Convenience Stores

Fort Wayne, Ind. -- Vera Bradley announced that Karen Peters has been named executive VP, retail and wholesale sales.

Peters has 25 years of retail experience including multi-store management and merchandising. Between February 2005 and March 2014, she served as senior VP, director of stores for Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th. Prior to that, she held key management positions with Sears, Target, and Kohl's.

Undeterred by bad weather and competitive pressures that took a toll on its first quarter performance, Dollar General is pressing ahead with plans for 700 new stores, recently opened its 12th distribution center and believes its full year profit forecast is attainable.

Undeterred by bad weather and competitive pressures that took a toll on its first quarter performance, Dollar General is pressing ahead with plans for 700 new stores, recently opened its 12th distribution center and believes its full year profit forecast is attainable.

Sponsored by the National Confectioners Association, the 2014 Sweets & Snacks Expo hosted a sold out show at Chicago’s McCormick Place to an audience of more than 16,000 qualified industry professionals. The Expo, held May 20–22, is being touted as the confectionery and snack industry’s most successful, world-class event.

To date Loblaw has donated more than $1 million and 323,000 pounds of food across Canada during the Extra Helping Food Drive, and is more than halfway to achieving its 2014 goal of $1.8 million and 1.8 million pounds of food.

Newfoundlanders have helped to replenish food bank supplies in the province with $27,721 and 26,940 pounds of food donated by customers and colleagues at Dominion, SaveEasy and nofrills stores across Newfoundland and Labrador during the Extra Helping Spring Food Drive of 2014.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Keep it simple — that’s secret to Dollar General's success Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO of the 75-year-old company said at its shareholders annual meeting.

"Simple neighborhood stores, simple, frequently-needed items and everyday low prices," he said. "For 75 years, [Dollar General has focused] on helping low- and middle-income families save money and save time by offering quality, basic merchandise at affordable prices in convenient, small-box neighborhood stores."

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced the promotion of Shelley Broader, currently president and CEO of Walmart Canada, to executive VP, president and CEO of Walmart EMEA, effective June 1. In her new role, she will lead Walmart's retail operations and oversee business development in Europe, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and Canada and will report directly to David Cheesewright, president and CEO, Walmart International.

San Bernardino, California -- Plans are well underway to open two new state-of-the-art "Blue Ribbon" Stater Bros. Supermarkets in California, with one in Covina (Los Angeles County) and the other in Menifee (Riverside County).  

Old Bridge, N.J. — Max Challenge Franchising, a fitness center franchisor, has appointed R.J. Brunelli & Co. as its exclusive national tenant representative.

Max Challenge studios currently operate throughout much of New Jersey, Staten Island, New York, and metropolitan Sacramento, California.

The company is seeking 2,000 to 3,000-sq.-ft. locations in the Hoboken/Edgewater, Montclair, Bergen County and Cherry Hill markets in New Jersey.

South Plainfield, N.J. — Advance Auto Parts has signed an 11,382-sq.-ft. lease at Oak Park Commons in South Plainfield, New Jersey, bringing the center’s occupancy rate up to 95%. Charter Realty & Development co-brokered the transaction with NJ Commercial Realty.

The auto parts retailer will be joining Dollar Tree, A&P, McDonalds, CVS, Subway, GNC, Wells Fargo, Goodyear, RadioShack, and H & R Block.