Supply Chain & Merchandising

Los Angeles – Pinkberry’s is entering the Japanese market with franchisee Royal Holdings. Japan is the 20th country where Pinkberry will operate stores.

Royal Holdings who operates 722 restaurants across several brands, both full service and QSR concepts. The partnership provides growth opportunities in the market for both traditional stores and non-traditional venues, with an initial development plan for 50 stores.

Aliso Viejo, Calif. —  AUM Hospitality has opened the second Johnny Rockets restaurant in Malaysia at Avenue K in Kuala Lumpur, a 360,000-sq.-ft. retail hub. The new Johnny Rockets is the 11th restaurant in the chain to open in Southeast Asia.

In addition to the two Malaysia, the chain operates six outlets in the Philippines and three in Indonesia.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Food Market will purchase four stores from New Frontiers Natural Marketplace. The stores, which average 22,000 sq. ft., are located in Flagstaff, Prescott and Sedona, Ariz.; and San Luis Obispo, Calif. The two companies expect the transaction to be finalized in the next few weeks.

The stores will continue to operate under the New Frontiers Natural Marketplace banner until they are re-signed as Whole Foods Market stores.

The nation’s largest egg producer, Cal-Maine Foods, named Wil Webb to a new role as vp of operations.

Webb will be responsible for the company’s extensive production facilities in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi and reports to Cal-Maine COO Sherman Miller. Webb has been employed with Cal-Maine Foods since 1997 and most recently served as general manager of the company’s operations in Edwards, Mississippi.

Global business advisory firm AlixPartners has been hired by Men’s Wearhouse to aid in the integration of its recent acquisition of Jos. A. Bank Clothiers.

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s Inc. has renewed a variable funding facility with Royal Bank of Canada for an additional three years and the commitment under the variable funding facility has increased from $350 million to $500 million. The variable funding facility relates to an outstanding series of variable funding notes issued by Cabela’s Credit Card Master Note Trust.

Grand Rapids, Mich. — HopCat has purchased a former restaurant building on Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit and plans to open its third Michigan location in August. Mid-America Real Estate – Michigan represented the seller, Midtown Detroit Inc., in the transaction. Mid-America in cooperation with M Retail Solutions represented HopCat. A mass transit stop is planned directly in front of the building.

With 130 taps, the Midtown location will be the largest craft beer bar in the state. The bar will also offer wine, liquor and a full menu.

Quincy, Mass. — The Grossman Cos. and Summit Development LLC have joined forces to acquire a 5,728-sq.-ft. retail building in Westport, Conn., for $2.7 million.

Located in one of Fairfield County’s most affluent towns, the building is adjacent to the Westport Metro North train station and offers easy access to an exit from Interstate 95.

Approximately 131,000 vehicles pass the building on I-95 every day, followed by another 14,000 vehicles on Route 33. Average annual household income in Westport is $170,000.