Convenience Stores

CARY, N.C. — The Pantry, a leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., has appointed former Dollar General executive Kathleen Guion to its board of directors.

Brussels, Belgium -- Global supermarket operator Delhaize Group, whose U.S. divisions include Food Lion and Hannaford Bros., has named Maura Smith as executive VP, general counsel and general secretary. Smith formerly served as executive VP of government affairs, general counsel and secretary of PepsiCo and has 30 years of corporate legal experience.

Smith will report to CEO Pierre-Olivier Beckers and is succeeding Michael Wallers, who is entering a planned retirement.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Co. is shaking up its senior management team with five promotions and two new appointments. John Culver, head of the China-Asia Pacific region with more than 10 years of Starbucks experience, is being promoted to group president, China and Asia Pacific (CAP), channel development and emerging brands. Jeff Hansberry, a three-year Starbucks veteran who has worked on the channel development and emerging brands team, is being promoted to president of China and Asia Pacific and will report to Culver.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales decreased 4% in April compared with April 2012 due to an earlier Easter and introductions of new generic drugs, the retail pharmacy chain said.

The numbers released Thursday included a 3.5% decrease in sales on the front end and a 4% decrease in pharmacy sales, but the pharmacy figure included a 4.5% negative effect due to new generics. Same-store prescription count decreased by 0.2%.

Total sales for the month were $1.9 billion, a 4.6% decrease over April 2012's $2 billion.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Wednesday will celebrate the official opening of its latest flagship, located at School and Washington streets in Boston. The store is located in an old Borders store.
 

GREENWICH, Conn. — Brynwood Partners’ portfolio company, Pearson Candy Company, has acquired the Bit-O-Honey confectionery brand from Nestle. The acquisition marks the fifth brand Brynwood Partners has acquired from Nestle. Terms and conditions of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Bit-O-Honey national brand has been around for more than 90 years and is available in a variety of formats, which are widely distributed in the U.S. through leading retailers in the food, drug, mass and dollar channels.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Pizza chain Domino’s, Inc. reported a 6.2% increase in domestic store sales during first quarter 2013, compared to the same quarter a year earlier.

Domino’s also reported 6.5% international same store sales growth and added a net 75 global stores. Net income increased from $20.7 million to $34.4 million, an almost 66% jump.

As of March 2013, Domino’s operates 10,330 global stores, including 4,923 domestic locations.

Hamilton Township, N.J. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. said that Petco will open a store at Hamilton Plaza, located in Hamilton Township, N.J.

The pet supply retailer leased 13,640 sq. ft. at the 175,515-sq.-ft. center which is anchored by ShopRite and A.C. Moore. Other tenants include Sleepy’s, Dollar Tree, Hallmark, New Wave Wireless, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Texas Roadhouse.   

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Maxxam Enterprises said that Steak ‘n Shake is entering the California market with a new restaurant on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

The 4,300-sq.-ft. space is located near the intersection of the Promenade and Broadway, across the street from Santa Monica Place, the new upscale shopping mall in Downtown Santa Monica.

Steak ‘n Shake said it plans for a grand opening later this year, after completing tenant improvements to its space.

 

Mansfield, Texas -- Irving, Texas-based WindStar Properties said that Jersey Mike’s Subs will open a new restaurant at Mansfield Crossing Shopping Center, located in Mansfield, Texas.

The 1,575-sq.-ft. unit is part of an aggressive expansion push for the Jersey Shore-based sandwich chain, which opened 92 restaurants in 2012.