Mergers & Acquisitions

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. said its same-store sales role 5.6% in May, better than Wall Street expected.

Walgreen said pharmacy revenue from those stores rose 6.7% as it filled 7.1% more prescriptions. Front-end same-store sales grew 3.6%.

The company also said it completed its acquisition of Drugstore.com, an online health and beauty retailer. Walgreen agreed to buy the company in March for $429 million.

TORONTO — McCain Foods announced that it has named Dirk Van de Put as president and CEO and a director of the company, succeeding Dale Morrison, effective July 1.

Dirk  joined McCain Foods from Novartis where he was President of the $3-billion global Over-the-Counter Consumer Health business. Prior to joining Novartis, Dirk held executive positions with Group Danone and Mars Inc. 

Ankeny, Iowa -- Casey’s General Stores and Kum & Go announced that they have signed a definitive purchase agreement for Casey’s to acquire 22 convenience stores from Kum & Go.

The stores, all of which are located in Iowan, will be immediately rebranded to Casey’s once the transaction is completed.

Hong Kong -- Italian fashion house Prada, which is preparing for an initial public offering of about $2 billion in Hong Kong, said it plans to use most of the proceeds on expansion and renovation of its stores over the next 18 months.

The Milan-based company said it plans to add a net total of about 80 directly operated stores by the end of January 2012, most of them in the Asia Pacific region, where it sees "substantial potential for growth," Prada said in the a regulatory filing.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — May proved to be a good month for Walgreens, as the drug store chain posted a total sales jump of 7% to nearly $6.1 billion.

Walgreens reported that its total front-end sales experienced a 5.5% increase, while comparable front-end sales realized a 3.6% increase.

Woodbridge, N.J. -- Fameco Real Estate said that Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries has signed its first lease in New Jersey at Summit Plaza in Hackensack. 

The fast-casual restaurant will open a 2,684-sq.-ft. unit at the Stop N Shop-anchored center and said it is embarking on an aggressive franchised store rollout program with plans to grow to 200 restaurants in the next five years.

Site selection criteria include 1,700-2,500 sq. ft., inline, end cap or freestanding space, and a daytime population of 10,000 within one mile.

Dallas -- Real estate investment firm The Cogent Group said Thursday it has acquired 12 convenience stores & gas stations in the Charlottesville, Va. market.

The properties are leased to Charlottesville-based Virginia Oil Co. and feature food partnerships with McDonald’s, Blimpie and Dairy Queen.

Cogent’s real estate purchase was part of a simultaneous transaction among The Cogent Group, VPS Convenience Store Group and Virginia Oil Co.

New York City -- The Jones Group has acquired Kurt Geiger, Europe's largest luxury shoe retailer from Graphite Capital, a leading United Kingdom mid-market private equity firm, for approximately $350 million in cash, inclusive of debt acquired.

The acquisition further extends Jones' reach into the designer footwear business through Kurt Geiger's portfolio of high-end brands and presence in leading department stores, such as Harrods and Selfridges.