The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has announced the death of former longtime COO Carole Christianson on Aug. 1 after a battle with leukemia. Christianson retired in 2022 following a 50-year career in the food and beverage industry and more than 15 years at the helm of the WAFC. During her time as COO, […]
Category: West
Posted inBakery News, News, West
Mars Opens Nature’s Bakery Facility In Salt Lake City, UT
Nature’s Bakery, part of the Mars Inc. family of brands, opened a new baking facility July 30 in Salt Lake City, a $240 million investment that marks a milestone in the brand’s expansion. The 339,000-square-foot site gives Nature’s Bakery the space to grow, with the ability to produce more than 1 billion bars each year. […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, National, West
Save Mart Breaks Ground On New Location In Manteca, CA
The Save Mart Companies broke ground July 30 on a new 52,000-square-foot Save Mart at Main Street and Atherton Drive in Manteca, California. Slated to open in late summer 2026, the store will be an anchor tenant in the Marketplace at Main Shopping Center. “With this future Save Mart store, we are proud to provide […]
Posted inAnniversary Issues, Corporate Store News, Feature, News, West
Pavilions Fills Role As Test Site For New Grocery, GM Products
“Pavilions is a testing ground for a lot of new and innovative items for the entire division,” said Wayne Heaton, VP and GM of the Pavilions banner. Together with Albertsons and Vons banner stores, they form Albertsons’ 329-store Southern California division. “If something works in Pavilions, there may be 100 stores in the other two […]
Posted inAnniversary Issues, Corporate Store News, Feature, News, West
Pavilions Marks 4 Decades Of Offering SoCal Consumers An Upscale Full-Shop
Wayne Heaton is VP and general manager of the Pavilions banner for Albertsons, which also owns Pavilions’ sister banner Vons. Heaton has enjoyed a long history in the grocery industry, starting as a courtesy clerk “pushing carts” in 1987. He came up through the ranks at Albertsons and served as a store director for many […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Market Profile, News, West
3-Store Acquisition Strengthens Stokes Markets’ Position In Mountain West
John Stokes and his brother, Steve, are fourth-generation grocers who have spent their lives immersed in the family business, Stokes Markets. Their work ethic and dedication to excellence are a direct result of their upbringing in the industry and the influence of those who worked alongside them. Stokes credits their customers with pushing them to […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Gelson's, News, West
Gelson’s, Upshop Collaborate On Store Operations Technology
Gelson’s Markets is embracing a data-driven transformation in store operations by partnering with Upshop. By adopting the tech firm’s total store platform, Gelson’s aims to infuse intelligence into its forecasting, total store ordering, production planning and real-time inventory processes, ensuring every location is tuned into local demand dynamics. The initiative means shoppers will find what […]
Posted inExecutive News, Corporate Store News, Feature, News, West
Food 4 Less Leader Doyel Plans To Keep Building On Banner’s Strong Foundation
Kendra Doyel may have one of the most well-rounded careers among today’s supermarket industry leaders. Named president of Kroger’s Food 4 Less/Foods Co division in April, Doyel started as a pharmacist in the company’s Fry’s division in 1998 and wound through several departments and responsibilities on her way to leading 101 Food 4 Less and […]