Large Chains

Prattville, Ala. — Cobbs For Village, a 2.52-acre inline shopping center currently under construction in Prattville, Ala. is adding three tenants to its lineup.

Smashburger, Gigi’s Cupcakes and Chipotle Mexican Grill have signed leases with GBT Realty Corp. and will take up residence when the center opens next spring.

The new tenants join previously announced Starbucks Coffee, Aspen Dental and Firehouse Subs. GBT Realty is currently in lease negotiations for two of the four remaining available spaces.

Boise, Idaho – Albertson’s Supermarkets has agreed to purchase grocery store and c-store operator The United Family. Terms of the transaction have not been released.

BOISE, IDAHO – Albertson’s Supermarkets plans to purchase grocery store and c-store operator the United Family. The transaction’s terms have not been released.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart has launched a low-cost check-cashing service for Shop Your Way members at stores nationwide. 

Carlisle, Pa. -- Ahold USA said that Giant Food of Landover, Md., divisional president Anthony Hucker is leaving his position, effective Sept. 13, to pursue another opportunity.

Ahold USA executive VP operations Bhavdeep Singh will oversee the Giant-Landover division on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is named, the company said.
 
Hucker was appointed president of Giant-Landover on October 2011, having previously worked at Walmart.

Philadelphia – The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack has acquired 17 Discount Tire Centers in Southern California from AKH Co. These 17 stores are located throughout the greater Los Angeles market, from Bakersfield to Orange County.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant Food of Landover, Md., division president Anthony Hucker has resigned his position. His last day will be Sept. 13, according to parent company Ahold USA.

Ahold USA said Hucker was leaving to pursue another opportunity. Ahold USA EVP operations Bhavdeep Singh will oversee the Giant-Landover division on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is named.

Hucker was appointed president of Giant-Landover on Sept. 13, 2011, having previously worked at Walmart.

New York -- Drugstore operator Duane Reade in late August passed an important milestone: It surpassed 1 million Twitter followers. The drugstore chain, which is owned by Walgreens, is most-followed retailer on Twitter in the food, drug and mass arena.

Duane Reade has garnered five times more Twitter followers than its parent company Walgreens (180,390 followers), the second-most followed drug store retailer. CVS/pharmacy, No. 3, is followed by 117,931 Twitter followers.

Brussels, Belgium – Delhaize Group has named Franz Muller as CEO, effective Nov. 8. Muller will succeed Pierre-Olivier Beckers, who will remain available to advise the new CEO until year-end and continue to serve on the board of directors in a non-executive capacity thereafter.

Muller, 52, has more than 15 years of senior leadership experience in retail, most recently as a member of the management board of Metro AG and CEO of Metro Cash & Carry. He will start with Delhaize on Oct. 14, prior to assuming the role of CEO.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin’ Donuts continues its growth in non-traditional locations with the opening of two locations on the Kansas Turnpike with franchisee Rosenfield Restaurants. A third is scheduled to debut in October.

“Bringing Dunkin' Donuts to service plazas around the country is just one great example of how our brand is taking successful elements of our traditional locations and translating them into alternative points of distribution,” said Grant Benson, VP of franchising and business development, Dunkin' Brands.