Large Chains

Milwaukee – Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. is closing its distribution center in Stevens Point, Minnesota. The closure, expected to take place by Sept. 30, will eliminate 196 jobs.

New York -- Kroger is expanding into new markets and growing its presence in the e-commerce channel with its acquisition of Vitacost.com, a leading online retailer of vitamins and supplements. 

According to the definitive merger agreement, Kroger will purchase all outstanding shares of Vitacost.com for $8 per share in cash, or approximately $280 million.

Stater Bros. Charities is donating $150,000 to 13 local food banks and pantries in an effort to make sure children have enough to eat during the summer months when food reserves are traditionally low and when they don’t have access to meals through school food programs.

The funds were donated by Stater Bros. customers and employees this past holiday season during the Harvesting Hope in Our Community program.

Stop & Shop is once again looking to promote its store brands by holding its Buy Theirs, Get Ours Free challenge.

During the weeks of June 29 and July 6 and then again the weeks of July 27 and August 3, when customers purchase selected national brand products, they will receive Stop & Shop Own Brands equivalent products free.

New York -- Trader Joe’s continues its expansion in South Florida with fall openings planned for three stores in Palm Beach County, the Sun Sentinel reported.

The grocer will open locations in Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, all in September, the report said.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Price Chopper Supermarkets announced that it has cut about 80 positions, citing a need to improve efficiency within the company amid rising costs, including “skyrocketing” healthcare costs.

New York — Cohen Real Estate, a Manhattan-based full-service brokerage firm specializing in retail properties throughout the United States, has been retained to market Shoppes of Silverwood, a full-service strip shopping center located in Ricon, Georgia.

Tewksbury, Mass. – Following the dismissal of former president and CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, the board of directors of Demoulas Super Markets Inc. has elected retail executives Felicia Thornton as COO and Jim Gooch as chief administrative officer, and the two will serve as co-CEOs. Both Thornton and Gooch had recently been serving as consultants to the company.

Brussels, Belgium - Delhaize Group has appointed Kevin Holt as CEO for Delhaize America. Holt, formerly president of retail operations at Supervalu, will also become a member of the Delhaize Group executive committee and will start effective July 7 and lead the group’s U.S. operations.

Tewksbury, Mass. – Demoulas Supermarkets Inc. has fired CEO Arthur T. Demoulas. The retailer also fired director of operations Bill Marsden and VP of grocery Joe Rockwell.

Demoulas had been waging a public battle with his cousin Arthur S. Demoulas, a stakeholder and director of the company, about finances. Arthur T. Demoulas has claimed that his cousin seeks to raise prices and lower wages. The cousins have also publicly disagreed about agreements with suppliers and vendors.