Convenience Stores

NRF: Data breach law must be comprehensive
The National Retail Federation testified before Congress Wednesday on the need to pass a federal data breach notification law that applies to all entities that handle sensitive customer data.
Walmart to address shareholders on June 5
Amid a fast-changing industry in which retailers seek to harmonize their online and physical stores, the largest retailer in the world has announced the date of its annual shareholders meeting.

Wal-Mart Stores announced the meeting will be held on June 5 at 7 a.m. CDT in the Bud Walton Arena at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.

The meeting will be webcast on the company’s website at http://stock.walmart.com./ The company also announced that April 10 is the record date for that meeting.

Kroger names Dillons head as Columbus president

Columbus, Ohio - The Kroger Co. has named Joe Grieshaber, who has served as president of the Dillons banner since 2010, as president of Kroger's Columbus division. Grieshaber replaces Bruce Macaulay, who is retiring after 42 years with Kroger.
Arby’s names operations VP as new COO

Atlanta - Arby's Restaurant Group Inc. (ARG) is promoting John Bowie, senior VP of operations, to COO, reporting to Paul Brown, CEO. The promotion was announced as George Condos, ARG president and COO, announced his retirement.

Bowie will assume responsibilities as COO on March 30, at which point Condos will continue on through the end of the year as a consultant for Arby's.
NRF asks Congress to overturn union regulation

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) has formally asked the House to approve legislation that would overturn a National Labor Relations Board(NLRB) regulation allowing what it terms “ambush” union organizing elections, saying the rule infringes on employee and employer rights and is an attempt to favor union organizing. The Senate approved the legislation earlier this month by a vote of 53-46, and the House is expected to take it up later this week.
Report: Costco banned from importing fish to Canada

Toronto - Costco Canada has reportedly had its license to import fish into Canada suspended. According to Reuters, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency suspended Costco’s license to import fish on Feb. 26, but is only making it public now.
Publix to anchor Trinity Lakes center

St. Petersburg, Fla. - Publix will anchor the Shoppes at Trinity Lakes, a 76,000-sq.-.ft center located in Trinity, Florida. The 45,600-sq.-ft. Publix joins three other tenants who have already signed leases at the center: Haircuttery, Majik Touch Cleaners, and China Wok, each of which will occupy 1,200 sq. ft.
New hub designed to fuel growth for CST Brands

CST Brands is celebrating the grand opening of a new distribution center that aims to fuel its ambitious expansion plan in Texas.

The new 365,000-square-foot warehouse will serve as the main distribution hub for food and merchandise for about 600 Corner Store locations across Texas.
Dollar General will expand hours, not wages

Goodlettsville, Tenn. – Dollar General Corp. plans to increase employee income by making more working hours available to them, as opposed to raising salaries. Seeing a need to improve its stores in the face of expanded competition from the merging Family Dollar Stores Inc. and Dollar Tree Inc., Dollar General hopes to keep shelves better stocked with more labor hours.
Couche-Tard to buy 21 stores, 151 dealer sites in U.S.

Laval, Canada - Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. is purchasing 21 stores, 151 dealer fuel supply agreements and five development properties through its Circle K Stores Inc. subsidiary from Cinco J Inc. The 21 stores and development properties are located in Texas, while the 151 dealer fuel supply agreements are located in the Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Drizly updates app, site, branding

Boston – Omnichannel beer/wine/liquor delivery service Drizly is relaunching its mobile app, website and branding. New features of the site and app include ratings, reviews and rich media content; storable “favorite” orders and address books; smart searches that deliver results as users type; and the ability to share Drizly with friends and send gifts.

Drizly’s new digital interface also enables immersive brand experiences with alcohol products; rich content placements; and sponsored listings.
Survey: Consumers love iPhone, Apple and retail

Mountain View, Calif. – Move over mom, baseball and apple pie. The new three things everyone loves are iPhone, Apple and retail.

According to a new survey of global English-speaking consumers in 84 countries, the “NetBase Brand Passion Report,” iPhone is the most-loved brand in the world. Apple comes in at number three. And retail and Apple dominate the rest of the top 10 brands, which are Etsy (4th), iPad (5th), MacBook Air (6th), Starbucks (7th), Chipotle (9th) and McDonald’s (10th).