Smith's Food and Drug

Now that gasoline is cheaper, the fuel-savings component of retailer loyalty programs isn’t such a powerful draw. So retailers such as Kroger are employing new tactics to keep customers interested.

Mike Smith was named SVP finance and CFO North America at McCormick.  In this role he will oversee investor relations, treasury and serve as the CFO of the newly formed North American Leadership Team. 

Smith’s new team focuses on North American alignment and strategy for growth, performance and people. Joyce Brooks, VP, investor relations and Bob Conrad, VP treasurer will report directly to Smith. 

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. was named Employer of the Year by the Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities for significantly contributing to employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.   Kroger was nominated for this recognition by the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The company received the award at a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse on Oct. 16.  

Newport Beach, Calif. – Investment real estate services firm Lucescu Realty has sold three retail shopping centers in Utah for $225.6 million. The properties included The Family Center at Fort Union in Midvale, Utah; The Family Center at Taylorsville in Taylorsville, Utah; and The Family Center at Orem in Orem, Utah.  

Salt Lake City - The Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC) and Smith’s Food & Drug are planning a 78,000-sq.-ft.food and drug store in Holladay, Utah. The 57-acre mixed-use Cottonwood development, located eight miles from downtown Salt Lake Cit, will feature upscale shopping, dining, entertainment and offices in a “Town Square” style setting as well as multi-family residences when complete.

Bad weather and a reduction in food stamps didn’t seem to have an effect on Kroger during the fourth quarter as the retailer posted a 4.3% increase in identical-store sales, meaningful profit improvement and offered an optimistic outlook for the year ahead.

AB Acquisition LLC, which operates Albertson’s LLC and New Albertson’s Inc., has appointed Rick Navarro, who had been the company’s CFO since its inception in 2006, as chief administrative officer. Succeeding Navarro as the company’s CFO is former Nash Finch executive Robert Dimond.

In his new role, Navarro will oversee the IT, legal, business development, human resources and public affairs functions.

Kroger has named Jay Cummins as president of the Smith's Food and Drug Stores division and Joe Fey as president of Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division.

Cummins has been serving as president of Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division. He succeeds Mark Tuffin, who was named SVP retail divisions in December.