Convenience Stores

Canton, Mass. - Dunkin' Donuts has opened its newest hotel location at the Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio, making it the fifth restaurant to open under a franchising agreement between Dunkin' Donuts and Great Wolf Resorts. Dunkin' Donuts has existing restaurants at Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, North Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; Traverse City, Michigan; and Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

The Walmart Foundation is making a big statement in support of free school meal and education programs.

The organization will give away $15.5 million in grants to seven national nonprofits to support free meal and nutrition education programs this summer and throughout the school year. The programs in more than 7,700 communities across the country will help over 1 million low-income children and their families gain access to critical meals and teach them how to cook and eat healthy together.

Wallingford, Conn. — Edible Arrangements International has named Tony DiPippa as CFO.

DiPippa replaces former CFO George Wilson, who moves over to support Edible Arrangements founder and CEO Tariq Farid in the expansion of Edible Brands and  his other ventures, including Netsolace, Broadpeak and Naranga.

The King Soopers grocery chain is trying to meet rising demand for fresh food delivery with a new digital initiative.

King Soopers, a division of the Kroger Co. has launched an e-commerce website KingSoopers.com/LiveNaturally.

Kroger turned in a stunning first quarter same store sales performance while expanding omnichannel and convenience capabilities designed to extend a comp streak now well into the 11^th year.

Same store sales rose 5.7% excluding fuel in the first quarter ended May 23. Net income attributable to Kroger rose to $619 million, or $1.25 per share, in the first quarter, from $501 million, or 98 cents per share, a year earlier.

Home Depot and Lowe’s have nothing on four Ace Hardware operators who were recipients of the retail cooperative’s annual “Coolest Hardware Stores’” awards.

The award is quite a distinction considering there are roughly 4,800 Ace Hardware stores worldwide. This year’s honorees included Henkle’s Ace Hardware (Webb City, Mo.), Islands Ace Hardware (Savannah, Ga.), Miner’s Ace Hardware (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) and Rocking R Ace Hardware (Harrisonburg, Va.).

Montvale, N.J. -- The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. is actively shopping 137 of its stores, including 10 Food Emporium locations in New York City, according to the New York Post.  

Read the full story by clicking here.
 

New York -- One of the world’s largest retailers has undertaken a search is underway for a new CEO to execute a massive transformation. But getting to the interview will require U.S. executives to take a very long flight and the successful applicant will need good listening skills to decipher the accent of co-workers.

Dallas - Justin Lambeth has been appointed as chief marketing officer of Corner Bakery Café.

Lambeth joins Corner Bakery Cafe following several leadership roles at PepsiCo Inc., where he was responsible for marketing, consumer engagement and shopper marketing for the company's Quaker Division as chief marketing officer.

Prior to his work with the Quaker division, Lambeth held the role of VP at Frito-Lay, as well as leadership roles at H.J. Heinz and Nabisco Inc.
 

Los Angeles – Discount grocery retailer Smart & Final is offering on-demand Instacart delivery to customers in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas. Delivery assortment encompasses Smart & Final’s full store offering, including club-sized items to stock households and offices.

Delivery will occur in as little as one hour and match Smart & Final’s normal in-store prices, excluding special offers.