News Briefs

The Fresh Market has opened its newest store – with a specific focus.

The specialty fresh food grocer has opened its first-ever Spirits & Wine store, debuting in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., a coastal suburb of Jacksonville. The store opened on March 7, and features a wide selection of premium spirits, wines and craft beer, plus assorted mixers, snacks, glassware, and wine by the glass.

Located adjacent to The Fresh Market’s traditional grocery store, the new Spirits & Wine location spans more than 7,000 sq. ft. Guests can find a “carefully curated” range of spirits including bourbon, whiskies, rums and vodkas, alongside a comprehensive wine selection ranging from European to domestic offerings, craft beers, and chilled beverage coolers.  

“The opening of our Spirits & Wine store is an incredible opportunity to expand on our popular beverage program,” said The Fresh Market CEO Brian Johnson, who was named chief executive earlier this year after spending more than four years as COO of the grocer. “Our guests already trust us to provide the highest quality ingredients and finest flavors from around the world. Now, with our Spirits & Wine store, they can enjoy the same impeccable hospitality paired with our new, top-shelf beverage offerings to help make their shopping experience extraordinary.”

[READ MORE: The Fresh Market opens new Massachusetts stores]

Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., The Fresh Market operates more than 165 grocery stores in 22 states.

CVS Health plans to open small stores that eliminates many of items that are currently found on the shelves of drug store chains.

The retail pharmacy and health care giant plans to unveil a small-store format that offers a full-service pharmacy, as well as some over-the-counter medications, but with limited retail options, reported The Wall Street Journal. The stores will span an average of less than 5,000 sq. ft, and will not include merchandise such as greeting cards and groceries.

CVS plans to 12 of the new format stores over the next year, according to the Journal report, focusing on areas where customers have limited options to fill their prescriptions or obtain vaccines. 

"The new pharmacies will be introduced in select neighborhoods to help bridge gaps in care and make it easier for patients to access medications, immunizations and other pharmacist-provided healthcare services," a CVS spokeswoman told CSA sister publication Drug Store News. "By taking a customized approach to our footprint that is focused on the specific needs of the communities we serve, we’re continuing to strategically realign our pharmacy footprint to better support patient and ensure the right geographic coverage."

The move comes as the retail drug store industry has faced a number of challenges in recent years, including low reimbursement rates for filing prescriptions, increased online competition and softer discretionary spending. In late 2021, CVS announced plans to close approximately 300 stores annually during the next three years “to reduce store density in certain locations.” 

In October 2024, Walgreens Boots Alliance announced plans to close 1,200 stores in its U.S. fleet of roughly 8,700 locations by the end of fiscal 2027. Last week, the company entered into an agreement with Sycamore Partners to be acquired in a deal that will take the company private.

Casey's General Stores is offering shoppers digital coffee recommendations with a dash of humor – all personalized with AI.

The Iowa-based convenience store chain is marking the launch of its new proprietary Darn Good Coffee brand with a generative AI-based "coffee roaster" chatbot named Darn-ell. 

Customers can visit www.darngoodroast.com to obtain personalized coffee recommendations from Darn-ell, served with a side of playful "roast" humor that Casey’s says is delivered with "Midwestern niceness."

One sample roast provided by Casey’s is, "Your friend is so late, even the coffee’s gone cold! They could use a jolt from Casey’s French Roast to wake up and realize that ‘fashionably late’ is just code for ‘perpetually unprepared.’ At this rate, they might as well set their watch to 'whenever.'"

Darn-ell will also randomly dispense redemption codes for free coffee daily, as well as the chance to win free Darn Good Coffee for a year.

"We are thrilled to introduce 'Darn-ell' to our fans and guests, our innovative AI-powered coffee connoisseur, who’s here to help you roast with the best – Casey’s Darn Good coffee," said Tom Brennan, Casey’s chief merchandising officer. "By combining this technology with our passion for exceptional coffee, we’re continuing to redefine what it means to enjoy a cup at Casey’s – one delightful roast at a time."  

