Convenience Stores

CARLISLE, Pa. — Royal Ahold's American division has split its EVP marketing and merchandising position in two, the company said.

Ahold USA announced the appointment of Erik Keptner to the newly created position of EVP marketing. The search for an EVP merchandising is ongoing, the company said. Ahold USA operates the Giant-Carlisle, Giant-Landover and Stop & Shop chains and the online grocery service Peapod.

By a nearly 3-to-1 margin, retailers say that internal theft is more extensive than external theft at their establishments, according to a new survey conducted by PointofSale.com. 

“It’s interesting to me that about half the respondents view their POS system as a means of theft prevention,” said Craig Aberle, publisher of PointofSale.com, who designed the survey. “Yet, theft continues to be a rampant problem among retailers.”

Williamsville, N.Y. -- Tops Friendly Markets has entered an agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers affiliate GU Markets to acquire 21 supermarkets located in upstate New York and Vermont.

Tops said the acquisition will bring its number of operating stores to 153 and will expand Tops' footprint further into areas of northern and eastern New York State and neighboring northern Vermont. For the time being, 20 of the stores will continue to operate under the Grand Union banner, while the other store will continue to operate under the Bryant's banner.

Orlando, Fla. -- Convenience-store operator WaWa has entered the Florida market, opening a store across from Sea World in Orlando. Four additional units are scheduled to open in the Orlando market during the next four five weeks.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. reported Thursday that profit for the second quarter dropped to $121.7 million from $146 million in the same period last year.

Sales inched up 1.9% to $10.4 billion, and same-store sales rose 0.8%.

For the year, Safeway said it expects to invest $900 million in capital expenditures to open approximately 10 new Lifestyle stores, complete 10 Lifestyle remodels, refurbish in-store pharmacies and develop properties through its Property Development Centers subsidiary.
 

Denver -- Quick-serve sandwich chain Quiznos announced that it has named Stuart Mathis as president and CEO, effective July 30.

The company also named Susan Lintonsmith as chief marketing officer.

Mathis was previously president of The UPS Store. He succeeds Greg MacDonald, who is stepping down as Quiznos' president and CEO, effective immediately. 

Lintonsmith was previously senior VP and CMO of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.
 

Englewood, Colo. -- The Western Union Co. and Dollar General Corp. said that they have executed an agreement to begin offering two Western Union general-purpose reloadable prepaid cards at Dollar General’s more than 10,000 stores in 40 states.

Dollar General is now offering the Western Union MoneyWise and co-branded Western Union Telemundo cards.

Dollar General shoppers have until Aug. 19 to participate in a PepsiCo cause marketing initiative involving country mega star Brad Paisley.

New York -- Foursquare announced the release of Local Updates, a new way for retailers to connect with loyal customers when they are nearby. The free tool will allow retailers to offer deals and specials to users in the area that have previously “Liked” or checked-in at their establishment.

New York -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index (Index) posted its fourth consecutive increase in June, rising to 3.22 from a reading of 3.09 the previous month. The Index, which tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending, is comprised of four components: tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices.