In Other Business News

Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Big Y Foods Inc. appointed Michael Pashko as Director of Pharmacy.

• Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. announced it plans to open 33 to 35 new stores this year.

• Heritage Grocers Group has hired Kim Cates as VP Center Store.

• Metro Inc. has named Nicolas Amyot as Exec VP, CFO and Treasurer.

• The Parker Companies has promoted John Rhine to Senior VP Finance and Accounting. Scott Smith has been promoted to VP of Information Technology. Tom Rutledge has been promoted to Senior Director of Construction.

Retail

• Belk Inc. reported it will open new outlet stores in existing stores in North Carolina in which the bottom level will be the outlet store and the top level will continue to operate as traditional Belk stores.

• Boise Cascade Company has promoted Nathan Sikes to Senior VP of its Western Operations for its Building Materials Distribution Division.

• Ikea North America plans to open eight new smaller format stores this year in AZ, CA, MD, PA, and OR.

• Jo-Ann Stores Inc. will conduct going-out-of-business sales at all its store locations, after filing for bankruptcy.

• Kodiak Building Partners has appointed Kevin Prosser as Area VP, LBM Idaho and Wyoming.

• Lids Sports Group has announced the appointment of Greg Cox as its new CFO.

• National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced that Jim Whitman, Senior VP Member Services, will retire in June 2025.

• Ross Stores Inc. has announced Adam Orvos will retire as Exec VP and CFO, effective September 30. William Sheehan, Group Senior VP of Finance, is expected to succeed Adam Orvos as CFO.

• Scheels Sports announced it plans to open a 210,000 sq. ft. location in Wauwatosa, WI, in spring 2027.

• The TJX Companies Inc. reportedly plans to open 130 new stores in 2025. The retailer plans to relocate 40 stores and remodel 500 stores in 2025, as well.

• Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. has recently partnered with Grubhub for a delivery option.

• Westlake Ace Hardware plans to open a new 12,500 sq. ft. store in Shawnee, KS, late this year.

Restaurant

• Denny’s is the latest company to add an egg surcharge as egg prices continue to rise.

• Dickey’s has made their sausage available in 400 grocery stores .

• Golden Corral has closed their fast-casual spinoff. The company is planning to re-brand it as Golden Corral Favorites and reopen in the future.

• Jack in the Box CEO Darin Harris has announced his retirement. Lance Tucker will take over the role in interim until a successor can be found

• Outback is cutting the menu back by almost 20%. The company is also changing its marketing strategy and pulling back from opening new locations, opting instead to renovate existing locations.

• Red Robin is evaluating 70 underperforming restaurants for possible closure this year.

• Subway is jumping back into value offerings by brining back their $6.99 footlong promotion.

• Sweetgreen is launching their first french fries. The company is know for health conscious food and the fries will be air fried instead of the traditional deep frying.