ZAANDAM, the Netherlands and BRUSSELS, Belgium — Shareholders of Koninklijke Ahold N.V. and Delhaize Group have voted to approve the proposed merger of the two retailers, the companies announced on Monday. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close later this year. Officials with the companies said the merger, announced last
SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion announced on Wednesday that it will remodel its 142 stores in the Charlotte, N.C., area this year, at a cost of $215 million. The project is part of an ongoing rebranding across its nearly 1,100 stores in 10 states. The campaign is dubbed “Easy, Fresh and Affordable. You Can Count
CINCINNATI — Kroger Co. on Thursday said profits increased 17% to $2.04 billion in the fiscal year ended January 30 on a 1.3% rise in sales to $109.8 billion. The company said same-store supermarket sales, excluding fuel, have now increased for 49 consecutive quarters. “2015 was an outstanding year for Kroger,” chairman and chief executive
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Save-A-Lot president Ritchie Casteel is leaving the company March 11 and will not be replaced, according to a regulatory filing by Supervalu Inc., Save-A-Lot’s parent. The St. Louis Business Journal reported the filing on February 29. Casteel joined the discount supermarket chain three years ago as its president and chief executive
CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Dollar Tree Inc. on Tuesday reported net income of $229 million in the fourth quarter, an increase of $22.4 million from a year earlier. Gross profit was $1.6 billion, up from $918.1 million a year ago. The company attributed the increase primarily to $673.7 million in gross profit for its Family Dollar
MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. on Wednesday posted fiscal fourth quarter earnings that were in line with the company’s forecast. The company said store traffic and sales grew during the year-end holiday season. Same-store sales rose 1.9% in the period, driven in part by a 34% increase in online sales. Target offered free shipping on online
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart on Thursday said fourth quarter net income fell 7.9% to $4.5 billion. The company also lowered its outlook for the current quarter, in part due to the effects of a stronger dollar and the costs of recent store closings. Walmart said last month that it would close 269 stores globally, including
WASHINGTON — Economists at the National Retail Federation (NRF) predict retail industry sales in 2016 will exceed their 10-year average as the economy continues to grow and consumers show more willingness to spend. The federation forecasts sales will increase 3.1% this year, topping the 2.7% average over the past decade. The report, released today, predicts
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Supervalu Inc. announced on Wednesday the appointment of Mark Gross as president and chief executive officer, effective February 5. Gross, 52, will succeed Sam Duncan, who is retiring at the end of this month. Gross has more than two decades of experience in the grocery and wholesale industries. For the past
GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General Corp. announced on Thursday that Rick Dreiling will step down from the board of directors, where he is chairman, effective January 29. The company named Mike Calbert as nonexecutive chairman, effective January 30. Calbert has been a director for the past eight years, and he served as chairman from July
LAKELAND, Fla. — Ed Crenshaw, chief executive officer of Publix Super Markets Inc., announced on Wednesday that he will retire on April 30. Crenshaw will be succeeded by Todd Jones, Publix’s president, who will retain the presidency, the company said. Crenshaw has been with the privately held supermarket operator since 1974, when he was hired