Strategy

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The retired head of Midwestern supermarket chain Hy-Vee took home the top honor at a recent supermarket industry conference.

The Food Marketing Institute said Monday that it gave its most prestigious honor — the Sidney R. Rabb Award for excellence in serving the consumer, the community and the industry — to retired Hy-Vee chairman and CEO Ric Jurgens at the FMI Midwinter Executive Conference.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association inducted J. M. Smucker Company chairman Tim Smucker and Wegmans CEO Danny Wegman into its Hall of Achievement and presented Harris Teeter president and COO Fred Morganthall the award for Industry Collaboration Leadership.

Amsterdam -- Ahold reported Friday that sales for the fourth quarter rose 7.5% to $10.4 billion, boosted largely by its ability to keep U.S. stores open during Hurricane Sandy, said the company. Same-store sales advanced 2.8%.

Its U.S. business includes the Stop & Shop, Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle supermarket banners and the Peapod online grocery service. Ahold posted fourth quarter sales of $6.1 billion in the U.S., marking a 4.3% rise over the year-ago period.

For the full fiscal year, sales increased 8.5% to $43.6 billion.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries, owner of the Old Chicago, Rock Bottom and Gordon Biersch banners among others, said Friday it has named Mike Mrlik as SVP of CraftWorks and as president of Old Chicago.

Mrlik is charged with leading Old Chicago’s brand refresh as 55 locations roll out a redesign with an emphasis on ramped-up service and experience.

YONKERS, N.Y. — American Sugar Refining, Inc., the world's largest supplier of refined sugar, has a new corporate brand name. ASR Group will now encompass its leading brands and affiliated companies, which include Domino Sugar.

DALLAS — Kimberly-Clark has named Jennifer Sepull as the company's chief information officer and VP IT Services, reporting to Mark A. Buthman,SVP and CFO.

Boucherville, Quebec -- A Monday report by Reuters said that Canadian home-improvement chain Rona Inc. has appointed a new executive chairman and has again shuffled its board in response to mounting investor pressure to make measurable changes.

Rona successfully fought a takeover by Lowe’s Cos. late last year, as the U.S. company offered $1.86 billion to acquire Rona.

By Jonathan Lapat and Jason Baker, [email protected], [email protected]