Convenience Stores

New York -- Toronto has become the first major city in Canada to ban the use of plastic shopping bags.

The ban was passed by the city council in a surprise move that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford denounced as “ludicrous,” The Globe and Mail reported.

The vote bans plastic bags, including biodegradable ones, from Toronto vendors starting in 2013. But the mayor predicted the ban will face a legal challenge.

One of the biggest gripes residents of Northwest Arkansas have of the region, be they long time residents or recent transplants, is that Walmart is the only game in town when it comes to groceries. That situation will change later this summer when The Fresh Market opens its first location in Rogers.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales increased by 1.1% in May, a lower-than-expected increase that may be due to underlying economic and industry factors.

The results for the five weeks ended June 2 included a 1.3% increase in front-end comps and a 1% increase in pharmacy sales over May 2011. Same-store prescription count increased 2.6%. Total drug store sales for the period increased 0.3% to nearly $2.5 billion, compared with $2.45 billion in May 2011.

Surging profits and a 6.7% first quarter same-store sales increase prompted Dollar General to raise its full year profit forecast by three cents. Family Dollar is scheduled to report comparable results later this month as the small discount store remains on a roll.

St. Louis -- Save-A-Lot announced plans for a new 250,374-sq.-ft. food distribution center in Pompano Beach, Fla.

The center located is expected to open by the end of fiscal year 2013 (FY13 ends February 23, 2013) and employ more than 30 employees initially, with the potential for hiring additional employees once the facility is at full capacity. The project is the result of collaboration with KTR Capital Partners and Butters Construction.
 

AMSTERDAM — Royal Ahold's U.S. subsidiary saw net sales jump 2.8% to $7.8 billion during first quarter 2012, the company said Wednesday.

Bellevue, Wash. -- Coinstar, best known for its Redbox movie rental and its namesake coin-counting kiosks, and Seattle’s Best Coffee, part of Starbucks Coffee Co., have entered into an agreement to roll out Coinstar's new Rubi coffee kiosk in groceries, drug stores and mass merchants. The kiosks will feature a variety of Seattle's Best Coffee beverages.

The rollout will begin this summer, with approximately 500 kiosks expected by the end of the year and thousands of machines in place during the next several years.

ST. LOUIS — Save-A-Lot is poised for substantial growth in South Florida when it completes its new distribution center in Pompano Beach. The 250,374 sq. ft. DC is expected to open by February 2013 and will and employ more than 30 employees initially, with the potential for hiring additional employees once the facility is at full capacity, the company said. The project is the result of collaboration with KTR Capital Partners and Butters Construction.