Strategy

Captain D’s, which introduced fast-casual seafood to Tennessee nearly 50 years ago, continues to expand at a quick pace.   The Nashville-based chain announced this week that four new locations are planned for the Mobile-Pensacola market in the next five years and five new stores are planned for San Antonio. It added that a new franchisee will open a location in the Jackson, Tennessee, market this year, with more to follow.  

The Kroger Co. has named a veteran of discount grocer Aldi to Kroger's own low-cost division.    Kroger on Wednesday appointed Liz Ferneding as president of Ruler, effective July 31. She succeeds Paul Bowen, who retired in May.  

One of the nation’s largest outdoor markets is making room for some brick-and-mortar retail.   Berryessa Properties, a family-owned company that runs the San Jose Flea Market has sold a 6.5-acre parcel adjoining the open-air bazaar to Western National Group. The Irvine, California-based company plans to erect an apartment building with 560 residences in the space, including 37,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail in the fifth phase of its Market Park San Jose property.  

Amazon has won the right to sell groceries in India.   The online giant currently sells groceries in India through a local partner. But it recently secured government approval to stock and sell its own food items, reported the Nikkei Asian Review.     

The brand best known for its smiling pink whale logo is improving pricing, design and buying decisions by using an innovative data source.   By partnering with First Insight, Vineyard Vines will leverage the company’s online social engagement tools to gather real-time product pricing and sentiment data from its customers. This information will then be analyzed by First Insight’s predictive models.   

WD Partners announced that Elaine Kleinschmidt has joined the firm's Columbus office as executive VP of strategy & experience design.     Kleinschmidt joins WD Partners from Big Red Rooster, where she most recently served as VP, digital experience leading work for brands like Macy's, Under Armour and Cabela's with a focus on innovation, omniexperience strategy, and digital engagement. Previously, Kleinschmidt held creative leadership positions at Tweenbrands, Resource Interactive, Target, and Victoria's Secret.

Is True Value on the block?  

Skilken/Gold has announced the sale of six Neighborhood Market stores, one of which was a prototype of Walmart’s new design for its grocery store concept.   The Louisiana stores all average about 42,000 sq. ft., including the Baton Rouge location that emerged from Walmart’s “build-to-suit” program initiated in 2014.   The Hampshire Companies and a South Korean partner acquired the properties for $78 million.