Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc. (Laval, QC) agreed to acquire 15 stores from Speedway SuperAmerica, LLC (Enon, OH). The stores are located in central Illinois and will be rebranded to the Circle K banner. [ Back to top ]

Alternative Fuel Distributors, Inc. (Wilmington, DE) announced plans to open 1,000 E-85 convenience stores within the next three years. The company, which was organized in June 2007, plans to create an IPO to help fund the project. Of the 1,000 stores, which will be company-owned and operated under the Go Green banner, 100 are expected to be open by the first quarter of 2009. The initial 100 are planned for Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The company also plans to operate alternative fuel terminals in Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania that will supply its own convenience stores as well as those owned by other companies. [ Back to top ]

Best Buy Co., Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) closed its Beijing buying office. The closure will not affect the company's planned expansion of five to eight new stores in China next year; it currently operates one store in the country. [ Back to top ]

Dollar store chain Big Values, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) announced that it will be closing stores and may file chapter 7 bankruptcy due to lagging profits. The company now operates 11 stores in Minnesota and North Dakota following the closure of three sites this past January. Further shut-downs will take place through April 2008.
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Borders Group, Inc. (Ann Arbor, MI) put itself on the sales block, and its ceo George Jones indicated the company is unsure whether it will sell the entire business or parts of it. Following the announcement, rumors swirled that competitor Barnes & Noble, Inc. (New York, NY) could be a potential buyer.
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BP (Naperville, IL) is selling 146 of its ampm stores to franchisees as part of its plan to sell all of its company-owned sites. The stores are located in the Columbus, OH; Cleveland, OH; and Pittsburgh, PA areas.
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Central Grocers Cooperative, Inc. (Franklin Park, IL) has outgrown its current headquarters and warehouse site, and is looking to relocate to a 900,000 sq. ft. site in Joliet, IL or an undisclosed location in Portage, IL by spring 2009. Its new site should house both the corporate office and distribution facility. [ Back to top ]

Dillard's, Inc. (Little Rock, AR) is beginning to open new stores with a new look and location. Changes include a smaller size - 1700,000 sq. ft. vs. 200,000 sq. ft. - and a location preference of open-air lifestyle centers over malls. In addition, Dillard's is upgrading its fashion offerings to include more fashionable items at higher than moderate prices; stores also contain boutique sections for various labels like BCBG and Lucky Jeans. [ Back to top ]

Banana Republic, a division of Gap Inc. (San Francisco, CA), opened a test Monogram store, which features the namesake upscale men's and women's brand, in New York. It will remain open for nine months, and Banana Republic has no plans to open additional stores under the name. The company also made its debut in the United Kingdom with a London site.
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The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (Montvale, NJ) struck a new distribution deal with supplier C & S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (Keene, NH) merging its former supply contract and recently acquired grocer Pathmark Stores, Inc. (Carteret, NJ) contract into one agreement. The new contract implemented a new business model and a dedicated distribution network while also focusing on measures to reduce costs and increase efficiencies regarding inventory management and service. [ Back to top ]

Jopo, Inc. (Spokane, WA) sold 33 of its Zip Trip convenience stores to CHS, Inc., (Inver Grove Heights, MN) the company that owns the Cenex brand. The stores will be rebranded to the Cenex banner by mid-summer 2008. [ Back to top ]

Kohl's Corporation (Menomonee Falls, WI) is introducing the new private label juniors' apparel and accessories line Abbey Dawn, which is the creation of rock star Avril Lavigne, in July 2008. The line will be available in stores nationwide and online at kohls.com, and will launch new items every 60 days. [ Back to top ]

Minyard Food Stores, Inc. (Coppell, TX) opened an All Smiles dental clinic inside one of its Carnival stores in Texas. Reportedly this is the first clinic of this type to be located inside a supermarket in that state. [ Back to top ]

