Foodservice

Alexandria, Va. - Consumer optimism about the economy reached a 12-month high in July. According to data from the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), consumer optimism surged from 39% to 46%, the highest level of optimism since it stood at 48% in July 2013.

Rockland, Mass. – Tedeschi Food Shops is promoting Greg Donoghue to COO. Donoghue succeeds Robert Tedeschi Jr., who retired in June after nearly 39 years of service. In his role, Greg will oversee all operations and facilitates collaboration and project management oversight for all departmental interaction with stores.

Ikea has partnered with Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to sponsor an in-store program that supports national children's hunger programs.

These programs include giving free meals and snacks to low income children, as well as giving out nutritious easy-to-prepare food for children to take home on weekends, in addition to other programs to meet the needs of hungry children.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens opened a two-story, flagship in the north tower of  Chicago’s iconic Wrigley Building on June 25.

A unique design, the store’s gradient color pattern and indirect lighting features complement the building’s exterior. A mosaic floor motif of the building’s famous clock welcomes customers as they enter off of Michigan Avenue.

Youngstown, Ohio — Chipotle Mexican Grill will debut at the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio, in November. It will be the first Chipotle in the Ohio Valley region. The restaurant’s 2,195-sq.-ft. space is in a building currently undergoing renovation. Two other new merchants, to be announced in the near future, will join Chipotle in the building.

Cafaro affiliated companies own and manage the recently renovated Ohio Valley Mall.

Camp Hill, Pa. – Rite Aid is bringing some glitz, as well as health consciousness, to its newly reopened Beverly Hills store. On June 23, Rite Aid re-opened its Beverly Hills store with a major remodel that features its new wellness store design, as well as dining options.

Seattle – Starbucks appears to be targeting afternoon shoppers with new soda and sandwich offerings. Starting June 24, Starbucks is expanding its cold beverage portfolio with the addition of Fizzio handcrafted sodas at about 3,500 U.S. locations.

Fizzio sodas are carbonated fresh behind the counter and debut in three flavors. Starbucks estimates the global carbonated beverage market is worth $415 billion.

Jacksonville, Fla. - First Coast Energy has selected NCR’s Radiant point-of-sale (RPOS) technology solutions to improve service and reliability at its Daily’s Shell-branded convenience stores in Florida. Daily’s has also opted to implement NCR’s Customer Self Service (CSS) food ordering solution which creates an excellent and consistent consumer food experience. This solution combines software used both by the shopper for ordering and the employee for food preparation, creating a fast, efficient and reliable experience.

Dallas -- 7-Eleven has signed a master franchise Agreement with Seven Emirates Investment LLC to develop and operate 7-Eleven stores in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The expansion marks the company's first entry into the Middle East region.
   

New York City — Restaurant chain Pret A Manger has leased a 2,577-sq.-ft. shop at 600 Lexington Avenue, a boutique 36-story office tower on East 52nd Street. The new location will bring the chains Manhattan locations to a total of 39.

RKF (www.rkf.com) represented Pret A Manger and the landlord, SL Green Realty Corp. in the transaction. Over the last two years, RKF has arranged a dozen new leases for the chain.