News Briefs

Dollar General has marked a major milestone in its expansion.

The discounter celebrated the grand opening of its first store in Montana, in Columbia Falls. With the addition the new location, Dollar General now has stores in all 48 continental U.S. states.

In addition, construction is currently underway on Dollar General stores in Lincoln and Sanders Counties, Mont., with both expected to open in fall 2023. The retailer said plans to evaluate additional areas in the Treasure State for future locations.

“Today marks an exciting milestone in our history as we extend our ability to provide customers with convenient and affordable access to household essentials throughout all 48 continental states,” said Steve Deckard, Dollar General’s executive VP of growth and emerging markets. “As America’s general store, we believe each new Dollar General represents positive economic impact, local job opportunities, community donations and literacy grant opportunities through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.”

As of August 4, 2023, the company operated 19,488 Dollar General, DG Market, DGX and PopShelf stores across the United States and Mi Súper Dollar General stores in Mexico. 

 

Delivery platform DoorDash is teaming up with the world’s leading Halloween retailer to provide on-demand access to thousands of items.

The partnership between DoorDash and Spirit Halloween is a first for the two companies. Over 1,500 locations are now available on the DoorDash marketplace nationwide, giving customers access to shop the largest assortment of Halloween costumes, decor and accessories. To promote the new partnership, DoorDash is treating customers to 30% off eligible retail orders of $30 or more, up to $20 off, with code TRICK30, now through Oct. 31.

Recent data from National Retail Federation (NRF) shows that Halloween spending is expected to be about $12.2 billion, breaking last year’s record. A record number of people (73%) are expected to participate in Halloween-related activities this year, up from 69% in 2022.

With the partnership news, Spirit Halloween joins over 100,000 non-restaurant stores already on the DoorDash Marketplace and Drive platforms across North America. More than 98% of DoorDash’s monthly consumers in the U.S. now have access to a non-restaurant store on DoorDash.

Walgreens Boots Alliance may be considering a health care veteran as its next chief executive. 

According to a report by Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the matter, the company is considering Tim Wentworth as CEO.  The report said Walgreens may still consider other candidates for the role.

Wentworth, who is listed as retired on his LinkedIn page, served as CEO of Cigna’s health services division, Evernorth, from Sept. 2020 to Dec. 21. Prior to that, he was president, health services, at Cigna from Dec. 2019 to Dec. 2021. 

Before Cigna, Wentworth was president and CEO of Express Scripts, from 2016 to 2021. (Cigna acquired the pharmacy benefits manager for $67 billion in 2018.)

On Sept. 1, Walgreens said that Rosalind Brewer had stepped down as CEO of Walgreens. Her departure, effective as of Aug. 31, came after less than three years on the job.  In making the announcement, the company noted that it would search for a new CEO with "deep healthcare experience."

 

Last month’s opening of a Target store in the former Sears space at Kings Plaza in Brooklyn has the mall’s owner overjoyed with the switch.

Macerich, which earlier placed Primark, Zara, and Burlington in the vacated space, tracked the early sales of the three-level Target and has projected that the replacement tenants will do eight times the annual sales that Sears did before it left.

“The tremendous success of the new Target, combined with strong performances for Primark, Zara and Burlington, demonstrates the power and promise of Kings Plaza, Brooklyn’s only fully enclosed retail center,” said Eric Bunyan, senior VP of leasing for Macerich’s east region.

Other recent arrivals at the 1.1 million-sq.-ft. mall on Flatbush Avenue in the Mill Basin section of Brooklyn include Shake Shack and Ashley Furniture. Macerch continues to seek out tenants for a 50,000-sq.-ft space on the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Avenue U with high visibility.

While redeveloping the Sears space, Macerich did a complete transformation of the front of the mall, added new lighting to its 10-level parking deck, and installed new furnishings and flooring on the mall’s second level.

Angela Aman, who has served as CFO and treasurer of Brixmor Property Group since 2016, has been promoted to the additional position of president by this owner-operator of 365 open-air retail centers.

In addition to her ongoing responsibilities, she will now oversee the company’s reinvestment function. Aman is a 20-year retail real estate veteran who previously served as CFO of Retail Properties of American Inc. and Starwood Retail Partners.

Brixmor also promoted its longtime leasing chief and chief revenue officer Brian Finnegan to senior executive VP and chief operating officer. He will now oversee the company's construction and property management functions as well as tenant relationships.

“Angela and Brian are extremely talented, proven leaders and team players who have been critical to our success. I am excited they have agreed to take on these additional leadership responsibilities,” said Brixmor CEO James Taylor in a press release announcing the promotions.

A fast-growing pizza chain will test several different last-mile delivery platforms with its franchisees.

Marco’s Pizza is partnering with global mobility technology company Magna to conduct pilots and proofs-of-concept involving purpose-built, dedicated delivery solutions. These will include an electric, autonomous on-road last-mile delivery vehicle which can travel at speeds up to 20 MPH, an electric, autonomous sidewalk delivery robot and a low-speed, electric two-wheel bike.

Over the next several months, Marco’s and Magna will discuss proof-of-concept followed by a kick-off of in-market pilot projects with participating franchisees. These initial projects will provide data and insights into last-mile delivery usage rates, customer acceptance and overall efficiency.

Pizza retailer Domino’s also utilizes electric vehicles and e-bikes for delivery, and has piloted automated delivery vehicles in multiple markets.

"As one of the largest pizza brands, we invest in innovations that drive our franchisees’ businesses forward while meeting the needs of today's modern customer," said Rick Stanbridge, executive VP and CIO for Marco's Pizza. "Our strategic collaboration with Magna exemplifies this forward-thinking approach, and we plan to leverage their expertise to amplify our operations and elevate customer satisfaction."

"As we look at how people and goods will move in the future, we are continuously identifying new applications and technologies to match the needs of the expanded mobility landscape, the last-mile delivery market being one of them,” said Matteo Del Sorbo, executive VP at Magna and global lead for Magna New Mobility.

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza operates over 1,100 stores in 34 U.S. states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.