Wholesalers

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market said Friday it will acquire six leases from Johnnie's Foodmaster, a family-owned grocery chain based in Chelsea, Mass. The transaction is expected to close Nov. 30.

Johnnie's Foodmaster will close all six locations prior to the closing date, but Whole Foods said it has guaranteed interviews to all Johnnie's Foodmaster employees at the six acquired locations with the goal of hiring as many as possible.

New York -- Multiple reports on Monday suggested that private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, which owns the struggling Albertsons LLC, may be putting together a deal to buy all or part of the grocery chain.

Cerberus is said to be seeking $4 billion to $5 billion in debt financing from banks to back a bid and is looking at investing $800 to $900 in equity in its takeover quest, a person familiar with the matter is reported to have said. That same source cautioned that the figures could change.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Thursday morning announced it has named Janel Haugarth to lead its independent business organization, replacing Leon Bergmann, who has decided to leave the company.

LAKELAND, Fla.— Publix on Monday announced its board of directors declared a semi-annual dividend on its common stock of 30 cents per share. The dividend will be payable and mailed Dec. 3, 2012, to stockholders of record as of the close of business Oct. 31, 2012.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu announced that Bill Parker has been named the interim president of Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy, a 43- store division in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk, Va., market, effective Sept. 15.

Parker, Farm Fresh’s current senior VP merchandising, will replace Gaelo de la Fuente who became the company’s president in April 2010 and is leaving the company to pursue other interests.
 

Salisbury, N.C. -- Grocery parent Delhaize said Friday it has named former Wendy’s and Arby’s CEO Roland Smith as president and CEO of Delhaize America and executive VP of Delhaize Group. Smith succeeds retiring CEO Ronald C. Hodge, effective Oct. 15.

Hodge will continue to serve the company in an advisory capacity.

Delhaize America operates supermarkets under the Food Lion, Hannaford and Sweetbay banners.
 

New York -- Advisors to Supervalu Inc. are asking potential buyers to bid for the entire operation, even as several suitors have inquired about individual parts of the U.S. grocery company, according to a report by Bloomberg News.

In July, Supervalu said it was looking at options for overhauling the company, including a sale. The chain hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Greenhill & Co as advisors.
 

Chicago — Suitors are lining up to carve out divisions of Supervalu following the company's announcement last month that strategic divestitures were on the table as the Eden Prairie, Minn.-based grocer seeks to turn around its business performance. A Crain's report published Monday identified Klaff Realty as one of the first companies to express an interest, in this case the Jewel-Osco piece of the business.