Mergers & Acquisitions

Los Angeles -- Grocery chain Fresh & Easy confirmed reports that its British parent Tesco LLC has sold the brand to private equity firm The Yucaipa Cos., following months of uncertainty about the 200+-unit chain’s future.

Fresh & Easy posted on its website Tuesday that more than 4,000 jobs would be saved under the purchase agreement but that some stores will be closing.  Specific stores have not been identified, and the terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Tuesday announced it has acquired North Carolina pharmacy chain Kerr Drug. The purchase of the privately held regional outfit, which generated $381 million in revenue in 2012, includes its 76 retail stores and specialty pharmacy chain.

Dallas – Independent agency network Project: Worldwide intends to acquire Mercury 11, a social media and marketing technology agency with retail and shopper marketing focus. The agency will be integrated with Project’s shopper marketing engagement agency Shoptology.

San Jose, Calif. — Togo’s Eateries has announced two multi-unit franchise agreements to develop 20 new restaurants in Oregon and California over the next several years.

Togo’s Franchisee Mark Fischer will open 10 restaurants in Portland, Ore., and 10 additional locations in Los Angeles County. The first will open in Portland in the first quarter of 2014.

Fischer and his parterns currently own and operate two California restaurants in Stockton and Tracy, Calif.

Dallas – Neiman Marcus is reportedly closing in on a deal to be purchased by Ares Management and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for $6 billion.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Fresh Market has appointed Randall A. Young as the company’s SVP of real estate and development, effective Sept. 30. 

Young will oversee the company's real estate and development functions, including market strategy development, site selection, store design, construction, store relocations and renovations.

Philadelphia – The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack has acquired 17 Discount Tire Centers in Southern California from AKH Co. These 17 stores are located throughout the greater Los Angeles market, from Bakersfield to Orange County.

Philadelphia -- Five Below saw net income surge to $4.1 million for the quarter ended August 3, up from $1.2 million in the year-ago period. Sales climbed 34.9% to $117.1 million from $86.8 million, and same-store sales increased 6.6%. The company had, by the quarter’s end, opened 32 of its previously announced 60 new stores on tap for 2013.