Convenience Stores

Woonsocket, R.I. — CVS Caremark is reportedly planning to re-enter the metro Toledo, Ohio, market by snapping up parcels of property, according to a local news report. The Blade is reporting that the pharmacy retailer bought land on Monroe Street near Douglas Road, where it plans to open its first drug store since exiting the market in 2001.

Citing Lucas County real estate records, the newspaper reports that the company bought eight parcels of property totaling 1.5 acres. The total price for the property was $2.2 million.

Cary, N.C. -- C-store operator The Pantry reported that net income for the quarter ended June 27 dropped to $5.9 million from $14.8 million in the year-ago period.

Same-store merchandise revenue edged up 1.3%.


 

In a recent interview, Walgreens’ CEO Greg Wasson spoke at length about the ways in which the drug store chain is evolving. I thought the interview (posted online under the title Walgreens gets a modern makeover), was fascinating, particularly where Wasson explained the company’s bold plans to “reimagine” its stores.

Waban, Mass. – Amazon.com was the top-ranked company across 19 industries in the 2013 Web Experience Ratings from Temkin Group. Amazon.com had a score of 77%, almost 21 percentage points higher than the retail industry average.

Other retailers in the top 10 included eBay, tied for fifth place at 70%, and QVC, tied for eighth place at 69%. Taco Bell and Kmart earned ratings that were at least 15 points below the retail industry average. Old Navy was the only retailer to have a double-digit score increase from last year.

Broomfield, Colo. -- TCBY Yogurt and Mrs. Fields Cookies parent Famous Brands International said it has appointed Michael Chao as CFO, effective immediately.  

Chao was previously VP finance, treasury and investor relations for Vail Resorts.

Famous Brands also announced the reappointment of David Barr to its board of directors. Barr, who is currently chairman of the board for Rita Restaurants and Australian jewelry company The Jewellery Group, was CFO and CEO of the Great American Cookie Co., which was sold to Mrs. Fields in 1998.

New York -- Stirling Properties has opened the Mid-City Market in New Orleans, the firm’s largest group-up retail development in the city. A 54,390-sq.-ft Winn-Dixie anchors the 108,763-sq.-ft. shopping center. Stirling estimates that the center will generate annual retail sales of more than $61 million.

Dallas — During July, SRS Real Estate Partners www.srsre.com executed a host of transactions in major cities across the country:

Winston-Salem, N.C. — A new Krispy Kreme Doughnut Factory will open in Roswell, Ga., in early September, marking the start of an expansion effort across the metro area. The new shop will replace the existing Roswell shop and introduce the company’s updated design to the area.

Construction plans are currently underway for approved sites in Doraville, Smyrna and Stockbridge. Krispy Kreme is also working to secure sites in Decatur and Duluth.

Deerfield, Ill. - Walgreens same-store sales increased by 6.3% in July, the retailer reported this morning. Calendar day shifts positively impacted total same-store sales by 1.4 percentage points, while generic drug introductions in the last 12 months negatively impacted total same-store sales by 1.8 percentage points.

Total front-end sales increased 3.6% compared with the same month in fiscal 2012, while same-store front-end sales increased 2.3%. Customer traffic in stores open at least one year decreased 1.2% while basket size increased 3.5%.

SAN DIEGO — Petco is leveraging social media to engage existing customers, entice new ones and, as part of its mission statement, help out shelters in need with its “Be a Great One” contest.