Mergers & Acquisitions

New York -- Sephora announced Thursday that Calvin McDonald has been named president and CEO of Sephora Americas, effective Jan. 1, 2014.

McDonald, who previously served as president and CEO of Sears Canada, succeeds David Suliteanu.

Suliteanu, who has helmed Sephora Americas since July 2000, will become CEO of Kendo Brands, which is owned by Sephora's parent, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA.

Sam’s Club opened four new 136,000-sq.-ft. units this week expanding its base of clubs to a record 630 units.

The new clubs are located in Owasso, Okla., Fall River, Mass., and Mansfield and Corpus Christi, Texas. The latter is a relocation of a 20 year old club. These opening follow the addition of three new clubs earlier in the month in Aiken, S.C., Romeoville, Ill., and Edmond, Okla.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Brands Group, the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins, reported that its third quarter net income grew 36% to $40.2 million.   

Revenue increased 8.5%, from $171.7 million, to $186.3 million.

Free standing inserts remain a popular promotional vehicle, but weakness in other aspects of the Valassis business model have CEO Rob Mason vowing major changes after a third quarter sales decline.

Tractor Supply Company plans to open a store in Wyoming — its first-ever location in the state as it continues to expand into the Western region of the country.

Publix Super Markets has decided to sell PIX, the fuel/C-store concept it began testing in 2001. Circle K Stores, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alimentation Couche-Tard, will purchase 13 sites, of which 11 are located in Florida and two in Georgia.

Max Arnold & Sons, a family-owned company located in Hopkinsville, Ky., which has been in operation for more than 60 years, will purchase the site located in Tennessee.

Toronto – Sobey’s Inc. has signed a consent agreement with the Canadian Competition Bureau allowing it to proceed with the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Canada Safeway.

As part of the consent agreement, Sobey’s will divest 23 stores in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Sasketchewan. The deal, announced in June, will cost Sobey’s owner Empire Co. Ltd. about $5.7 billion.

Seattle – Starbucks will open its first Teavana tea bar in as the company continues to push beyond its core coffee foundation. Teavana Fine Teas + Tea Bar will open on the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Oct. 24, offering snacks and light foods, loose-leaf teas tea blends and novelty beverages, along with  and related merchandise.  

The store is accented with light woods, comfy seating and low lighting. It has no Starbucks branding.