Large Chains

New York -- Bi-Lo Holdings, parent company of Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, has appointed veteran Australian retail executive Ian McLeod as president and CEO, effective March 2. He succeeds Randall Onstead, who will remain in place through March 2.

Framingham, Mass. – To celebrate the two-year anniversary of its SmartPay Check-Link mobile and card payment program, convenience chain Cumberland Farms is launching a promotion on its Facebook page Jan. 23-25. To enter, customers must calculate their projected 2015 coffee savings using Cumberland Farms' Coffee Savings Calculator, and post them as a comment on the Cumberland Farms page.

Twenty winners will be announced in the comments and will receive a $20 gift card to their local Cumberland Farms.
 

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. has appointed Kevin Johnson as president and chief COO, effective March 1. He replaces the company's current COO, 23-year Starbucks veteran, Troy Alstead, who, as previously announced, will take a sabbatical beginning March 1. Over the next month, Alstead will work to immerse Johnson into his levels of responsibility as they work together to ensure a smooth transition.
 

Bi-Lo Holdings has turned to a veteran Australian retail executive to take over as president and CEO.

The parent company of Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores said that Ian McLeod has been appointed president and CEO effective March 2. McLeod succeeds Randall Onstead, who will remain in place through March 2.

Fans of Wawa may be excited to learn about the innovative new programs the convenience retail chain has rolled out.

The new initiatives -- the Wawa Mobile App and the Wawa Rewards program -- are now available for free through the App Store for Apple devices and through Google Play for Android devices.

Dollar General issued a statement Thursday indicating the company is having trouble winning support from the Federal Trade Commission on a $9.1 billion bid for Family Dollar Stores.

Dollar General said it would “defend litigation” if necessary.

The statement could give new momentum to Dollar Tree's $8.5 billion cash and stock competing bid for Family Dollar. Meanwhile, two proxy investment firms have switched their recommendation for Family Dollar shareholders to accept the Dollar Tree offer, rather than the bid from Dollar General.

Shoppers are ready to spend this spring thanks to a precipitous decline in gas prices and an expectation that prices will stay low.

A new study suggests that most Americans are optimistic about the economy, thanks to the continuing slide in gas prices. A survey of gas consumers found that 57% of Americans are optimistic, including nearly two-thirds (65%) of those ages 18-34.

Memphis -- Discount general merchandise chain Fred’s has named Michael K. Bloom as its president and COO, effective immediately. Until recently, Bloom held the same position at Family Dollar Stores Inc.; he resigned in early January after just over two years in the position and could be owed as much as $4.8 million in severance by Family Dollar, according to an SEC filing.

Memphis -- Discount general merchandise chain Fred’s has named Michael K. Bloom as its president and COO, effective immediately. Until recently, Bloom held the same position at Family Dollar Stores Inc.; he resigned in early January after just over two years in the position and could be owed as much as $4.8 million in severance by Family Dollar, according to an SEC filing.

Fred's Super Dollar has turned to a former Family Dollar and CVS executive to become its next president and chief operating officer.

Michael Bloom brings to Fred's more than 30 years of experience in small-box general merchandising, supply chain management and store operations, the company said. Most recently, he served as the president and COO of Family Dollar Stores.