West Concord, Mass. — Divert, Inc., a circular economy company on a mission to prevent food from being wasted, has appointed Brad Lukow to its executive leadership team as chief financial officer. Lukow brings more than 30 years of finance and capital markets experience, with the majority of his career focused on the consumer retail sector. David Eichinger, Divert’s CFO since 2022, will step away from the company to pursue other opportunities outside the business. “Brad’s proven leadership in finance, particularly in the retail industry, makes him an ideal fit …
Katie Lee
Houston — Shipley Do-Nuts, one of the nation’s largest donut and kolache brands, plans to expand its national footprint with a 30-unit development deal that will bring the brand to New Mexico and the Miami-Dade area of Florida, both new markets for Shipley. This follows the recent new opening in Concord, N.C. — marking the first Shipley in the state of North Carolina. Existing Shipley franchisee Vik Agrawal will bring 10 shops to Sandoval, Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance, Socorro, Lincoln, De Baca, Guadalupe and San Miguel counties in New …
— By Thibaud Denolle — Unlocking retail efficiency with the rise of facial biometrics. Ordering your favorite meal at a fast food restaurant could soon be as effortless as unlocking your phone. With a quick scan of your face, you can skip the lines and get straight to enjoying your meal. This exciting new reality is powered by facial biometrics, a technology that’s set to transform the shopping experience. From speeding up checkouts to boosting customer loyalty, facial biometrics offers a world of possibilities for both consumers and retailers. This …
Rubicon: Signature Vendor Spotlight
— Interview With Chandra Balter — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Chandra Balter: Rubicon is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and I’m personally based in Toms River, New Jersey. The company has been in business for 16 years. R&R: What is your name and title, and how long have you been with the company? Balter: I’m Chandra Balter, strategic account executive, and I have been with Rubicon for over 11 years. For most of that time, I served as a key account …
Batavia, Ill. — German discount grocery store chain ALDI has plans to open more than 225 new store locations in 2025 as part of its 5-year national growth strategy. This is the most stores ALDI will open in 1 year in its nearly 50-year U.S. history. The new stores will comprise original ALDI supermarkets and the conversion of select Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores. Approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations will be converted to the ALDI format through 2027. As part of the strategy, ALDI has closed a transaction to divest …
Alpharetta, Ga. — Surcheros® is poised for a record-breaking year. Most recently, the emerging fast-casual brand experienced significant growth in 2024, opening nine new locations and debuting in South Carolina and Tennessee for the first time. With a healthy pipeline in place, Surcheros plans to open at least 10 new units by the end of 2025, further solidifying its growing presence across Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. “Over the past year, we’ve expanded into South Carolina and Tennessee, strengthened our operations team and improved our buildout process to be …
New York City — JOANN has announced it will close all of its stores after the fabric and craft retailer was auctioned off to a new ownership group. Earlier this month, JOANN announced the closures of approximately 500 of its more than 800 locations across the United States. The announcement comes after the Hudson, Ohio-based retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January — the second time in a year — where JOANN’s remaining assets were put up for auction. Retail liquidator GA Group and JOANN’s term lenders won …
Los Angeles — Revolve Group, the next-generation fashion retailer for Millennial and Generation Z consumers, has decided to convert its once limited time-only REVOLVE Holiday Shop at The Grove in Los Angeles into a permanent store starting in fall 2025. The store will temporarily close for renovations and is set to reopen with a fresh look in the fall. Originally launched as a temporary winter destination in November 2024, the REVOLVE Holiday Shop quickly became a seasonal hotspot. Spanning 8,450 square feet, the two-story space will feature a handpicked collection …
San Diego — Darin Harris, the chief executive officer of Jack in the Box Inc., has resigned and accepted a new position outside of the restaurant industry. The board of directors has appointed Jack in the Box’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, Lance Tucker, as interim principal executive officer, effective Feb. 24, 2025. Harris will remain as a consultant through March 14, 2025, to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Tucker has served as the company’s chief financial officer since Jan. 13, 2025. He previously served in this same …
Ontario, Calif. — Heritage Grocers Group, the largest Hispanic and ethnic food retailer in the country, has promoted Matthew Holt to the position of chief financial officer (CFO). He recently previously was chief accounting officer for Heritage Grocers Group. The company also has appointed Kim Cates to the position of vice president of center store for Heritage Grocers Group. Reporting directly to Suzy Monford, chairman and CEO for Heritage Grocers Group, Holt will oversee the financial and accounting initiatives for all Heritage banner companies which include Cardenas Markets, Tony’s Fresh …