Convenience Stores

The weather posed a significant challenge for Fred’s in January. According to CEO Bruce A. Efird, Mother Nature not only disrupted consumer shopping patterns, but also resulted in more than 120 store closings during the final week of the month.

“Prior to the last week of January, sales were running in the mid-range of our forecast, with reconfiguration departments leading the way,” Efird explained.

Fred's total sales for January were $134.8 million compared with $173.5 million for the five-week year-earlier period.

New York -- Snowstorms and bitterly cold weather took a bite out of sales for some retailers in January. One of the retailers feeling the chill was Fred’s, which posted a 1.8% decline in January same-store sales.

"The weather was a significant challenge for us in January," said CEO Bruce Efird, who added that it disrupted shopping patterns, but also resulted in “more than 120 store closings during the final week of the month."

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts has entered multi-unit store development agreement with five existing franchise groups to develop 22 new restaurants throughout the Greater Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area over the next several years. The five franchise groups and their development plans include:

• Existing franchisee Arun Mandi plans to develop eight restaurants throughout Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Mandi currently operates 28 locations in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. His next restaurant is planned to open in 2015.

As if the retail industry weren’t challenging enough, those operating stores in California are facing a growing number of lawsuits related to an operational consideration known as suitable seating.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Responding to the announcement by CVS Caremark that its plans to stop selling tobacco products in its stores, Walgreens stated that the category has been under review at its stores, too.

Walgreens has been evaluating its tobacco line for “some time,” and, according to spokesperson Michael Polzin, it “will continue to evaluate the choice of products our customers want, while also helping to educate them and providing smoking cessation products and alternatives that help reduce the demand for tobacco products.”

Canton, Mass. -- For the eighth consecutive year, Dunkin' Donuts has been ranked number one in customer loyalty in the coffee category by the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index. Dunkin' Donuts was also ranked number one in customer loyalty in the packaged coffee category for the second consecutive year.

Oklahoma City -- Hobby Lobby announced it will open 70 stores throughout the United States in 2014, for a total of 625 locations nationwide.

The arts and crafts retailer said that as part of its expansion it will enter the states of Vermont and Oregon this year.
 

Target plans to open a new store in the city of Kahulu — its first on the island of Maui in Hawaii — in March 2015. The store will be located on Hookele Street as part of the Pu‘unēnē Shopping Center.

The 140,000-sq.-ft. store will feature Target’s everyday essentials and exclusive brands along with a selection of fresh produce, fresh packaged meat and pre-packaged baked goods, as well as a Starbucks and a Target Pharmacy.