Large Chains

Cary, N.C. – The Pantry Inc. beat Wall Street expectations with net income but missed on revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income dramatically shot up to $14.7 million from $1 million in the same period a year earlier, aided by costs and expenses that remained level or dropped.   Revenue fell 3% to $1.95 billion from $2.02 billion, with declining fuel sales offsetting rising merchandising sales.   

Fresh & Easy, the former Tesco-owned grocery format, is testing a dramatically new look at seven-plus stores in the Las Vegas market.

The stores have been remodeled with a more modern feel and layout and a greater emphasis on ready meal solutions, with such features as a “Fresh to Go” hot food bar, a pizza oven, a coffee bar and made-to-order sandwiches. There's also a revamped product selection with lower fixtures and a more abundant selection of fresh food. 

Las Vegas - Fresh & Easy, the former Tesco-owned grocery format, is testing a dramatically new look at seven plus stores in the  Las Vegas market.    The stores have been remodeled with a more modern feel and layout and a greater emphasis on ready meal solutions, with such features as a “Fresh To Go” hot food bar, a pizza over, a coffee bar and made-to-order sandwiches. A revamped product selection with lower fixtures and a more abundant selection of fresh food.  

Houston - Baker Katz, an X Team International partner and full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm, announced that it has negotiated five Chipotle leases in Texas.    Jason Baker negotiated the leasing of the five Chipotle locations, ranging in size from just over 2,000 sq. ft. to 3,000 sq. ft. with a variety of different brokers.  

Wawa will become the first national retailer in the convenience retail channel to offer Coca-Cola Freestyle soda fountains chain-wide.

The Coca-Cola Freestyle machine is a touchscreen soda fountain that features over 100 different Coca-Cola drink products and custom flavors.

Walgreens Walgreens has named Linda Filler as president of retail products and chief merchandising officer effective Jan. 1.

Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson said: “With the addition of Linda, our retail products division will be well-positioned to join with Alliance Boots to deliver the unique combination of products and services that will set apart our future combined company.”

Iowa – Casey’s General Stores Inc. will revise its financial statements for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014 and the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, due to a $31.5 million error in how it accounted for excise tax on sales of ethanol fuel.  

Ankeny, Iowa – Casey’s General Stores Inc. will revise its financial statements for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014 and the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, due to a $31.5 million error in how it accounted for excise tax on sales of ethanol fuel. The retailer also stated a fiscal 2015 goal of building or acquiring 72-108 new stores and replacing 25 existing stores.

  New York - Apple is expanding its Apple Pay across hundreds of supermarkets.  Associated Food Stores, Shaw's Supermarkets, Jewel Osco, Albertson's and Bi-Lo Holdings have joined Whole Foods Markets,  which was one of the original Apple Pay launch partners, to accept the new payment option.   Bi-Lo Holdings, parent company of Bi-Lo, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, said it is now suporting Apple Pay across its entire southeastern footprint.

Altoona, Penn. -- C-store operator Sheetz cut the ceremonial red ribbon to officially open its new Burlington (North Carolina) Distribution Center.    The $33 million facility contains a Sheetz Bros kitchen, distribution and warehousing center for the Sheetz distribution fleet. There is also be space for various corporate support departments.