Large Chains

Milford, Conn. — Subway opened its 40,000th location at an AppleGreen petrol station in Ipswich, England. The company has opened 1,761 locations around the world since the start of 2013. The largest chain of sub shops in the world, Subway leads the next largest chain by more than 5,500 locations.

The U.K. is the brand’s third largest market, behind the U.S. and Canada. There are 14,000 international locations in 102 countries outside the U.S.

Lubbock, Texas -- As part of a strategic branding initiative, United Supermarkets, LLC will now be known as The United Family, reflecting its multiple store brands as well as its rich family history.
 
The strategic name change is part of a branding initiative to help define, articulate and document the organization’s retail portfolio, which consists of four brands: United Supermarkets, Market Street, Amigos and United Express, along with its subsidiary operations, R.C. Taylor Distributing, Praters and Llano Logistics.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts announced the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchise group Travel Mart for seven new restaurants in La Crosse and Eau Claire, Wis.

The first restaurant is planned to open in 2014 and the remainder by 2020.

City of Commerce, Calif. -- Stephane Gonthier, COO of Canadian dollar store chain Dollarama Inc., is leaving that company to take the role of president and CEO at 99 Cents Only Stores. Gonthier will remain with Dollarama during a transitionary period and Richard Anicetti, interim CEO of 99 Cents Only, will return to his position as board member once Gonthier arrives.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — Stéphane Gonthier, chief operating officer at Dollarama since September 2007, will be leaving the company to become president and CEO of 99 Cents Only Stores, as well as a member of its board. 

Gonthier’s appointment is expected to become effective in the next 60 days. Interim CEO Richard Anicetti, a successful food retailing executive, will return to his role solely as a member of the board.

Brussels, Belgium – Delhaize Group reported increases in net profit, same-store sales and revenues during the second quarter of fiscal 2013.  Net profit totaled $139.2 million, up 20% from the same quarter in the prior year. Same-store sales grew 1.1% in the U.S. and 0.8% in Belgium, while revenues came to roughly $7.1 billion, a year-over-year increase of 7.1%.

Minneapolis — Holiday Stationstores has reached an agreement with I-90 Fuel Services to convert 16 of The Gas Stop convenience stores to Holiday Stationstores, expanding the Holiday brand in the South Dakota and Southwestern Minnesota markets.

The Gas Stop stores making the conversion are located in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Brandon, Mitchell, Mobridge, Pierre and Volga, South Dakota. The Minnesota stores are in Luverne and Worthington.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts said it will open eight new restaurants in Rochester, N.Y., via a multi-unit store development agreement executed with existing franchisee Luis Ribeiro.

Ribeiro currently owns 25 of the 61 Dunkin' Donuts in the Greater Rochester area.  

"We expect 10 to 20 new Dunkin' Donuts restaurants to open in Rochester over the next few years," said Grant Benson, VP franchising and business development, Dunkin' Brands.

Woonsocket, R.I. — CVS Caremark is reportedly planning to re-enter the metro Toledo, Ohio, market by snapping up parcels of property, according to a local news report. The Blade is reporting that the pharmacy retailer bought land on Monroe Street near Douglas Road, where it plans to open its first drug store since exiting the market in 2001.

Citing Lucas County real estate records, the newspaper reports that the company bought eight parcels of property totaling 1.5 acres. The total price for the property was $2.2 million.

Cary, N.C. -- C-store operator The Pantry reported that net income for the quarter ended June 27 dropped to $5.9 million from $14.8 million in the year-ago period.

Same-store merchandise revenue edged up 1.3%.