In Other Business News

Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Ahold-Delhaize has appointed Dave Bass to lead online grocer FreshDirect as Managing Director.

• Hy-Vee Inc. announced Jason Farver has joined the company as President of Perishable Distributors of Iowa, a fresh and frozen food distribution subsidiary.

• Mercury Fuel Service Inc. has exited the convenience store industry with the sale of its remaining stores to Sam’s Food Stores.

• Publix Super Markets Inc. announced that John Goff has been appointed to the role of Senior VP of Retail Operations, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

• Rite Aid Corporation reported it is moving its corporate headquarters to Philadelphia, PA. The new headquarters is projected to open in the first half of 2022.

• Trader Joe’s Co. recently opened new store locations in Halfmoon, NY, Morrisville, NC, and Colorado Springs, CO.

• United Natural Foods Inc. announced the promotion of Steve Dietz to the newly created role of Chief Customer Officer, effective October 1.

• Wegmans Food Markets Inc. has announced it will open three new stores in 2022 in Alexandria, VA, Washington, DC, and Wilmington, DE.

Retail

• ABC Carpet & Home has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with plans to sell itself.

• Carr Hardware & Supply Co. Inc. reported it is acquiring Lee Hardware True Value.

• Do it Best Corp. announced the promotions of John Branigan to National Retail Performance Manager, Justin Hanford to DMM, and Jennifer Pettibone as a Category Manager.

• Floor & Decor Outlets of America has recently opened its 150th location. The new 80,000 sq. ft. store is in South Austin, TX. The retailer plans to open a 79,000 sq. ft. store in Bohemia, NY, and another 79,000 sq. ft. location in Naples, FL, this week.

• Jil Sander America reported that Ubaldo Minelli has been appointed as CEO.

• Kohl’s Corporation announced it will host two national hiring events, September 16 to 18 and October 21 to 23, during which it plans to hire 90,000 new employees.

• LL Flooring announced that it has opened six new locations, including three showroom-only concept stores, in FL, MA, TN, TX, and VA.

• Party City Holdco Inc. reported it is looking to hire approximately 17,000 seasonal workers in preparation for the Halloween season.

• Tailored Brands, Inc. announced Scott Vifquain as its Exec VP and Chief Technology Officer.

• Hot Topic Inc. announced it plans to open about 25 Torrid stores annually going forward.

• Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has opened 18 Village Medical at Walgreens locations in Arizona, with plans for four more locations open by the end of the year.

• Walmart Stores Inc. reported it has teamed up with Ford Motor Company and Argo AI to launch an autonomous vehicle delivery service in Miami, FL, Austin, TX, and Washington, DC.

Restaurant

• Coolgreens is planning to open two new locations in Florida later this year.

• Del Taco has launched a new loyalty rewards program called “Del Yeah Rewards”.

• Dog Haus International LLC has signed a franchise agreement to open two new Michigan locations in 2022.

• Dutch Bros. Coffee has raised $484 million for their IPO.

• Fazoli’s has opened a new location in Zanesville, OH.

• JINYA Holdings, Inc. has launched new menu items that are made with Impossible Meat.

• Mountain Mike’s Pizza has opened a new location in Red Bluff, CA.

• Tropical Smoothie Café has promoted Richard Key as Chief Operations Officer. The company has also partnered with Flybuy to help streamline their off premise delivery orders.

• Twin Peaks Restaurant has opened a new location in Burleson, TX.

• Walk-On’s Enterprises has signed a franchise agreement to bring locations to Kansas in 2022. The company also signed another agreement to open a Georgia location sometime next year.