Convenience Stores

The Kroger Co. is teaming up with the USO on a new customer engagement campaign to raise money for military veterans and their families.

Customers and associates of Kroger Co. stores (including Ralph's, Food 4 Less and other divisions) will be able to show their support through July 21 by donating their spare change in specially-marked coin boxes at the check stands in all Ralphs supermarkets. One-hundred percent of all donations will go to the USO. But new this year is a digital marketing element in which veterans tell their stories on honoringourheroes.com.

Memphis -- AutoZone reported a better-than-expected profit of $309.1 million in its third quarter, up 8.4% from $285.2 million in the year-ago period. Diluted earnings per share increased 13.1% to $9.57 per share, from $8.46 per share in the year-ago quarter. It was the auto retailer’s thirty-fifth consecutive quarter of double digit earnings per share growth.

Sales for the quarter, ended May 9, increased 6.5% to $2.49 billion for the period. Same-store sales increased 2.3%.

Atlanta - Hooters of America LLC has finalized an agreement with global commercial real estate services firm Colliers International to have the firm advise Hooters on real estate needs and provide strategic counsel as the brand expands domestically and internationally. Colliers International’s Bob Browning, VP for retail services, and Robert Hantgan, senior VP, are managing the exclusive assignment.

The chairman of the board at 99 Cents Only Stores has assumed the role of CEO and president effective immediately.

Andrew Giancamilli will become the new interim president and CEO, replacing Stéphane Gonthier.

Waban, Mass. - Chick-fil-A took the second spot in the annual Temkin Customer Service Ratings, tops among all retailers and food service chains. Other retailers and food service companies in the top 12 include Aldi, Trader Joe's, Publix, Panera Bread, H-E-B, Amazon.com, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Supermarkets, retailers, and banks, as an industry, earned average ratings of "strong.” Retailers RadioShack and Sears were ranked at least 15 points below retail industry average.

Former Sears and Walgreens finance executive Atul Kavthekar is joining LivingSocial as CFO to help execute the e-commerce company’s ongoing re-invention strategy.

Greensboro, N.C. – It was a mixed first quarter for The Fresh Market Inc. as the grocery retailer met Wall Street expectations for profit but fell short on sales. Net income totaled $15.17 million, down 8% from $16.57 million.

Higher operating expenses drove the reduction in net income. Sales increased 7% to $462.04 million from $431 million. Same-store sales dropped 0.1%.

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Krispy Kreme has signed development agreements to open 11 Krispy Kreme shops in Arkansas, Montana, Illinois and Kentucky in the next several years. An agreement with Dennis Porter,pPresident of DTL of the Emerald Coast, includes four additional shops to open in Arkansas.