Mergers & Acquisitions

Starbucks Corp. is growing its store portfolio on a couple of different fronts.   The company plans to open stores under a new banner, called Starbucks-Reserve only, that will have a decidedly upscale twist. The brand will sell premium, small lot reserve coffee in a store space that is about twice the size of a typical Starbucks, zachs.com reported, and feature more of a café atmosphere.   

A Supervalu executive will be departing the company, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The company’s executive VP merchandising, marketing, retail and pharmacy Mark Van Buskirk’s employment will end effective July 16, the filing says.    In the interim, the company is evaluating a succession plan and Van Buskirk’s functional areas will report to Supervalu executive VP, COO and CFO Bruce Besanko.  

Durham, North Carolina-based conglomerate The Guess Corp. is seeking to acquire at least 1,000 U.S. convenience store/ gas station units in the next 12 months.   Working through a subsidiary, the company is looking to acquire an average of 100 branded and unbranded units per month. Upon completion of the purchases, Guess Corp. intends to re-brand and renovate the properties with innovative and sleek designs and provide enhanced CRM technology. The company has invited brokers to provide buyer representation with higher commissions.

A Victorian-era psychiatric hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York, that’s been out of commission for 15 years will be the site of a mixed-use community of 750 residential units and 350,000 sq. ft. of retail space.   The old Hudson River State Hospital will make way for Hudson Heritage, a $250 million redevelopment project that will preserve key structures of the classic building in an attempt to create a thriving new community on the long-abandoned 156 acres.  

Federal Realty Investment Trust announced that Dan Guglielmone will take over as its CFO and treasurer next month. A 13-year veteran of Vornado, Guglielmone is currently the company’s senior VP of acquisitions. He previously spent 10 years in investment banking with the real estate and lodging group of Salomon Smith Barney/Citigroup.  

Specialty apparel retailer The Children’s Place Inc. is partnering with marketing and loyalty solutions provider Alliance Data Systems Corp. to launch a new private label credit card.  

If Rite Aid needs to shed some stores for antitrust reasons in the wake of a merger with Walgreens-Boots Alliance, many experts expect one well-known drug store to step forward. 

Coach Inc. is appointing Wendy Kahn, as CEO and brand president – Stuart Weitzman, effective Sept. 13, 2016.   Kahn will succeed Wayne Kulkin, the brand’s current CEO, who will become a consultant to Coach. She joins the luxury retailer from Valentino Fashion Group, where she currently holds the position of CEO – Valentino, USA and V.F.G., USA & Canada. Previously, Kahn served as senior VP of sales, marketing & retail for Valentino from 2006-2008.