Casey’s has been establishing itself as a convenient and personalized source of food options with efforts like the convenience chain's "It’s Not Crazy, It’s Casey’s” branding campaign. The company has also worked fun into its marketing with promotions like the naming of a “chief pizza and beer officer.”

[READ MORE: Local Casey's fan selected as inaugural chief pizza & beer officer]

Based in Ankeny, Iowa, Casey’s operates approximately 2,900 convenience stores across 17 states.

Image: Casey's

Lands’ End Inc. is looking into its options.

The women’s apparel retailer said that its board has started a process to explore strategic alternatives, including a sale, merger or similar transaction to maximize shareholder value.

The move comes several weeks after billionaire investor and majority shareholder Edward “Eddie” Lampert sent a letter to the board in February advocating for a sale. (Lands’ End was spun-off by Sears Holdings in 2014 as a standalone public company under the direction of CEO Lampert.)

“While we remain confident in the company’s potential for future value creation, the board also believes that the market is undervaluing this great company and its upside potential,” said Josephine Linden, board chair.

“As a result, in consultation with the board’s legal and financial advisors, we have determined it is an appropriate time to explore strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.”

No assurances can be given as to the outcome or timing of the board’s process, the company said.

Perella Weinberg Partners serves as Lands’ End’s financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz serves as Lands’ End’s legal advisor.

The Wendy’s Company has big expansion plans for the next few years.

At the quick-serve hamburger giant’s 2025 Investor Day event, the chain detailed its future growth strategy, which includes new stores worldwide and new investments in technology and operations. 

Wendy’s plans to add 1,000 net new restaurants globally by 2028, reaching between 8,100 and 8,300 total. The chain says it will invest in “key markets” and “globalize” its supply chain to build stronghold positions to fuel growth at scale.

"In order to execute on our strategy, we are investing in building new restaurants around the globe and deploying technology that will enhance the customer experience and increase restaurant profitability," said Ken Cook, chief financial officer at Wendy’s, who joined the quick-serve chain in December. "Our objective is to create value for our customers, our franchisees, and our shareholders.”

Wendy’s says it plans to improve its customer experience by prioritizing convenience through “seamless digital and technology integration,” and raising the level of hospitality, consistency and “executional excellence” across its global system.

“The Wendy's brand has tremendous strength, and we will unlock its full potential, scaling our system to match the power of our brand," said Kirk Tanner, president and CEO of Wendy's. "Our relentless pursuit of excellence in our food and our restaurants will position Wendy's for long-term success as we win across our global markets.”

[READ MORE: Taco Bell eyes 3,000 international stores by 2030]

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Wendy’s operates more than 1,000 restaurants worldwide. 

A regional grocery wholesaler and co-op is deploying an end-to-end automation system at a Utah supply chain facility.

Associated Food Stores (AFS), which operates corporate and member stores across the Intermountain West, is now utilizing an automated platform with robotic case pick capabilities from Symbotic at its distribution center in Farr West, Utah.

As a result, the grocer hopes to improve a variety of enterprise supply chain workflows, including expanding its assortment. AFS also seeks to improve the accuracy of store deliveries while also making store aisle-friendly pallet deliveries.

In addition, AFS intends to increase speed-to-shelf and SKU availability while improving inventory utilization for AFS itself.

"The successful activation of phase one is a testament to our dedication to providing exceptional service to our member retailers," said David Rice, AFS president and CEO. "By embracing advanced automation and partnering with Symbotic, we are positioning ourselves at the forefront of supply chain innovation, ensuring that our retailers receive products more efficiently and accurately than ever before."

Symbotic recently entered a $500 million-plus deal with Walmart that will see the company, which has a longstanding warehouse automation partnership with the discounter, enhance Walmart’s current online pickup and delivery fulfillment systems. Symbotic will also design new systems to help it develop an integrated and automated supply chain.

"Implementing the Symbotic system creates great opportunities for our distribution center team members to grow their skill sets and expand their future opportunities with the company,” said Glen Keysaw, AFS VP of distribution.

All current employees at the distribution center will have jobs going forward.

[READ MORE: Associated Food Stores personalizes customer engagement]

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, AFS serves nearly 500 retailers across Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming.