OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Pet Supplies Plus has signed leases for three new stores in the Delaware Valley, totaling more than 26,000 sq. ft.

An 8,700-sq.-ft. store will open at Greentree Square Shopping Center in Marlton, N.J.; a 9,800-sq.-ft. store will open at Doylestown Pointe in Doylestown, Pa.; and a7,650-sq.-ft. location will open at The Shops at Blue Bell in Blue Bell, Pa.

All three stores are slated to open prior to year’s end.

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.
 

Washington, D.C. -- Shop.org, the digital division of the National Retail Federation, on Tuesday announced the addition of new executives to its board of directors and welcomed back three incumbents.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market said Friday that it has launched two new eco-friendly gift cards, with plans to replace the  recycled plastic cards that will be phased out over time.

The new cards – one made of paper and the other of responsibly harvested wood— are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and have a lower carbon footprint, are reusable, recyclable, compostable and require less energy to be produced.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us said Tuesday that it will waive upfront service fees for its holiday layaway program, kicking off immediately and running through Oct. 31.

The retailer will also remove its minimum purchase requirement, and customers have until Dec. 16 to pick up orders.

Year-round layaway programs will continue, but will have the customary $5 service fee attached.

New York -- Whole Foods Market is in talks to buy or take over leases for half a dozen Johnnie’s Foodmaster locations in eastern Massachusetts, the Boston Globe reported.

Whole Foods wants to move into six of the 10 Johnnie’s Foodmaster sites in Arlington, Brookline, Charlestown, Melrose, South Weymouth, and Somerville, the report said.

Whole Foods currently operates 21 stores in Massachusettes.

New York -- New York State Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Oing on Thursday denied Macy's Inc.’s attempt to block J.C. Penney Co. from proceeding with plans to sell a number of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia home goods products in its stores.

In January, Macy’s sued Martha Stewart Living to stop it from executing a sales agreement with J.C. Penney. Macy’s claimed it had the exclusive right to sell Martha Stewart products in certain categories,  including bedding and cookware.