Foodservice

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets announced that it will make its Knoxville, Tenn. debut in in the Northshore Town Center at Northshore Drive and Pellissippi Pkwy.

“We are proud to offer our unique shopping experience to customers in Knoxville,” said Todd Jones, president of Publix Super Markets. “We are committed to providing premier customer service and look forward to supporting the Knoxville community as early as third quarter 2012.”

New York City -- New York City-based Winick Realty announced that Westside Market has leased its fourth Manhattan location at 2589 Broadway, between 97th and 98th Streets on the Upper West Side.

The 46-year-old family-owned food market and caterer took a total of 15,607 sq. ft., including 8,607 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 7,000 sq. ft. on the lower level. It currently runs two additional Upper West Side locations, as well as one in Chelsea.

Ankeny, Iowa -- C-store operator Casey's General Stores said Monday that profit for the quarter ended April 30 rose 4% to $22.8 million, compared with $21.9 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue surged 31% to $1.55 billion, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $1.57 billion in revenue. Same-store sales rose almost 5% on groceries and other merchandise and increased 12% on food and fountain drinks. Same-store gasoline sales fell 2% on rising prices.
 

Cary, N.C. -- Convenience-store operator The Pantry is selling 114 locations located in nine states throughout the Southeast. The properties are a combination of owned and leased locations. All are operating convenience stores with gasoline, except for one standalone store.

NRC Realty Capital Advisors, Chicago, is assisting The Pantry in the sale. As of May 9, The Pantry operated 1,659 stores in 13 states under select banners, including Kangaroo Express, its primary operating banner.

Chicago -- A Friday report by the Quad City Business Journal said that 7-Eleven will rebrand its previously acquired 14-store Mother Hubbard chain into 7-Eleven stores.

After acquiring the Mother Hubbard’s stores in early 2010 from MHC Convenience LLC, 7-Eleven Inc. announced that it plans to rebrand all 14 stores and offer them for franchise. The sale involved 16 Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard stores, but two in Bettendorf, Iowa, are not currently slated for conversion.

Ankeny, Iowa -- Casey’s General Stores and Kum & Go announced that they have signed a definitive purchase agreement for Casey’s to acquire 22 convenience stores from Kum & Go.

The stores, all of which are located in Iowan, will be immediately rebranded to Casey’s once the transaction is completed.

Dallas -- Real estate investment firm The Cogent Group said Thursday it has acquired 12 convenience stores & gas stations in the Charlottesville, Va. market.

The properties are leased to Charlottesville-based Virginia Oil Co. and feature food partnerships with McDonald’s, Blimpie and Dairy Queen.

Cogent’s real estate purchase was part of a simultaneous transaction among The Cogent Group, VPS Convenience Store Group and Virginia Oil Co.

Cary, N.C. -- The Pantry said Tuesday that its senior VP operations Brad Williams has decided to leave the company after 13 years.

The c-store operator said it has launched a search for a replacement. In the interim, operations personnel will report to Terry Marks, president and CEO.

New York City -- Seattle’s Best Coffee LLC, a division of Starbucks Corp., has asked a bankruptcy judge to reject Border Group’s request to end the companies’ licensing agreement.

Borders is not entitled to cancel the agreement and continue to use Seattle’s Best’s trademarks and products, the coffee company said today in a court filing. Seattle’s Best also disputed Borders’s claim that terms of the agreement are excessive.

Loveland, Colo. — McWhinney Enterprises announced that its Marketplace at Centerra power center in Loveland, Colo., will see the addition of Menchie’s and Buffalo Wild Wings this year.

Menchie’s is slated to open a new frozen yogurt shop at the end of May, and Buffalo Wild Wings has begun remodeling a former Black Eye Pea restaurant space with an anticipated opening date of August.