Personnel Updates
• Brookshire Brothers announced that John Alston will succeed Jerry Johnson as CEO of the grocery chain based in Lufkin, TX in April 2017 with Johnson staying with the company as a board member.
• The National Grocers Association (NGA) announced that Corinne Routhier, most recently Director of Sales for Associated Luxury Hotels International, has been named VP of Business Development and Member Services, responsible for member services, recruitment and retention.
• The NGA also announced that Michael Gleeson, former Director of legislative affairs for the Association of Advanced Life Underwriting, has been hired as Director of Government Relations, focusing primarily on tax policy and that Elizabeth Crocker will fill the new position of VP and Executive Director of the NGA Research and Education Foundation.
• Sam’s Club, owned by Walmart Stores Inc, has named John Furner CEO replacing the retiring Rosalind Brewer on 2-1-2017.
• Sobey’s named Michael Medline President and CEO succeeding Francois Vimard, who was serving as interim CEO since July. Vimard will become Exec VP of parent company Empire Cos. and will assist in the transition.
Industry Insight
• BJ’s Wholesale Club introduced online ordering for bakery and deli orders, offering members of the wholesale club pickup 36 hours after order placement.
• Publix Supermarkets is testing in-store Starbucks cafes at four locations in Florida and North Carolina. According to Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens, there are no immediate plans to expand to additional locations at this time.
• Giant Eagle will close five supermarkets and four GetGo convenience store locations in Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania between 2-4-2017 and 3-4-2017.
Finance
• Ingles Markets reported fiscal 2016 sales of $3.79 billion.
Real Estate
• Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is planning to open up to 20 stores and expand its line of private label products in 2017 including dairy, wine and beer.
• Kroger will invest more than $50 million to remodel the Milwaukee-area stores it obtained as part of the Roundy’s acquisition according to CEO Rodney McMullen; McMullen also stated the stores will operate under the Pick ‘n Save banner, except for a few upscale Metro Market locations.
• Pilot Flying J will renovate existing locations as part of a $500 million investment over the next five years, and will continue opening 20 to 30 stores annually, according to the company; renovations will include updated exteriors, new signs and logos, floors and lighting, better food presentation and improved employee break areas.
• Sprouts Farmers Market plans to open 35 stores in 2017 throughout California, Colorado, Texas, Florida and Georgia.
Mergers & Acquisitions
• Casey’s General Stores Inc. has acquired five Guppy’s convenience stores located in and around Cedar Rapids, IA from Fauser Energy Resources, effectively ending Fauser’s operations in the convenience store business.
The post DATATRAC: Grocery, Supermarket & Convenience Stores – January 2017 appeared first on Chain Store Guide.