Consumer Affairs & Relations

After 44 years with Kroger, Smith’s division president Jay Cummins announced plans to retire.

Cummins joined the company in 1972 as a clerk. His retirement will take effect April 29, the company said. A replacement to lead the 139 unit Salt Lake City-based division was not immediately named.

The losses are mounting at one of New York City’s most beloved supermarket chains, the 80-year-old Fairway Market, as it battles increased competition from the likes of Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market. Fairway Group Holdings Corp., is on the cusp of default, and the next step could be bankruptcy court, Crain’s New York reported. The company warned investors in a regulatory filing on Feb. 5 that it could breach its loan agreements.

One of the senior executives at Cabela’s is transitioning to an advisory role within the company.

The sporting goods retailer announced that Michael Copeland, executive VP/COO, has decided to transition from his current position to a strategic advisory role. The transition will take place over the next month.

Copeland joined Cabela’s in November 2007 as VP of retail operations. Since January 2010 he has served as Cabela’s COO.

Boise, Idaho-based discount grocer WinCo Foods will develop a new ground-up 82,077-sq.-ft. anchor store at Trinity Valley Shopping Center in Carrollton, Texas.

The new WinCo will be developed at the site of a former Target anchor store at the center. Following the closure, the ownership of the center, Josey Trinity Mills Ltd., acquired the vacant building in October 2015. The site will be demolished starting around April 2016, and the newly developed WinCo is scheduled to open in early 2017.

Market uncertainty around the world is taking a toll on retail CFOs confidence in the future.

That’s according to a new BDO U.S.A. survey in which retail CFOs predict a 3.4% increase in total sales for 2016. It’s the second consecutive year that the total store sales projection has dipped since the spike to 5.1% in 2014.

In addition, a notable decline in the number of CFOs expecting consumer confidence to increase this year was also revealed, which dropped nearly 50% year over year.

The nation’s top Internet retailer is also tops in corporate reputation.

The VF Corp. is adding some heavy duty retail expertise to its board of directors.

Regional grocery chain Weis Markets says its loyalty program and other promotions helped boost traffic in the third quarter as the company reported an increase in same-store sales.

For the period ended Sept. 26, sales increased 4.1% to $711.9 million while same-store sales increased 4%, compared to the third quarter in 2014. The company says it generated $12.8 million in net income, down 5.4%, compared to the same period in 2014. Third quarter earnings per share totaled 48 cents, compared to 50 cents in 2014.

Honolulu -- The Howard Hughes Corp. marked another critical milestone for Ward Village located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The company broke ground on Ae‘o, a 466 unit mixed-use residential tower that will be anchored by a flagship Whole Foods Market.

The former head of global health and well-being at Procter & Gamble is the newest member of the board of directors at BJ’s Wholesale Club.