Distribution

Bi-Lo Holdings, parent company of the Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie supermarket chains, plans to convert seven existing Harveys stores to Winn-Dixie stores and three existing Winn-Dixie stores to Harveys stores.

The stores are part of the pending acquisition of 134 operating stores from Delhaize Group.

New York -- Private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management has reached a preliminary agreement to buy Safeway Inc. for over $9 million, the Wall Street Journal reported. The deal is subject to board approval.

As part of the deal, Cerberus would pay roughly $40 a share for Safeway.

The Kroger Co., which recently completed its acquisition of Harris Teeter, reportedly was also interested in making a bid for Safeway. Even if a deal is announced between Cerberus and Safeway, Kroger could still mount a bid.

York, Pa. - The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. has signed a lease with Duke Realty Corp for a 743,000-sq.-ft., automated, direct-to-consumer fulfillment center in West Jefferson, Ohio, to support its growing e-commerce operations. The company anticipates the facility to be fully operational and ship its first orders in spring of 2015.

Framingham, Mass. – Cumberland Farms is reportedly selling 27 stores in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, to Petroleum Marketing Group, based in Woodbridge, Va. According to the Boston Globe, the stores will continue to operate as convenience stores and all roughly 600 affected employees are expected to keep their jobs.

Cumberland Farms will focus on its nearly 600 remaining stores in New England, New York, and Florida. Both companies are private and terms were not disclosed.

PetSmart plans to open 70 net new stores this year, including approximately 50 of its standard prototypes, 20 micro stores and three PetsHotels. That’s 10 more than last year, during which the largest specialty pet retailer of services and supplies also closed five stores and opened three new PetsHotels.

The company will spend remaining capital expenditures on store remodel-type projects, supply chain, technology, maintenance and other infrastructure improvements.

Cincinnati – Within the next 24 months, Kroger will build six new stores and expand three locations, along with opening multiple fuel centers and remodeling existing properties in the North Texas area. Kroger has already begun a store refresh program in the region that includes lower prices on thousands of popular food and household items, along with a renewed emphasis on shopping experience, fuel discounts, local products and community relations.

Canton, Mass. - Dunkin' Donuts has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchise group, Sizzling Donuts LLC for 46 new restaurants throughout the greater Sacramento, Calif., metro area and surrounding cities of Stockton, Modesto, Tracy, Manteca, Placerville and Davis, Calif.   

Thief River Falls, Minn. – Powersports brand Arctic Cat has expanded its e-commerce business by launching an EBay store using the Shopatron Marketplace ship-from-store application. The SaaS solution provides EBay customers with access to a range of official Arctic Cat gear and merchandise and expands inventory to include goods located in stores.

Weis Markets has promoted Kurt Schertle, previously the company’s EVP, to COO.

The nation’s leading home improvement retailer is no stranger to e-commerce, but its efforts to offer a more robust omnichannel experience took a major step forward recently with the opening of the company’s first direct fulfillment center.