Mergers & Acquisitions

NEW YORK — Sprouts Farmers Market, a Phoenix-based natural-foods supermarket chain, has reached an agreement to merge with competitor, Sunflower Farmers Market, based in Boulder, Col. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The combined company will operate 139 stores in eight states under the Sprouts banner, with annual sales of approximately $2 billion. It will open about 12 new stores this year.

“Our operations are very similar," said Sprouts president Doug Sanders, who will lead the combined supermarket company.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts announced Monday the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with QSR Services for nine new restaurants in Omaha and Lincoln, Neb.

The first restaurant is planned to open in 2013, and the remainder by 2017.

"We are excited to expand Dunkin' Donuts' presence in Omaha and Lincoln and play an important role in the daily lives of people who live, work and visit here," said Bryce Bares, president, QSR Services.
 

New York -- Sprouts Farmers Market, a Phoenix-based natural-foods supermarket chain, has reached an agreement to merge with competitor, Sunflower Farmers Market, based in Boulder, Col. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The combined company will operate 139 stores in eight states under the Sprouts banner, with annual sales of approximately $2 billion. It will open about 12 new stores this year.

“Our operations are very similar," said Sprouts president Doug Sanders, who will lead the combined supermarket company.

ATLANTA — Robert Nardelli, former Home Depot and Chrysler CEO, said Friday he is stepping down from his current post as CEO of firearms maker Freedom Group.

Nardelli held the Freedom Group post for just two months before deciding to depart.

He said in a statement Friday that it was a good time for him to focus on his investment and consulting company, XLR-8 LLC.

Freedom Group said it expects to name a permanent successor for Nardelli soon.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — A South African regulatory body gave Wal-Mart Stores permission on Friday to move ahead with its $2.2 billion purchase of South African chain Massmart.

The Competition Appeal Court upheld a ruling last year by the Competition Tribunal, but did require a study to determine a path to protect small producers who might not be able to compete with foreign producers from whom Wal-Mart can import cheaper goods.

NEW YORK — Belgian supermarket operator Delhaize Group said that its fourth quarter net profit dropped 48%, hurt by impairments resulting from its restructuring. It also announced that Mats Jansson will be the new chairman of the board, and that Pierre Bouchut will succeed Stefan Descheemaeker as CFO, effective March 19.

The company, whose U.S. holdings include the Food Lion, Hannaford Bros. and Sweetbay banners, said it will accelerate the revamp of its stores in the United States and Belgium to increase its competitiveness.

Beachwood, Ohio -- Mall owner DDR Corp. said Friday that Dick's Sporting Goods will open stores at two of its shopping centers in Utah.

The new Dick's Sporting Goods locations will replace former F.Y.E. stores and result in higher and longer-term contracted rents. At the same time, the re-tenanting improves the merchandise mix and credit quality of cash flows at the shopping centers by replacing underperforming stores with a market-share and category-leading retailer.

IRVING, Texas — Hostess Brands has appointed Gregory Rayburn as president and CEO. He also was named to the company’s board of directors. Rayburn replaces Brian Driscoll, whose resignation was effective March 9.

As CEO, Rayburn will oversee the company’s reorganization under Chapter 11 as well as overall corporate strategy and ongoing negotiations with the company’s unions. He joined Hostess last month as the company’s chief restructuring officer.