Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store
• Gelsons Markets has named Bob Veilleux to the position of Senior Director of Produce and Floral.
• Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. will open its first store location in Ohio next month.
• Lowes Foods Inc. has revealed plans to open its first store in Georgia early next year. The grocer also plans to open a new location in Summerville, SC, in 2025.
• Sprouts Farmers Markets recently opened a new 337,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Fullerton, CA.
• Wegmans Food Markets Inc. opened a new 87,500 sq. ft. store in New York City this week. The company also plans to open a new 88,000 sq. ft. store in Yardley, PA, in early 2024.
• Whole Foods Market Inc. will open a new 51,156 sq. ft. store in Jersey City, NJ, early next month.
Retail
• Camp will open a new 10,730 sq. ft. store in Tysons, VA, in early December. It is the 10th location for the company.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. announced that Craig Jelinek will step down as CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2024. At that time Ron Vachris will become President and CEO.
• CVS Health announced Shawn Guertin, Exec VP, CFO and President of Health Services will be taking a leave of absence. Tom Cowhey, Senior VP Corporate Finance, has been appointed Interim CFO. Mike Pykosz, CEO of Oak Street Health, has been named Interim President of Health Services.
• Dollar General Corp. announced Todd Vasos has been appointed as its new CEO. He succeeds Jeff Owen, who has left the company.
• Foot Locker Inc. reported it will close all of its Atmos store locations in the USA in the next few weeks.
• Netflix, Inc. announced it plans to open physical stores, called Netflix House. The first two locations are expected to open in 2025. The stores will sell merchandise based on some of the company’s most popular shows.
• Ralph Lauren Corporation reported it plans to open its first Ralph Lauren store in Canada.
• Rite Aid Corporation reported it has filed for bankruptcy and announced it will close at least 99 stores. The retailer has named Jeffrey Stein as its new CEO, taking over for Elizabeth Burr.
• Ross Stores Inc. has named Stephen Brinkley as President, Operations.
• Scheels Sports recently opened a new 250,000 sq. ft. store location this week in Chandler, AZ.
• Target Corporation has announced John Mulligan, Exec VP and COO, will retire in February 2024. Laysha Ward, Exec VP and Chief External Engagement Officer, will retire in April 2024. Matt Zabel has been named Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. Kiera Fernandez has also been promoted to the role of Exec VP and Chief Community Impact and Equity Officer.
• Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. reported it plans to close approximately 60 of its VillageMD clinics.
• Walmart Stores Inc. announced it will open a new 900,000 sq. ft. fulfillment center in Stockton, CA, in 2026.
Restaurant
• CEC Entertainment has partnered with California Dreamin’ water park in CEC’s first ever location-based licensing deal. The deal will bring Chuck E. Cheese branded rides, an arcade, a retail shop, and a Pasqually’s Pizzeria Restaurant to the park. California Dreamin’ is an upcoming water park in Sacramento, CA.
• Domino’s Pizza has named Sam Jackson to Executive VP of Human Resources.
• Pizza Hut has extended their hours to midnight or 2 a.m. at thousands of locations across the U.S.
• Sweetgreen has made a change in their supply chain and will now use Extra Virgin Olive Oil in all of their cooking.
• White Castle is launching a new merchandise line in collaboration with rapper Fat Joe to promote their late-night business.