In Other Business News

Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• Fareway Stores Inc. announced Mark DeYoung has been named VP of Retail Construction and Maintenance. Roger Wirtz has been promoted to Regional VP. Matt Sherwood, VP of Engineering, is retiring. Jim Giardino, Regional VP, is also retiring.

• Fareway Stores Inc. recently opened its first grocery store in Kansas.

• RaceTrac Inc. opened its first convenience store in North Carolina this week.

Restaurant

• El Pollo Loco Inc. reported Maria Hollandsworth, President and COO, has left the company.

• GoTo Foods has appointed Omer Gajial as its new CEO. He succeeds Jim Holthouser, who is retiring.

• Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems announced the appointment of Andrew Skehan as President of International.

• K&W Cafeterias Inc. has closed all its restaurants and gone out of business.

• Raising Cane’s LLC will open 14 new restaurants in December, in CA, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, NJ, NV, and TN.

• Shake Shack Inc. has announced that its CFO, Katherine Fogertey, will step down from the company, effective March 4, 2026.

• SPB Hospitality announced the appointment of Tonya R. Robinson as its new CFO. She succeeds Jessica Hagler, who has left the company.

• Teriyaki Madness LLC has named Scott Shotter as Chief Restaurant Officer.

• Texas Roadhouse Inc. announced Mike Lenihan has been named as its new CFO. Keith Humpich has been promoted to Chief Accounting and Financial Services Officer. Sean Renfroe has been promoted to General Counsel.

• Velvet Taco announced that Chris Schultz has been named as its new CEO.

Retail

• American Signature Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

• Belk Inc. will open a new smaller store concept this month, with locations in FL and TX. The new Belk Market stores will have a smaller footprint of 25,000 to 30,000 sq. ft.  The company plans to open additional locations in 2026.

• CVS Health has appointed its President and CEO, David Joyner, as Chaiman, effective January 1, 2026.

• Fruth Pharmacy Inc. reported it will close all of its stores by the end of this year. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. will acquire the pharmacies.

• Hancock Lumber has appointed Tim Bonenfant as General Manager of its Saco Operations.

• Kohl’s Corporation has appointed Michael J. Bender as CEO of the company.

• Koopman Lumber & Hardware has announced Denise Brookhouse will assume the role of CEO. Dirk Koopman will transition into the role of President.

• Lululemon Athletica Inc. has promoted Andre Maestrini to President and Chief Commercial Officer. Carla Anderson has been promoted to Senior VP and General Manager of North America. The retailer also announced that Celeste Burgoyne, President of the Americas, will leave the company at the end of the year.

• NIKE Inc. appointed Venkatesh Alagirisamy to Exec VP, and COO. Craig Williams and Muge Dogan will leave the company.

• Orgill Inc. announced it has hired Sharmeelee Bala as its new Chief Digital and Information Officer.

• Ross Stores Inc. reported that K. Gunnar Bjorklund will become Chairman, effective February 1, 2026.

• Sleep Number Corporation has named Amy O’Keefe as its new CFO.

• SPAR Group Inc has appointed William Linnane as its new CEO.

• Tailored Brands, Inc. has promoted Karla Gray to Exec VP and COO. The retailer also announced that Mike Baughn will join the company as its new Exec VP and CFO.

• TOMS.com, LLC has named Katie Wagner as its new Chief Commercial Officer.

• The Vitamin Shoppe has hired Monika Grabania as VP Digital Marketing. Erica Evans was named VP Inventory Planning.

• Westlake Ace Hardware announced plans to open its first location in Oregon.