Daily Archives: January 16, 2017

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Empire Company Limited announces the appointment of Michael Medline as President & CEO

Stellarton, NS, 2017-Jan-16 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Board of Directors of Empire Company Limited (TSX: EMP.A) is very pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Medline as President & CEO of Empire Company Limited (Empire) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc. Mr. Medline will also serve on the Board of Directors of Empire.

“Michael Medline is an outstanding Canadian retailer who brings a passion for the customer experience and a proven ability to drive strong operating and financial performance within national organizations and across multiple brands,” said James Dickson, Chair of Empire. “After an extensive international search, the Board is unanimous in its determination that Michael is the right choice to create long-term value for all our stakeholders.”

Mr. Medline is a proven leader with a strong track record of success. Prior to joining Empire, he served for more than 15 years in a variety of senior retail leadership roles at Canadian Tire Corporation, most recently as that organization’s President & Chief Executive Officer. He is ideally positioned to lead Empire in serving the needs of its customers and to oversee the return of long-term, profitable growth to the company.

“I am proud to be joining Empire, a great retailer which has served Canadians for more than 109 years. I’m looking forward to working with our entire team to put together and execute on a strategy that will thrill our customers, build our brands, and excite our shareholders,” said Michael Medline.

Mr. Medline’s appointment is effective immediately. He will work closely with François Vimard and the experienced leadership team to understand the unique aspects of Empire’s business. He will also benefit from the extensive food retailing experience contained on the Empire Board.

“We thank François Vimard for his great work leading the company over the past several months and are extremely pleased that he will move into the position of Executive Vice President for Empire to play an active role in the transition,” added Mr. Dickson.

ABOUT EMPIRE

Empire Company Limited (TSX: EMP.A) is a Canadian company headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. Empire’s key businesses are food retailing and related real estate. With approximately $24.4 billion in annualized sales and $8.8 billion in assets, Empire and its subsidiaries, franchisees and affiliates employ approximately 125,000 people.

ABOUT SOBEYS

Proudly Canadian, with headquarters in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, Sobeys has been serving the food shopping needs of Canadians since 1907. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited (TSX: EMP.A), Sobeys owns or franchises approximately 1,500 stores in all 10 provinces under retail banners that include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, and Lawton’s Drug Stores as well as more than 350 retail fuel locations. Sobeys, its franchisees and affiliates employ more than 125,000 people. The company’s purpose is to help Canadians Eat Better, Feel Better and Do Better. More information on Sobeys Inc. can be found at www.sobeyscorporate.com.

For further information, please contact:
Media Contact:

Andrew Walker
Senior Vice President
Communications & Corporate Affairs

Sobeys Inc.
(905) 238-7124 ext. 6711

Source: Empire Company Limited

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Meijer to host authentic Italian cooking by The Food Network’s Iron Chef America Judge, Mario Rizzotti at stores this month

Meijer to host authentic Italian cooking by The Food Network’s Iron Chef America Judge, Mario Rizzotti at stores this month

 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., 2017-Jan-16 — /EPR Retail News/ — Meijer is teaming up with the Italian Trade Agency to bring an authentic Italian cooking experience to select Meijer stores hosted later this month by The Food Network’s Iron Chef America Judge, Mario Rizzotti.

The cooking demonstrations are part of a larger Meijer Mercato Italiano experience that will take place at all Meijer stores, featuring more than 400 authentic Italian products like artisan Italian pasta, San Marzano tomatoes, Italian wine and Italian extra virgin olive oil for a limited time beginning mid-month.

“Meijer is pleased to partner with the Italian Trade Agency to offer our customers an authentic Italian cooking experience,” said Peter Whitsett, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing. “Interest in Italian food continues to rise. We wanted to create an experience to make it easy for our customers to find and learn about the ingredients they want. With Mario’s help, they’ll gain a greater understanding of true Italian ingredients and how best to use them.”

During each of the six Italian cooking demonstrations, Rizzotti will cook an authentic Italian pasta dish and put his own twist on a gelato for the first 50 customers with a wristband. The events, which will also feature a live Q&A session, will be held from 6-7 p.m.:

  • Jan. 23 at the Algonquin Meijer, 400 S. Randall Road in Algonquin, Ill.
  • Jan. 24 at the Indianapolis Meijer, 5550 N. Keystone Ave. in Indianapolis, Ind.
  • Jan. 25 at the Knapp’s Corner Meijer, 1997 E. Beltline Ave. in Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • Jan. 26 at the Okemos Meijer, 2055 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, Mich.
  • Jan. 27 at the Royal Oak Meijer, 5150 Coolidge Hwy. in Royal Oak, Mich.
  • Jan. 28 at the Westerville Meijer, 100 Polaris Parkway in Westerville, Ohio

“It’s great to see a major retailer like Meijer working in partnership with the Italian government in an effort to offer Americans a larger variety of rare Italian products,” Rizzotti said. “I’ve spent my career educating food lovers on how to tell authentic Italian products from the fake, so I’m thrilled to be part of Meijer’s Italian Chef events.”

