OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Natural Grocers partners with Instacart in Denver
Lakewood, Colo. - Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage will provide grocery delivery service to customers in Denver in as little as one hour with the Instacart grocery delivery service. Delivery to Denver metro area residents and businesses begins March 20.
Report: Target to raise minimum wage
New York -- Target Corp. will raise its minimum wage to $9 per hour, with the change effective in April, according to a report late Wednesday afternoon by Dow Jones.

The move comes after several other major retailers, most recently Walmart and TJX Cos., unveiled similar wage hikes. It also comes amid a tightening job market.

NRF proposes solutions to deal with cybersecurity threats, including breach notification law

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation on Wednesday presented Congress with what it termed “practical, commonsense and achievable solutions” to better protect consumers and help businesses prevent cyberattacks and data breaches, including passage of a uniform nationwide breach notification law applying to all entities that handle sensitive customer information.
Report: Costco banned from importing fish to Canada

Toronto - Costco Canada has reportedly had its license to import fish into Canada suspended. According to Reuters, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency suspended Costco’s license to import fish on Feb. 26, but is only making it public now.
Arby’s names operations VP as new COO

Atlanta - Arby's Restaurant Group Inc. (ARG) is promoting John Bowie, senior VP of operations, to COO, reporting to Paul Brown, CEO. The promotion was announced as George Condos, ARG president and COO, announced his retirement.

Bowie will assume responsibilities as COO on March 30, at which point Condos will continue on through the end of the year as a consultant for Arby's.
NRF asks Congress to overturn union regulation

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation (NRF) has formally asked the House to approve legislation that would overturn a National Labor Relations Board(NLRB) regulation allowing what it terms “ambush” union organizing elections, saying the rule infringes on employee and employer rights and is an attempt to favor union organizing. The Senate approved the legislation earlier this month by a vote of 53-46, and the House is expected to take it up later this week.
West Marine opens Chicago flagship April 23

Chicago - West Marine will open a new 20,000-sq.-ft. flagship Midwest store on North Halsted Street in Chicago on April 23. The new Chicago store is located just off the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River that wraps around Goose Island.
Kroger names Dillons head as Columbus president

Columbus, Ohio - The Kroger Co. has named Joe Grieshaber, who has served as president of the Dillons banner since 2010, as president of Kroger's Columbus division. Grieshaber replaces Bruce Macaulay, who is retiring after 42 years with Kroger.
Inserra Supermarkets names Ahold vet as new president/COO

Mahwah, N.J. - Inserra Supermarkets has named Ron Onorato as its new president and COO. Onorato takes over the role as Steve Chalas retires from the Inserra after a more than 50-year career.

Onorato brings more than 35 years of industry experience to his new role at Inserra. Previously, Onorato served as the senior VP of operational initiatives of Ahold USA, and as the president of the New York division of Stop & Shop.

Inserra Supermarkets owns and operates 21 ShopRite supermarkets in New Jersey and New York.
Kroger, Coach execs join Five Below board

New York -- Kroger executive Kathleen “Katy” Barclay and former Coach executive Catherine “Kate” Buggeln have joined the board of directors of Five Below. The two executives bring different strengths to the rapidly growing teen and tween retailer’s board. Barclay has more than 35 years of experience in the human resources field and currently serves as senior VP of human resources at Kroger.