Ohio Valley AFM, Inc. (Newport, KY) sold eleven of its AmeriStop stores to Ranger Enterprises (Rockford, IL), operator of Road Ranger convenience stores. Ohio Valley AFM, Inc. also sold nine additional AmeriStop stores to Village Pantry Inc. (Indianapolis, IN).
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Publix Super Markets, Inc. (Lakeland, FL) halted development plans for a new distribution facility on Piper Road in Punta Gorda, FL. Instead the retailer will focus on opening a new distribution center in Orlando, FL. [ Back to top ]

All Rite Aid Corporation (Harrisburg, PA) stores - with the exception of those in New York - now feature an otc DNA paternity test kit. The Identigene DNA Paternity Collection Kit priced at $29.99 allows purchasers to send a saliva sample, along with consent forms and a lab fee ($119.00), to Identigene for processing. Rite Aid first began selling the kit in select California, Oregon and Washington stores in November 2007. [ Back to top ]

Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI) reportedly is planning to open a new high-end grocery store that focuses on organic and produce items. The as-yet-unnamed store will debut in Minnesota. [ Back to top ]

Sears Holdings Corporation's (Hoffman Estates, IL) bid to purchase home furnishing and gift chain Restoration Hardware Inc. for $4.55 per share was rejected in favor of private equity firm Catterton Partners' offer of $4.50 per share.
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7-Eleven (Dallas, TX) is selling 32 of its convenience stores in the Volusia County, FL area to franchisees. In other company news, it will begin selling its new Signature 7 line of snacks in May. The new products were debuted in March at its annual convention in Orlando, FL.
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Sinclair Oil Corporation (Salt Lake City, UT) acquired Arkansas Valley Petroleum's (Tulsa, OK) 14 Fiesta Mart convenience stores. It plans to keep the Fiesta Mart banner, and supply the stores with Sinclair branded fuel. [ Back to top ]

An affiliate of the investment firm Sun Capital Partners (Boca Raton, FL) acquired Lil Cricket Food Stores, LLC (Spartanburg, SC) and Worsley Companies, Inc. (Wilmington, NC).
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Susser Holdings Corporation (Corpus Christi, TX) announced plans to re-brand its recently acquired Town & Country locations to the Stripes banner. It plans to start the re-branding process in the fourth quarter of 2008
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Target Corp. (Minneapolis, MN) opened its first Washington D.C. store this month.
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Tesco USA (El Segundo, CA) began accepting American Express credit card payments at its 59 stores in Arizona, California and Nevada.
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Walgreen Company (Deerfield, IL) is introducing a new private label apparel line at the bulk of its stores beginning in April 2008. The Casual Gear label will offer men's and women's apparel ranging in price from 7 to 15 dollars. [ Back to top ]

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Bentonville, AR) is planning a new 260,000 supercenter - its biggest to date in the U.S. - in Albany, NY this May.
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Whole Foods Market Inc. (Austin, TX) outlined plans to open 25 to 30 new stores in 2009. [ Back to top ]

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. (Jacksonville, FL) agreed to sell its two dairy plants to Southeast Milk, Inc. The facilities are located in Plant City, FL and Hammond, LA. [ Back to top ]

Ahold USA, Inc. (Quincy, MA) promoted Kris Murphy to vice president of process performance and Wade Bucher to vice president of audit. [ Back to top ]

Associated Grocers of New England, Inc. (Pembroke, NH) appointed Sheri Pendexter its new computer operations manager. [ Back to top ]

Belk, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) promoted Bill Roberts to senior vice president and director of stores for its Northern division. Roberts was replaced as executive vice president and gmm of men's and home by David B. Zant, who recently left The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI). Zant's previous position was vice chairman of private brands, merchandise planning and internet marketing. [ Back to top ]

Best Buy Co., Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) appointed promoted four key executives including Barry Judge to chief marketing officer, David Berg to executive vice president of corporate development and international strategy, David Morrish to executive vice president of connected digital solutions, and Michael Vitelli to executive vice president of customer operating groups. [ Back to top ]

