El Dorado, Ark. — The Murphy USA Inc. board of directors has appointed its chief operating officer, Mindy K. West, to also serve as president. She will succeed Andrew Clyde as the company’s president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1, 2026. West will also become a member of the board of directors on that date. Clyde will retire from the board on Dec. 31, 2025. “On behalf of the board, I am delighted to welcome Mindy as Murphy USA’s next president and CEO and as a member of our …
— By Scott Thomas — Improving security and the customer experience. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been discussed in the physical security industry for years and offers strong potential for retail security automation and management. It may be surprising to discover that many retailers already use some form of AI in their security technologies. Analytics engines process massive amounts of data, such as images, text or numbers — using AI algorithms to produce actionable insights. For example, analytics can automatically flag vehicles linked to previous incidents upon arrival and streamline the …
Murray, Utah — Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc., owner of Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, buybuy BABY and a blockchain asset portfolio, has appointed Rick Lockton as executive vice president and chief digital, product and technology officer. In his new role, Lockton will lead all digital, AI, product and technology functions, advancing Bed Bath & Beyond’s position as a leader in retail innovation and home technology. Effective Nov. 3, 2025, Lockton will join the executive leadership team to lead the company’s digital transformation and product innovation strategy. He will oversee …
San Antonio — Rackspace Technology®, a leading end-to-end hybrid cloud and AI solutions company, has teamed up with Total Wine & More, America’s Wine Superstore® to advance its digital transformation through a strategic, multi-cloud approach. The retailer adopted two public cloud platforms, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, selecting the best cloud for each of its major technology initiatives. It chose Rackspace to provide flexible, managed support and gained valuable cloud optimization expertise. “We needed a partner who could support our multi-cloud strategy and provide consistent, expert guidance across both Azure …
San Francisco and Sunnyvale, Calif. — Gap Inc. has formed a multi-year partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate its human-centered digitally-enabled technology strategy, with AI powering the company’s plans to reimagine retail across its portfolio of brands, including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta. “AI is redefining what’s possible in retail, and we’re building our future technology roadmap around it,” says Sven Gerjets, chief technology officer at Gap Inc. “We believe this partnership gives us the expertise and speed to bring AI to life across our business, empowering teams, …
New York City — On Oct. 20, British cult-favorite jewelry brand Astrid & Miyu opened its second U.S. store, located in the heart of New York City on Madison Avenue. Following the success of its U.S. debut in New York City’s West Village, this expansion marks a milestone in the brand’s global growth and continued commitment to building meaningful communities through experiential retail. Astrid & Miyu expects additional U.S. expansion, with plans to open in Los Angeles early next year. Founded in 2012, Astrid & Miyu was born in a …
Atlanta — RaceTrac, Inc., a family-owned, high-growth leader in the convenience store industry, confirms it has completed the acquisition of Potbelly Corporation, previously announced in September. As part of the transaction, RaceTrac acquires Potbelly’s iconic neighborhood sandwich shop brand, which includes more than 445 company and franchise-owned shops across the United States, and Potbelly’s franchise development platform with a long term goal of reaching 2,000 shops. “Potbelly has spent more than 40 years creating the neighborhood sandwich shop experience customers love, and we are excited to welcome this beloved brand …
Fishers, Ind. — Wireless Zone® has appointed an executive vice president from within its franchise system: longtime franchisee Al Pellecchia. Under his leadership, the nation’s largest Verizon franchisor is poised to continue growing its system through improved processes, prioritizing automation and providing ongoing support for the stores. Pellecchia started in the industry selling phones while he was in college. An independent mobile retailer then hired Pellecchia to run multiple locations. He went on to work for brands such as AT&T, Nextel and Sprint, serving as his own agent. Pellecchia was …
Jacksonville, Fla. — Southeastern Grocers, LLC (SEG) will step into a new era as The Winn-Dixie Company in early 2026, uniting under one iconic brand with a renewed focus on its home state of Florida. The change honors Winn-Dixie’s century-long legacy while positioning the grocer for growth through investments designed to modernize stores, enrich the customer experience and reimagine the neighborhood grocer for the next 100 years. “For a century, Winn-Dixie has proudly called Florida home,” says Anthony Hucker, chairman and CEO of Southeastern Grocers. “Our story is built on …
New York City — In a transaction arranged by CBRE, Bambi Baby, a national retailer selling baby furniture, nursery sets, strollers, car seats, cribs, bedding and other related products, has inked a retail lease for its first New York City store at 655 Sixth Ave. The retailer will occupy 900 square feet of prime, ground-floor space and 8,500 square feet in the lower level of the property located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. CBRE represented Bambi Baby in the negotiations. The property owner, United American Land, was represented in-house …
