Convenience Stores

DEERFIELD, Ill. - Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson informed the company’s board of directors that he will retire shortly after the completion of the merger between Walgreens and Alliance Boots, of which shareholders are scheduled to vote on Dec. 29, 2014.    

Independence, Mo. – Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. plans to open 18 new stores in fiscal 2015. As part of the plan, Natural Grocers has closed its previously announced agreement to acquire natural foods retailer Nature’s Pantry Inc. in Independence, Missouri.   The transaction closed on Dec. 7, and Natural Grocers began officially operating as a Natural Grocers store on Dec. 8. 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart Stores on Wednesday announced that Judith McKenna has been promoted to COO for Walmart U.S. McKenna succeeds Gisel Ruiz, who has been appointed EVP of Walmart’s International People Division.    McKenna will assume her responsibilities immediately and will continue to report directly to Walmart U.S. president and CEO, Greg Foran. Ruiz will also assume her responsibilities immediately and will report to Walmart International president and CEO, David Cheesewright.   

CANTON, Mass. - Dunkin’ Donuts is launching its own green building certification program, called DD Green, to help franchisees build sustainable, energy-efficient restaurants.    In conjunction with the announcement, the company is celebrating the grand opening of a DD Green certified Dunkin' Donuts restaurant in Long Beach, California. Dunkin' Donuts will work with franchisees and construction managers to build 100 new Dunkin' Donuts restaurants DD Green certified by the end of 2016.

By Alex Romanov, iSign Media   The holiday season is a time of family, food, and frenzied shopping. Consumers are bombarded by messages, promotions, discounts, and offers, and retailers have to be smart about how they reach out to their customers. Email blasts or paper coupons just won’t cut it. In this mobile-obsessed era, proximity marketing is a powerful way to break through the noise and bring shoppers into your store.   

Cary, N.C. – The Pantry Inc. beat Wall Street expectations with net income but missed on revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income dramatically shot up to $14.7 million from $1 million in the same period a year earlier, aided by costs and expenses that remained level or dropped.   Revenue fell 3% to $1.95 billion from $2.02 billion, with declining fuel sales offsetting rising merchandising sales.   

By Luis Salazar and Neha Dagley   Watch out, retailers with stores in Florida. The Florida State Legislature has tightened controls over businesses for data security breaches. Effective July 1, 2014, the new Florida Information Protection Act (FIPA) will impact your business and how you handle data breaches.  In recent years, data breaches have become commonplace, and have undoubtedly affected the chain-store industry.     FIPA: COMPLIANCE AND CONSEQUENCES

Atlanta - Chick–fil–A is mobilizing its customers, at least when it comes to payment and ordering. The quick service chain is launching two new features, mobile payment and mobile ordering, within the Chick–fil–A mobile app.   

New York - The House has passed a long-delayed tax bill that will help retailers remodel their stores and also move a wide range of individuals including welfare recipients and veterans into the workforce. The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 now heads to the Senate.   The package includes two key provisions on depreciation that affect retailers who remodel their stores and another that helps with hiring.  

Cincinnati - Phillips Edison & Company announced a partnership with the LOC Card, a consumer engagement platform from LOC Enterprises which allows customers to participate in merchants’ loyalty programs and access their data and information from each program all in one place.