In Other Business News

Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store

• 7-Eleven Inc. recently opened three new convenience stores in Arizona, and plans to open two more in the state next year.

• Albertsons Companies, Inc. and The Kroger Co. have terminated their merger agreement.

• DeCicco & Sons will open a location in Scarsdale, NY, at the site of what was recently a DeCicco Family Markets store.

• The Kent Companies is rebranding the eight acquired Jack’s Convenience Stores to the Kent Kwik name.

• Schnuck Markets Inc. has promoted Tom Henry to Chief Data and Information Officer, effective December 20. Robert Hardester has retired from the position.

• Wegmans Food Markets Inc. announced it will open three new locations in 2025, including its first-ever stores in Connecticut and New York. New supermarkets are planned for Norwalk, CT, Rockville, MD, and Lake Grove, NY.

Retail

• Ace Hardware Corporation has appointed Dale Fennel as President of Ace International.

• Brooks Brothers is planning to open a new two-level 9,871 sq. ft. flagship store in New York City, NY, in spring 2025.

• Christian Dior Inc. has relocated its Dallas, TX, boutique to a new 15,000 sq. ft. location in Highland Park Village, and now offers men’s apparel as well.

• Do it Best Corp. has named Ken Widner as VP of Information Technology and CIO. He succeeds John Mergy, who will retire in January.

• Dollar General Corp. announced it plans to remodel 4,250 stores, open 575 new stores, and relocate 45 locations in 2025.

• House-Hasson Hardware Co. Inc. has named Dave Doering as the company’s Senior VP of Sales.

• Crew Group Inc. recently opened a new 6,500 sq. ft. Madewell flagship store in New York City, NY. The retailer also announced that Julia Collier has been named Chief Marketing Officer for the J.Crew brand, effective January 6, 2025.

• Lowe’s Companies Inc. reported it plans to open 10 to 15 new stores per year during the next several years.

• Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings announced that John Swygert will become Executive Chairman early next year.

• Prada USA recently opened a new 10,000 sq. ft. store location in Dallas, TX.

• Tractor Supply Co. reported it expects to open 90 new Tractor Supply stores, as well as approximately 10 new Petsense by Tractor Supply stores in 2025.

Restaurant

• Chipotle has signed its first Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) deal with the University of Southern California’s women’s basketball team.

• Dave & Buster’s CEO Chris Morris has left the company. His departure coincides with the company reporting a 7.7% decline in same-store sales for the third-quarter. The company is currently seeking his replacement.

• Domino’s has announced that it will transfer its stock from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The company will retain its “DPZ” sticker and begin trading on January 2, 2025.

• Krispy Kreme has been hit with a cyber attack that has disrupted the company’s online ordering system. It did not affect their supply chain or cause any restaurants to be shut down.

• Landry’s Restaurants CEO and President Tilman Fertitta is being considered as the next U.S. ambassador to Italy under Dondald Trump’s administration.

• Luna Grill has appointed Billy Grenham as the company’s first Chief Marketing Officer.

• SPB Hospitality has finalized the sale of their brewery and specialty restaurants to an affiliate of Kelly Companies of Southern California. The sale includes Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, ChopHouse & Brewery, Ragtime Tavern, and Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery.

• Taco Cabana is opening their second next-generation prototype that features a smaller footprint and streamlined kitchen.