Convenience Stores

Fresh & Easy to close 55 stores as it transitions to new convenience model
New York -- Fresh & Easy plans to close 55 stores, which would leave the chain with about 110 locations, the Orange Country Register reported. Fresh & Easy is owned by the Yucaipa Cos., which bought the supermarket chain out of bankruptcy in 2013 from U.K. retailer Tesco. It operates stores in Nevada, California and Arizona.

The stores slated for closing do not meet Fresh & Easy’s new model of “modern convenience.”
Papa Murphy’s plans Southeast expansion
Vancouver, Wash. – Pizza retailer Papa Murphy's Holdings Inc. plans to strengthen and grow its presence in the Southeast.

The company, which currently has more than 1,400 locations in 38 states, recently completed acquisitions of existing Papa Murphy's franchise stores in Jacksonville, Forida, as a springboard for further expansion throughout the Southeast.

Larry Kudlow at SPECS: Lower oil prices, strong dollar good for growth

New York -- The collapse of oil prices translates into a huge tax cut for 90% of the economy, former CNBC host, economist and newspaper columnist Larry Kudlow told attendees at Chain Store Age’s 51st annual SPECS show. Kudlow was a keynoter at the event, which was held at the Sands Expo, Venetian/Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas, March 15 – 16, and brought together retail executives in store planning & design, construction and facilities.
Starbucks to open 3,500 stores across Americas; unveiling new Express format

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. remains highly bullish on expansion. In remarks at the company’s annual shareholders meeting, the coffee giant revealed that over the next five years it plans to open 3,500 locations in its Americas region and 8,000 new stores in foreign markets. And just in case you were wondering … Starbucks noted that Shanghai has more Starbucks stores than any other city in the world in which it operates.
Haggen opens in California, names expansion team

As burgeoning food retailer Haggen charts a path of expansion across the West Coast, the company is also making some key executive moves to support its growth in the Southwest.

The grocery chain Haggen named the first five senior members of its Pacific Southwest leadership team this week:
Smart & Final swings to Q4 profit; to accelerate store expansion

Commerce Calif. -- Value-oriented food retailer Smart & Final Stores Inc. plans to accelerate its expansion after posting double-digit sales growth in the fourth quarter.
Smart & Final swings to Q4 profit; to accelerate store expansion

Commerce Calif. -- Value-oriented food retailer Smart & Final Stores Inc. plans to accelerate its expansion after posting double-digit sales growth in the fourth quarter.
Trader Joe’s: Time-lapse construction video

Trader Joe’s will open its first-ever Schaumburg (Illinois) location on March 20, at Woodfield Village Green, a 687,015-sq.-ft. foot shopping center owned by DDR.

Check out this quick time-lapse video of the nine-month construction process, which involved filling in a man-made retention pond and building the store on top.
Michaels profit up 18%, but issues soft outlook for 2015

Irving, Texas -- The Michaels Cos. reported Thursday its net income rose 18% to $157 million in the fourth quarter, up from $133 million in the year-earlier period. But the retailer gave a soft outlook for the year, citing, among other things, unfavorable Canadian exchange rates and the impact of the West Coast port slowdown.

Sales for the fourth quarter increased 3.4% to $1.61 billion. Same-store sales increased by 1.4%
Smart & Final eyes more expansion

Value-oriented food retailer Smart & Final Stores Inc. plans to accelerate its expansion plans after posting double-digit sales growth in the fourth quarter.
Starbucks announces stock split, outlines delivery plans, talks race relations

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. stirred up controversy even as it excited shareholders at the company’s annual meeting on Wednesday.
AmEx to debut multi-brand customer loyalty program

Los Angeles -- American Express is preparing to launch a customer loyalty program in the U.S. that will enable shoppers at select retailers to rack up points that they can use toward future purchases at Macy's, Exxon Mobil, AT&T and other participating companies.

The free program, set to debut in May, is dubbed Plenti and will also include Nationwide, Rite Aid, Direct Energy and Hulu, American Express said Wednesday.