Convenience Stores

Petland has hired a former Walmart executive as vice president of corporate stores as the pet supply retailer looks to expand its national footprint. 

Although Tony Samples last worked at Walmart in 2006, Petland touted his Walmart experience in a news release. "Tony brings extensive retail experience to Petland at a time when Petland is expanding its retail footprint," said Petland President and CEO Joe Watson. Samples will lead Petland's retail store division and oversee the company's merchandising and marketing efforts.

The deep freeze hitting much of the United States this winter helped Fred’s improve its same store sales from the prior year, with cold weather product departments performing well in February.    Fred's total sales for February, not adjusting the closed stores, decreased 2% to $154.1 million from $157.4 million in February 2014. Same store sales for the month were approximately flat versus a decrease of 2.2% in February last year.  

Canton, Mass. - Dunkin' Donuts, is recruiting franchisees throughout the state of Louisiana. The company is placing an emphasis on the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Lafayette markets.

Currently, there are nine Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in the state.
 

The former chairman and CEO of Home Depot is joining the board of directors at Pep Boys.

Robert Nardelli, the former chairman and CEO of Home Depot and Chrysler, has been appointed to Pep Boys’ board of directors, bringing the current size of the board to nine directors.

Chairman of the board, Robert Hotz, said: “We are pleased to have Bob join our board and welcome his extensive operating expertise and insight.”

Waban, Mass. – Publix, Aldi and H-E-B share something besides all operating in the grocery sector. Based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, the three supermarket chains earned the highest scores in the 2015 Temkin Experience Ratings that ranks 293 companies across 20 industries.

Joining those firms in the top 12 spots are retailers Chick-fil-A, PetSmart, Amazon.com, Trader Joe's, Papa John's, Walgreens, and Hannaford's.

Publix, Aldi and H-E-B now share something else besides operating in the grocery sector: They all do a stupendous job of serving their customers.

According to a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, the three supermarket chains earned the highest scores in the 2015 Temkin Experience Ratings. The list ranks 293 companies across 20 industries.

Joining those firms in the top 12 spots are retailers Chick-fil-A, PetSmart, Amazon.com, Trader Joe's, Papa John's, Walgreens, and Hannaford's.

Franklin, Tenn. – The boring old POS terminal may not be so boring after all. According to new research from IHL Group, North American POS shipments grew by 5.2% year-over-year in 2014, a time when many were calling for a reduction in shipments due to mobile.  

Kmart and Best Buy are among the retailers that helped St. Jude’s Hospital raise more than $100 million for the second year in a row.

Kmart led all fundraising for St. Jude’s once again at $17.5 million, bringing its grand total to date to $76 million. Best Buy saw its campaign increase from nearly $1 million in 2013 to $9.7 million.