Large Chains

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. today announced its inaugural listing on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index-North America.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Index-North America tracks the economic, environmental and social sustainability performance of the top 20% of the 600 largest North America-based companies in the Dow Jones Global Total Stock Market Index.

New York -- The parent company of Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie supermarkets, Southeaster Grocers, has filed for an initial public offering.  

The shares are expected to be offered by Southeastern Grocers, and the number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.

New York -- Canada’s Loblaw Cos. announced a series of executive appointments, including the naming of Mark Butler as executive VP integration.

In the newly created role, Butler will take on responsibility for planning the integration of Shoppers Drug Mart, while ensuring it remains an independent division. He has 37 years with Loblaw, and most recently was executive VP conventional division.

Tewksbury, Mass. – DeMoulas Supermarkets Inc., operator of the Market Basket supermarket chain, has reportedly been allowed by a judge in Suffolk Superior Court in Massachusetts to continue making a $300 million payout to shareholders.

According to the Boston Globe, Judge Judith Fabricant denied a motion by Arthur T. DeMoulas, president of DeMoulas Supermarkets, to stop the payout, which had been approved by a majority of the company’s board of directors. All nine shareholders receiving the payout are members of the DeMoulas family.

Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie supermarkets, has filed a registration statement on a proposed initial public offering.  

The shares are expected to be offered by Southeastern Grocers, and the number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.

Citigroup, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank Securities will act as representatives of the underwriters for the offering, and, together with William Blair and Wells Fargo Securities, will act as joint book-running managers for the offering. 

Former president of Giant-Landover, Anthony Hucker, has joined Schnuck Markets as EVP and chief strategy officer.

Hucker recently resigned as president of Giant-Landover, a chain owned by Ahold USA that runs 169 stores in the District of Columbia and surrounding areas.

"Anthony is a tremendous talent who shares our values; he's customer-focused and a true merchant in every sense," Schnucks chairman and CEO Scott Schnuck said. "We expect that he will add velocity to efforts that will ensure Schnucks' continued growth and success."

Evansville, Ind. — Schnuck Markets plans to open two stores and remodel three locations in southwest Indiana, the supermarket chain said Tuesday.

Schnucks said it planned to invest more than $11 million in Evansville, Ind., which is the largest city in southwest Indiana. Chairman and CEO Scott Schnuck announced the plans at the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting and dinner.

Sunbury, Pa. -- Weis Markets announced that company president and CEO David J. Hepfinger has left the company to pursue other interests. Company vice chairman Jonathan H. Weis replaces him as interim CEO. Robert F. Weis remains as company chairman.

Hepfinger has also resigned from the company's board of directors. As part of the reorganization, Kurt Schertle, executive VP, sales and merchandising will report directly to Weis who will also oversee the company's real estate/store development, finance and human resources' teams.

Cincinnati – David B. Dillon will step down as CEO of The Kroger Co. effective Jan. 1, 2014. Dillon, 62, is a 37-year Kroger veteran who has been serving as CEO since 2003; he will remain chairman of the board.

Richmond, Va. — Divaris Real Estate has renewed two retail leases totaling more than 9,500 sq. ft. in Richmond, Va.

Aaron’s renewed its lease for 8,008 sq. ft. in Brookhill Azalea Shopping Center, which DRE leases and manages for the landlord, BSV Premier Brookhill.

In a separate transaction, Subway renewed its lease for 1,575 sq. ft. at 360 West Shopping Center, which DRE www.divaris.com leases and manages for the landlord, a partnership between HSW and RMW1.