Convenience Stores

Dallas -- 7-Eleven is acquiring the retail interests of 28 locations owned by Pacific Convenience & Fuels LLC.

The acquisition includes sites in California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado, and is slated to close in fourth quarter 2011. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

All of the locations will be rebranded as 7-Eleven and will retain the Conoco-Phillips/76 gasoline brands.

Houston -- Retail ATM owner Cardtronics said Tuesday that it has forged an ATM managed services agreement with Lakewood, Colo.-based FirstBank, covering the segment of its ATM network located in King Soopers grocery stores.

As part of the agreement, Cardtronics has implemented all hardware upgrades necessary to bring the King Soopers portion of the $11 billion-asset bank’s ATM network into compliance with revised “Americans with Disabilities Act regulations set to take effect in 2012.

In past columns, I’ve spent time discussing how supermarkets and big-box retailers are successfully rolling out smaller stores. What hasn’t been talked about much is how that trend is starting to spread across the industry, in particular, with specialty retailers. It’s not just the big boys getting smaller any more, it’s almost everyone.

Flushing, N.Y. -- Five Guys Burgers and Fries said Monday is has opened a new location at Sky View Center, located in Flushing, N.Y.

The upscale fast-food chain has opened a 2,000-sq.-ft. location on level B of the 800,000-sq.-ft. regional mall, and is one of 200 new franchises opening in 2011 for the chain.

NEW YORK, and KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Duane Reade has added Smith Electric Vehicles' Newton zero-emission, all-electric commercial trucks to its delivery fleet.

With the addition of these medium-duty trucks, Duane Reade is the first retail pharmacy in the United States to choose fleet electrification through a pilot program with Smith Electric Vehicles, a global leader in zero-emission, all-electric commercial vehicles.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores announced that it has named Trey Johnson to the newly created position of SVP food. Johnson will report to Dorlisa Flur, EVP and chief merchandising officer.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores has named Trey Johnson to the newly created position of senior VP – food.

Johnson comes to Family Dollar from Sears Holdings where he created a limited assortment food concept for K-Mart. He also led the development of Wal-Mart’s Marketside format as its chief merchandising officer.
 

Bridgeview, Ill. -- Rose Paving Co. has completed a major parking feet enhancement program at 7-Eleven locations in the northeastern United States. The project, which involved 970,463 sq. ft. of space, spanned the course of five weeks. Work ranged from two-inch mill and overlay to full parking lot reconstruction at more than 75 7-Eleven stores in Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia -- all while stores remained open.

New York City -- The International Council of Shopping Centers said it expects holiday sales to increase 3% this year, which is below the 4.1% gain in 2010.

Holiday sales are expected to reach $250.2 billion, the highest since the 2007 peak, when spending totaled $251.7 billion, according to the group, whose forecast is among the first to come out for the holiday 2011 shopping season.

The ICSC predicted that holiday same-store sales will rise 3.5%, slightly lower than the 3.8% pace in 2010.

Toronto -- Katz Group Canada has announced the retirement of industry veteran Andy Giancamilli as CEO, effective Feb. 2, 2012.  Katz is Canada’s largest integrated pharmacy network, operating more than 1,800 chain, franchise and independent pharmacies,

Giancamilli will remain in an advisory role until May 2012. He will be succeeded by Frank Scorpiniti, who joined the company in April as COO.

Giancamilli came to Katz after serving as executive VP at Canadian Tire. Prior to that, he was president and COO of Kmart.