Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Couche-Tard Inc. reported it will open 40 new franchised Circle K convenience stores in the state of New York.

• The Food Industry Association has named Erin Sigrist as its new Director, State Government Affairs.

• Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. has named Richard Halle as its new CFO, effective January 1, 2025. He will succeed Todd Dissinger, who will retire.

• SpartanNash Company announced Djouma Barry as its new Senior VP and Chief Retail Officer. He will replace Thomas Swanson, who will step down.

• T & T Supermarket Inc. is opening its first store in the United States. The 76,000 sq. ft. supermarket opens in Bellevue, WA, early next month.

• Wakefern Food Corp. has named Aaron Sapp as VP of Pharmacy and Wellness.

Retail

• Dollar Tree Stores Inc. announced that Rick Dreiling has stepped down as Chairman and CEO. The company has appointed Michael C. Creedon Jr., COO, as Interim CEO. Edward J. Kelly III has been named as Chairman.

• Harbor Freight Tools opened six new stores in the month of October in CA, GA, NC, NY, and TX.

• Home Hardware Stores Limited has appointed Ian White as President and CEO.

• Peloton Interactive, Inc. has appointed Peter Stern as CEO and President effective January 1, 2025.

• Primark USA will open its first location in the state of Texas. The 37,000 sq. ft. store will open in McAllen, TX, on December 12.

• Scotch & Soda recently opened a new 6,000 sq. ft. store in New York City, NY.

• Sky Zone, LLC is planning to open 10 new locations in 2026, in Atlanta, GA, Austin, TX, Brooklyn, NY, Decatur, GA, Henderson, NV, Seattle, WA and Simi Valley, CA.

Restaurant

• Applebee’s is suing franchisee, Apple Central KC, after determining that the franchisee closed restaurants without Applebee’s consent.

• Applebee’s will be pivoting to permanent value meals after their campaign of limited-time value deals did not resonate with customers.

• Bojangles has named Grant Williams as VP of Digital and Omnichannel Marketing.

• CKE Restaurants has named Sarah Spiegel interim CEO following the departure of Max Wetzel.

• Fat Brands is planning to spin off their Twin Peaks and Smokey Bones brands. The company has filed to take the two brands public under a single new entity, Twin Hospitality Group.

• McDonald’s has expanded their partnership with Krispy Kreme and will now offer doughnuts at select locations in Northeast Ohio.

• Noodles & Company has named Stephen Kennedy as Exec VP of Marketing.

• Red Lobster has named Larry Konecny as Chief Operating Officer.

• Tropical Smoothie Café has named Max Wetzel as CEO.