The company believes that this new model will allow the chain to grow to 800 units.
• Smalls Sliders has 100 units currently in development.
• Sweetgreen is being sued by four former employees who claim seven different New York locations engaged in discriminatory work practices and sexual harassment.
• Uber Eats is adding an AI chatbot to their app in order to help users find their favorite restaurants nearby.
