Foodservice

Although Fresh Market’s net sales exceeded Wall Street expectations, the company reported a decrease in profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2014, which it attributed to a slow start to the year brought on by severe weather in the majority of its markets.

Net sales increased 18% to $431 million from $366.63 million in the prior-year quarter, while net income fell 25% to $16.57 million from $22.12 million in the prior-year quarter. Same-store sales climbed 2.5%.

Sprouts Farmers Market’s president and CEO Doug Sanders credited the company’s focus on offering healthy food at affordable prices for 28 consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales growth as well as record first quarter results that outperformed its targets.

Despite the Easter holiday shift, Whole Foods reported second-quarter revenue of $3.32 billion, a record increase of 10% from the prior-year quarter. But the record was not enough for Wall Street, which expected $3.34 billion.

The company’s earnings per share of 38 cents for the quarter also came in below expectations of 41 cents per share.

Regional grocer Weis Markets is pressing forward with a $101 million capital expenditure program this year as it looks to restore top line growth at its Northeast operations.

The operator of 166 stores, 122 of which are located in Pennsylvania, confirmed a previously disclosed capital expenditure budget of $101 million would be used to fund 16 projects. Those projects consist of two new stores under construction in Selinsgrove and Enola, Pa., 13 remodels and expansion of a 1.1 million-sq.-ft. distribution center in Milton, Pa.

Safeway posted sales of $8.3 billion in the first quarter of 2014, representing an increase of 1%. The slight uptick in sales was primarily attributed to an identical-store sales (excluding fuel) increase of 1.8%, partly offset by lower fuel sales in 2014.

The identical-store sales (excluding fuel) increase of 1.8% consists of a 1% increase in price per item and a 0.8% increase in volume. Safeway's share of sales in all outlet channels increased slightly, and sales to its most loyal households improved during the quarter.

Itasca, Ill. -- Jewel-Osco has named company veteran Doug Cygan as VP of marketing and merchandising. His appointment accompanies the grocer’s recent selection of the company’s VP operations Scott Hays under president Shane Sampson’s leadership.

Cygan began his career with Jewel-Osco in 1980 as a grocery clerk. He was promoted to store director, and then held positions of increasing responsibility throughout the company, including VP fresh food merchandising and VP merchandising.

New York —River Bay Plaza in Riverview, Fla., has sold for $5.8 million. Cohen Real Estate represented the buyer and seller, both private investment firms.

Located in Hillsborough County, the 79,288-sq.-ft. neighborhood shopping center is anchored by Winn Dixie, which recently exercised a lease option. Other recent developments include a new 10-year lease for Aaron’s and an option exercised by Dollar Tree.

About 163,000 people live within a five-mile radius of the center. Average annual household income is $70,000.

Milwaukee -- Roundy’s, Inc. will open Mariano’s Edgewater in Chicago on April 22. Edgewater is the fifth Mariano’s store to open of the 11 former Dominick’s locations acquired by Roundy’s in December 2013, and the eighth in the city of Chicago.

Store features will include a Vero Italian coffee and gelato shop, Squeez’d smoothie bar, and access to “Mariano’s Tastemakers,” 14 chefs and lifestyle experts who provide demos and advice.

Jewel-Osco has named Scott Hays as VP operations for the Chicagoland grocery store.

Most recently a district manager with Albertsons LLC’s Southern division, Hays will lead the operations team to support Jewel-Osco’s marketing and merchandising initiatives, including the company’s upcoming remodels and opening their five newly acquired Dominick’s locations.

Compton, Calif. -- Ralphs will open a new Ralphs Fresh Fare store in Sherman Oaks, Calif., on April 10. The new 72,000-sq.-ft.store replaces an older Ralphs that operated for 42 years from the same location before it was closed in 2012, and will employ about 240 full- and part-time workers.