Convenience Stores

Toronto-based general merchandise retailer Canadian Tire Corp. has made a sudden shift at the top of the company’s executive structure.   Stephen Wetmore, who previously served as CEO of Canadian Tire from 2009-2014, has been named president and CEO of the company, effective immediately. Wetmore, who has remained on the board of directors after leaving the CEO post, will remain a director of the company but step down as deputy chairman of the board.  

If Rite Aid needs to shed some stores for antitrust reasons in the wake of a merger with Walgreens-Boots Alliance, many experts expect one well-known drug store to step forward. 

Durham, North Carolina-based conglomerate The Guess Corp. is seeking to acquire at least 1,000 U.S. convenience store/ gas station units in the next 12 months.   Working through a subsidiary, the company is looking to acquire an average of 100 branded and unbranded units per month. Upon completion of the purchases, Guess Corp. intends to re-brand and renovate the properties with innovative and sleek designs and provide enhanced CRM technology. The company has invited brokers to provide buyer representation with higher commissions.

As their merger enters the home stretch, Delhaize Group and Ahold have reached agreements with buyers to divest 86 U.S. stores.   The two international companies announced their intent to combine forces back in June 20115. The merger is set for completion at the end of July, pending final approval by the Federal Trade Commission.  

The $11 billion purchase of Belgium-based supermarket operator Delhaize Group by Netherlands-based grocery conglomerate Ahold is coming closer.   The two companies both announced they expect the deal, approved by the shareholders of both companies in March 2016, to go through before the end of July 2016, subject to regulatory approval by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).   

Bob Mariano, CEO of the Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. division of The Kroger Co., will retire effective Sept. 1, 2016.   After retiring, Mariano will serve as strategic adviser to Kroger and Roundy's for two years. Don Rosanova, president of Mariano's, and Michael Marx, president of Roundy's Supermarkets Wisconsin, will continue to serve in their current roles leading the two supermarket divisions.  

One day after announcing a general salary increase for all U.S. corporate store employees, Starbucks Corp. is preparing to increase some prices.   As of July 12, Starbucks made what it calls a “small price adjustment” in U.S. company-operated stores. Depending on the market, customers will experience increases of 10 to 20 cents on select sizes of brewed coffee, and 10 to 30 cents on espresso beverages and tea lattes.  

Specialty pet retailer Pet Supplies Plus is entering three new states as part of an aggressive 2016 expansion plan.   The chain is entering California, Colorado and Oklahoma, as well as furthering its expansion in the states of New Jersey, Texas, Missouri, Iowa and Georgia. In addition, Pet Supplies Plus recently signed a deal to open 10 new stores in Kansas City, and is on target to open approximately 60 new stores by the end of the year.  

7-Eleven has set itself new energy conservation goals.       The world’s largest convenience store chain, in collaboration with Conservation International, has committed to reducing its energy footprint in stores by 20% by 2025, and also reducing its packaging footprint by 20% by 2025.    

Barnes & Noble has previously ventured into new product categories such as e-readers and toys and games, but the bookseller is going further outside its established niche than ever before.