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GOURMET NEWS AUGUST 2016 www.gourmetnews.com Retailer News RETAILER NEWS 1 0 BRIEFS Meijer-Sponsored LPGA Tournament Raises $850,00 Representatives with the Meijer LPGA Clas- sic for Simply Give continued this year to build on an exciting tournament, which now ranks among the top four on the LPGA Tour in terms of attendance so far this year. Attendance in the four-day tournament exceeded expectations with nearly 50,000 spectators, but participation in various community events that appealed to foodies, runners and families also rose. An estimated 200 children participated in the junior clin- ics, more than 625 took part in the 5k run, and the inaugural Grand Taste event had more than 10,000 attendees alone. "We are dedicated to making the Meijer LPGA Classic an event the community and the LPGA can stand behind," Meijer Co- Chairman Doug Meijer said. "This event is making a difference in the communities we serve, and we sincerely thank everyone who attended for their continued support." The 2017 Meijer LPGA Classic will once again be held Father's Day weekend June 12-18. The 2016 Meijer LPGA Classic featured a full field of world-class golfers playing 72 holes of stroke play June 14-19 at Blythe- field Country Club. Tournament week also featured various community events, includ- ing celebrity chef events, 5k run and walk, junior clinics and an inaugural three-day grand tasting event called the Grand Taste at the Meijer LPGA Classic that featured more than 40 local restaurants, breweries, growers and Meijer product and vendors. Meijer donated all the unused food – ap- proximately 6,000 pounds – from the Grand Taste event to a local food bank and food pantry. The driving mission of the tournament is focused on feeding the hungry through the retailer's Simply Give program, which re- stocks the shelves of food pantries across the Midwest. Over the past three years, the Mei- jer LGPA Classic generated more than $2.1 million for food pantries in the communities it serves. Additionally, a typical LPGA Tour has an economic impact of up to $6 million in the community in which it's held. Meijer began its Simply Give program in November 2008 and has since generated nearly $24 million for its food pantry part- ners. The contributions donated as a result of the Meijer LPGA Classic are due, in large part, to the generous spectators who at- tended the tournament week events and the sponsors who helped make the event a success. The $850,000 donation will be spread across the retailer's estimated 200 food pantry partners that participated in the spring Simply Give campaign that ended June 19. GN Fiesta Mart Acquires Minyard Food Stores Houston-based Fiesta Mart, L.L.C. is ac- quiring 11 Minyard Food Stores in the Dal- las-Fort Worth Metroplex from RLS Supermarkets, L.L.C. Fiesta is a specialty grocery retailer known for its international offerings that cater to the diverse commu- nities served by their stores. With the Min- yard Food Stores acquisition, Fiesta will now operate 70 stores across Texas. "We are excited to welcome Minyard Food Stores to the Fiesta family. This action reinforces the strategic growth plan we put forth early last year," stated Michael Byars, Fiesta CEO. "Our entire Fiesta team has worked together to move the brand for- ward organically, and now through acqui- sition we continue on our growth plan." Byars has personal ties to Minyard, working for the company from January 2005 through January 2009, ultimately serving as CEO and President of Minyard for more than three years. He joined Fiesta in 2015 and has focused the company on reinvigoration of its core consumer prom- ise, "To provide consumers the freshest quality products and extensive assortment, at the value they need to celebrate food and family every day." In early 2015, Fiesta was purchased by ACON, an international private equity in- vestment firm. "ACON is pleased to add Minyard Food Stores to the Fiesta team as part of our strategic vision to grow the Fi- esta brand," remarked Andre Bhatia, a Managing Partner of ACON. "Our prior su- permarket investing experience and suc- cess will further strengthen Fiesta's position in the markets we serve." The newly acquired Minyard store loca- tions will continue to be supplied by cur- rent supplier AWG, along with Fiesta's supplier, Grocery Supply. The Minyard stores will be transitioning to Fiesta over the next several months. