Distribution

Seattle - Starbucks Coffee Co. plans on making a connection with French consumers.

The retailer is partnering with and Casino Restauration, the restaurant subsidiary of mass merchandiser Groupe Casino, to open Starbucks stores within Géant Casino hypermarkets and Casino supermarkets across France.

Academy Sports is marking a company milestone this week when it opens a store in Tupelo, Miss.

"I want to thank all of our corporate, store, and distribution center associates for their tremendous efforts in supporting us as we achieve this milestone in our strategic five-year growth plan," said Rodney Faldyn, president and CEO of Academy Sports + Outdoors. "We have no intention of stopping our growth at 200 as we're committed to bringing our stores to active communities throughout the Midwest, South, and Southeast U.S."

San Antonio, Texas - CST Brands Inc., through its CrossAmerica Partners LP wholly-owned subsidiary, has closed its previously announced acquisition of the Charleston, West Virginia-based One Stop convenience store network. CST is also moving 29 recently constructed stores into its wholly-owned CrossAmerica partnership via two “dropdown” transactions.

McLean, Va. – German discount grocer Lidl continues to lay the foundation for its store debut in the United States.

The company which is establishing a U.S. corporate headquarters, in Arlington County, Virginia, announced it will also open a regional headquarters and distribution center facility in Alamance County, North Carolina. The moves are part of Lidl’s early preparations to expand into the U.S. http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/german-grocer-lidl-prepares-us-expansion-open-headquarters-virginia

Boot Barn has taken a significant step forward in its e-commerce strategy now that its acquisition of Sheplers is complete.

Irvine, Calif. – Boot Barn Holdings Inc. is looking to expand its ability to serve the needs of omnichannel customers with a new acquisition.

The retailer has completed its previously announced purchase of Sheplers Inc. a western lifestyle company with 25 retail locations across the U.S. and a catalog and e-commerce business.

St. Louis -- Ikea is expanding in the Midwest.

The chain will open a store in St. Louis on Sept. 30. It will be the Swedish company’s first store in Missouri, and 41st in the United States.  

The 380,000-sq.-ft. St. Louis Ikea is being built on 21 acres along Interstate-64 at Vandeventer Avenue. It will house Missouri’s largest rooftop solar array, consistent with the Ikea renewable energy presence at 90% of its U.S. locations.

Aliso Viejo, Calif. - Johnny Rockets is expanding into Poland, with its first Polish location expected in Warsaw in early 2016. The casual dining chain has reached a development agreement with HDS Polska Group to build and operate 10 Johnny Rockets restaurants during the next 10 years.
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HDS Polska Group is a subsidiary of publicly-traded company Lagardere Services that operates a network of more than 800 outlets in the Polish market including convenience stores, coffee shops and full service restaurants.