Big Y Foods, Inc. (Springfield, MA) named Michael P. D' Amour to vice president of fresh foods. [ Back to top ]

Cabela's, Inc. (Sidney, NC) announced the retirement of senior vice president of business development and international operations Michael Callahan. [ Back to top ]

Chief marketing officer and senior vice president Peter Weedfald left Circuit City Stores, Inc. (Richmond, VA). [ Back to top ]

Delhaize America Inc. (Salisbury, NC) named Hans Lefebvre to vice president of meat and seafood at its Food Lion (Salisbury, NC) division. [ Back to top ]

Delhaize is one of the top accounts we examine in our Key Account Profiles. In each Key Account Profile, we feature editorial analysis of account strategy, buying data, operations and supplier hierarchy, shopper profiles and more. This is the ultimate source of information on your key accounts. See a complete list of available Key Account Profiles as well as sample pages on the dedicated website at KeyAccountProfiles.com

Paul Smith took over as ceo of Goody's Family Clothing, Inc. (Knoxville, TN).
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Todd Vasos replaced Karen Stout as Longs Drug Stores Corporation (Walnut Creek, CA) coo and executive vice president. Stout left the company. Also, the company promoted Larry Gatta to cmo and senior vice president, and Linda Voracek to vice president of marketing.
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Macy's, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) named Ann Muson Steines its new vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant secretary.
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Mervyn's LLC (Harrisburg, PA) tapped John Goodman, who recently left Levi Strauss & Co., as president and ceo. Goodman replaced cfo Chuck Kurth, who filled the position while a replacement was sought for previous leader Rick Leto. [ Back to top ]

Michaels Stores, Inc. (Irving, TX) announced the departure of its cfo Jeffrey N. Boyer, who will resign in early April 2008. While a replacement is sought, senior vice president and treasurer Lisa K. Klinger will take over as acting cfo, and vice president of finance and controller Richard S. Jablonski will act as principal accounting officer. [ Back to top ]

Paul E. Rothamel officially took over as Pamida, Inc. (Omaha, NE) president and ceo; he had been serving as interim ceo since November 2007. [ Back to top ]

Price Chopper/The Golub Corp. (Schenectady, NY) appointed Peter Cobuzzi to vice president of marketing. [ Back to top ]

Redner's Markets, Inc. (Reading, PA) named Douglas W. Emore vice president of construction, maintenance and real estate. Also, executive vice president of procurement and director of wholesale Gary Redner was found dead in his home in early March. He was the apparent victim of a homicide.
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Rite Aid Corporation (Harrisburg, PA) tapped Cheryl Slavinsky as its new director of public relations. Also, Robert I. Thompson was elevated to senior vice president of its Northeast division. [ Back to top ]

Don Fitzgerald joined Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc. (Milwaukee, WI) as group vice president of merchandising and procurement. [ Back to top ]

Sears Holdings Corporation (Hoffman Estates, IL) appointed Kevin Holt to the position of executive vice president of store operations. Stephen Donnelly also joined the company as vice president and gmm of women's apparel for its Kmart division. [ Back to top ]

Stage Stores, Inc. (Houston, TX) announced the retirement of vice chairman and executive vice president Michael McCreery. [ Back to top ]

The Talbots, Inc. (Hingham, MA) named Lori Wagner to the newly created position of chief marketing officer and executive vice president. Also new to Talbots is Lizanne Kindler, who is now senior vice president of store and internet marketing for its namesake brand.
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Tesco USA (El Segundo, CA) added Jeff Adams - who previously worked for Tesco in Thailand and the United Kingdom - to its executive team. No specific title or role has been provided at this point.
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Tesoro West Coast Company (Auburn, WA) announced a few executive changes. William Finnerty was named executive vice president of strategy and asset management; Everett Lewis was named executive vice president and coo; and Chuck Flagg was named senior vice president of system optimization. [ Back to top ]