Convenience Stores

More than a dozen of Walmart’s top merchants are in new roles following a realignment of responsibilities that chief merchandising and marketing officer Duncan Mac Naughton said is designed to recognize customers’ needs and serve them more efficiently.
 

▲ Investing in energy conservation makes business sense: According to ASHRAE, energy is the second highest retailer operating expense. A new white paper by the Retail Leaders Industry Association (RILA) and Schneider Electric notes that recent weather extremes have increased energy costs for retailers, and the trend is expected to continue. Factor in potential electricity price increases in the near future, and increases in energy costs could be significant.

Chicago – Groupon has reportedly purchased Canadian coupon app SnapSaves. According to the Canadian Press, Groupon completed the purchase June 13, buying the app for an undisclosed sum from Toronto-based daily deals site Buytopia.

SnapSaves users can take smartphone photos of their grocery receipts and receive refunds on select products. Groupon has been expanding its smartphone offerings in the past year, including the launch of a mobile app version of its website and a smartphone digital coupon feature called Freebies.

Brussels, Belgium - Delhaize Group has appointed Kevin Holt as CEO for Delhaize America. Holt, formerly president of retail operations at Supervalu, will also become a member of the Delhaize Group executive committee and will start effective July 7 and lead the group’s U.S. operations.

Youngstown, Ohio — Chipotle Mexican Grill will debut at the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio, in November. It will be the first Chipotle in the Ohio Valley region. The restaurant’s 2,195-sq.-ft. space is in a building currently undergoing renovation. Two other new merchants, to be announced in the near future, will join Chipotle in the building.

Cafaro affiliated companies own and manage the recently renovated Ohio Valley Mall.

Seattle – Starbucks appears to be targeting afternoon shoppers with new soda and sandwich offerings. Starting June 24, Starbucks is expanding its cold beverage portfolio with the addition of Fizzio handcrafted sodas at about 3,500 U.S. locations.

Fizzio sodas are carbonated fresh behind the counter and debut in three flavors. Starbucks estimates the global carbonated beverage market is worth $415 billion.

Kevin Holt was named CEO of Delhaize America to oversee U.S. operations that account for 60% of Belgium-based retailer’s annual sales of $28 billion.

Jacksonville, Fla. - First Coast Energy has selected NCR’s Radiant point-of-sale (RPOS) technology solutions to improve service and reliability at its Daily’s Shell-branded convenience stores in Florida. Daily’s has also opted to implement NCR’s Customer Self Service (CSS) food ordering solution which creates an excellent and consistent consumer food experience. This solution combines software used both by the shopper for ordering and the employee for food preparation, creating a fast, efficient and reliable experience.