Large Chains

Greensboro, N.C. - The Fresh Market said Wednesday it has entered into agreements to lease four new store locations that are currently operated as Rice Epicurean Markets, a family-owned specialty food retailer based in Houston.

Rice Epicurean Markets will continue to operate the stores through the end of the year, and will close these four stores during the first quarter of 2013.

Ra'Anana, Israel -- Woolworths Limited, Australia's leading retail group, has signed a five-year system integration (SI) services agreement with Retalix Ltd.
 
Under the agreement, Retalix will provide Level 2 and Level 3 support for more than 3,000 Woolworths locations and 25,000 point-of-sale terminals, serving more than 24 million customers every week across Australia and New Zealand.

Milwaukee — The continued softness of the economy weighed down on sales and profits at Roundy's during third quarter 2012, the Midwestern supermarket chain said Friday.

The company reported sales of $973.6 million, a 0.3% decrease from third-quarter 2011, while profits were $8.8 million, down from $12.4 million last year. Roundy's operates 161 stores with 98 pharmacies under the Pick 'n Save, Rainbow, Copps, Metro Market and Mariano's banners in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. announced it will expand its support of America's military veterans by hiring at least 1,000 military veterans in 2013 to add to the 1,300 hired to date in 2012.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC and its parent company Ahold USA have donated $2.5 million to the American Red Cross to support Hurricane Sandy cleanup and recovery efforts. The money, which came from the companies and their charitable foundation, Our Family Foundation, will mainly go to the hardest hit areas in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Stop & Shop has also designated stores in New York and New Jersey as drop-off points for canned and packaged food.

Woonsocket, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy on Thursday expanded the role of two retail field executives as senior VP operations Dennis Palmer, a 37-year retail veteran, announced his retirement.

Effective Nov. 5, Hanley Wheeler, SVP operations has assumed responsibility of CVS/pharmacy’s Western and Southwestern markets while continuing to have responsibility for the company’s retail operations in its Midwest and Southeast markets.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market Inc. said Wednesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit increased nearly 50% on strong sales. The grocer’s company's net income rose to $112.7 million for the period ended Sept. 30, up from $75.5 million a year ago.

Revenue rose nearly 24% to $2.91 billion, with an extra week in the most recent quarter. Same-store sales were up nearly 9%.

NEW YORK — New York regional supermarket, Fairway has launched a dedicated website to help customers find the perfect turkey for Thanksgiving.

Via its turkey ordering website, customers can order organic, kosher or locally-raised birds from a variety of providers. All turkeys are delivered fresh and range in price from $1.99 to $9.99 per pound. Customers will receive reminders for pick-up when their order is ready.

West Bridgewater, Mass. -- Supervalu said Monday it has cut about 700 store-level positions at the company’s Shaw's and Star Market stores in New England.

Former OfficeMax executive Ryan Vero has been named SVP and president of grocery, drug and pharmacy at Sears Holdings.

Vero spent 17 years with OfficeMax and last served as the company’s EVP and chief merchandising and marketing officer. In his new role with Sears Holdings, Vero will be responsible for the oversight, leadership and growth, both in-store and online, for the company’s grocery, drug and pharmacy businesses.