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed. GN Ralphs division President Donna Giordano has retired from the Kroger Company as of July 23. Valerie Jabbar, previously vice pres- ident of merchandising for Ralphs, suc- ceeded her. "Donna's distinguished leadership has helped Ralphs continue to grow, serve more customers in the highly-competitive South- ern California market, and help Kroger across our business," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and CEO. "She is re- spected throughout the industry and among our associates for her strategic leadership and engagement in the communities we serve. The entire Kroger family thanks Donna for her many contributions and wishes her and her family all the best in retirement." Giordano joined the company's King Soop- ers banner as a courtesy clerk in 1972, while still in college. She was named store manager at King Soopers in 1982, and later held vari- ous director-level positions in key areas, in- cluding advertising, bakery, general merchan- dise, grocery, and pharmacy. In 1999, Gior- dano was promoted to vice president of sales & marketing of King Soopers. She was pro- moted to president of QFC in 2002 before being named President of Ralphs in 2011. Giordano volunteers with the Network of Executive Woman and is a past board mem- ber of the Orange County Girl Scouts. She is currently president of the Western Associa- tion of Food Chains (WAFC), where she has been a board member since 2005. Giordano and her husband, Mario, plan to travel and spend time with their daughters Amber and Aubrey who reside in Seattle. Valerie Jabbar Promoted to President of Ralphs Kroger promoted Valerie Jabbar to serve as president of the company's Ralphs division, effective July 23. "Valerie is an exceptional leader who is passionate about developing associates and serving our customers and communities," said McMullen. "She brings to her new role broad retail experience and a deep commit- ment to putting our customers first. We look forward to her continued leadership at Ralphs." Jabbar began her career with the company in 1987 as a clerk in the Fry's division. She held numerous leadership roles at Fry's, in- cluding assistant store director, category man- ager, and drug and general merchandise coordinator. From 2002 – 2010, she served in a variety of drug and general merchandis- ing leadership roles at Kroger's general office in Cincinnati and in the Fry's division. She was named Fry's district manager in 2010, and was promoted to serve as vice president of merchandising to the Mid-Atlantic division in 2012. Jabbar was promoted to the vice president of merchandising position for Ralphs in 2013. GN Donna Giordano Retires, Valerie Jabbar Named New President of Ralphs MOM's Organic Market Signs on for Sun Power Family owned and operated Maryland-based, MOM's Organic Market has begun purchasing all power produced by a designated solar farm in Kingsville, Maryland, bundled with national solar renewable energy credits. This 1.5- megawatt DC system is projected to output 2,124,000 kilowatts per year. MOM's will purchase the entire system's output for the next 20 years. The power generated by the solar farm will account for 25 percent of the total power needs of MOM's stores in Washington, DC; Maryland; Pennsylvania and Virginia. Kroger Announces Sustainability Goals for 2020 The Kroger Co. has adopted new and expanded sustainability commitments to increase responsible sourcing and improve eco-stewardship by 2020. The list includes expanding the company's 100 percent sustainable seafood commitment, achieving the EPA's "zero waste" threshold of 90 percent in all facilities and transitioning toward a 100 percent cage-free egg supply chain. Kroger Raises Quarterly Dividend 14 Percent, Approves $500 Million Share Repurchase Program The Kroger Co.'s board of directors has raised the company's quarterly dividend by 14 percent, to 12 cents per share, to be paid on September 1, 2016, to shareholders of record on the close of business on August 15, 2016. In addition, Kroger announced a new, $500 million share repurchase program, replacing the prior authorization, which has been exhausted. "We remain committed to delivering value to shareholders. Kroger has delivered double- digit compound growth in its dividend since we reinstated it in 2006," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and CEO. "Our strong cash flow has enabled us to return to shareholders more than $2.7 billion in dividends since 2006." The company continues to expect an increasing dividend over time. Whole Foods Opens Hyde Park Store in Chicago Whole Foods has completed construction on a 30,000-square foot store in the City Hyde Park center in Chicago. The new store features a "secret society – intellectual theme" that pays homage to its University of Chicago neighborhood. This is highlighted by a dark blue and brass color-scheme, walnut wood throughout, professors' office doors on restroom stalls, and University symbolism embedded in the décor. The new location is the 26th Chicago-area store for Whole Foods. Natural Grocers Opens Two in Arizona Natural Grocers opened two stores in Gilbert, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, on July 12, bringing the chain's Arizona store count to 11. The stores will employ approximately 60 people.

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