Rizzotti, an acclaimed TV personality and Italian culinary expert, left Rome in his early 20s and moved to the United States, where he has been educating food lovers about authentic Italian ingredients. He is best known as the seasoned – yet approachable – judge on The Food Network’s “Iron Chef America.”

About Meijer:

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 230 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer pioneered the “one-stop shopping” concept and has evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, garden centers and electronics offerings. For more information on Meijer, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

About ITA:

The Italian Trade Agency is the government organization which provides the internationalization of the Italian companies in line with the strategies of the Ministry for Economic development. The ITA provides information, support and advice to Italian and foreign based companies interested in “Made in Italy” products and technologies. In addition to its headquarters in Rome, the ITA operates worldwide from a network of 65 Trade Promotion Offices linked to Italian embassies and Consulates, the ITA also works closely with local authorities and businesses. The ITA Chicago office (chicago@ice.it, Twitter @ITAChicago), has partnered with selected major U.S. retailers on promotional activities aimed at increasing the selection of “Authentic Italian” food and wines.

About Mario:

Mario Rizzotti is an acclaimed television personality and Italian culinary expert who lives by one simple motto, “a meal is not the consumption of food, but rather a celebration of Dolce Vita.” TV audiences know him best as the seasoned yet approachable judge on The Food Network’s “Iron Chef America,” where he was called to judge Iron Chefs like Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Marc Forgione, Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto and more. After leaving Rome, Italy in his early twenties, Mario moved the U.S. and has been educating food lovers everywhere about authentic Italian ingredients. As Italian Culinary Expert for Academia Barilla, Mario helped consumers understand the differences in olive oils, balsamic vinegars, Italian cheeses and cured meats, and how to distinguish real Italian products. He has been asked to Emcee and judge at numerous culinary events including Chicago Gourmet, Aspen Food and Wine and more, and is often sought after for advice when chefs open new restaurants and create new menus. Mario resides outside of Chicago with his wife and three children.

Contact:
Christina Fecher
christina.fecher@meijer.com
616-540-6108

Source: Meijer

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Chick-fil-A, Inc. announces Cole Donahoo as local franchise owner of the third Las Vegas-area Chick-fil-A restaurant

Chick-fil-A, Inc. announces Cole Donahoo as local franchise owner of the third Las Vegas-area Chick-fil-A restaurant

 

LAS VEGAS, 2017-Jan-16 — /EPR Retail News/ — Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Cole Donahoo as the local franchise owner of the third Las Vegas-area Chick-fil-A restaurant. Donahoo will oversee day-to-day operations of the business, employing more than 100 full- and part-time team members, cultivating relationships with local schools, organizations and neighboring businesses, and serving guests. Chick-fil-A at I-15 and Sahara will be located at 2477 S. Rancho Drive and is slated to open in early spring 2017.

It was his entrepreneurial spirit that first drew Cole Donahoo to Chick-fil-A. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Donahoo started his career in sales and marketing. After taking time away to care for his ailing parents, he felt pulled to own his own business like his parents had when he was a child.

Everything fell into place the day Donahoo stopped by Chick-fil-A for lunch and discovered that an old friend was the franchise owner. He worked as a manager of his friend’s restaurant for a year before joining Chick-fil-A’s Interim Manager program. Donahoo later opened his own Chick-fil-A restaurant in Torrance, Calif. where he’s been since 2011. Excited for a new challenge, Donahoo is relocating to open one of Chick-fil-A’s first restaurants in the Las Vegas area.

“Not only do I love Las Vegas, but I love that this restaurant could be someone’s first Chick-fil-A experience,” said Donahoo. “When guests step through my door, I want them to know that they’ll be taken care of. We look forward to meeting and building relationships with our future customers and becoming involved in the city’s many business and civic organizations. We invite everyone to join us for great food and service when we open in 2017.”

Team Member Investment
Chick-fil-A is known for hiring, developing and retaining young talent, offering a supportive workplace with opportunities for leadership development, promotions that lead to management roles, respect for work-life balance and competitive wages. Chick-fil-A at I-15 and Sahara will employ approximately 100 full- and part-time team members. To help its team members pay for college, the restaurant will offer the opportunity for college scholarships through Chick-fil-A’s newly announced national scholarship initiative, Remarkable Futures. Remarkable Futures more than doubles the company’s investment in team members’ college educations – providing $4.9 million in scholarships in 2017 alone. While Chick-fil-A has offered scholarships for more than 40 years, the enhanced initiative increases the amount of funding per recipient, allowing students to receive up to $25,000 in scholarships to be applied at any accredited institution of their choice, including online and on-campus formats, and can be combined with tuition discounts and other benefits at more than 70 partner colleges and universities nationwide. As with all Chick-fil-A restaurants, team members are also guaranteed Sundays off. Those interested in joining the Chick-fil-A at I-15 and Sahara team can apply beginning in February. For more information on Remarkable Futures, visit chick-fil-a.com/scholarships.

Premium Ingredients and Fresh, Handmade Food
Nearly everything on the Chick-fil-A menu is made from scratch daily, including salads made from whole vegetables and fruits that are hand-chopped throughout the day. The lemonade is fresh-squeezed and is made from three simple ingredients: lemon, sugar and water. Like all Chick-fil-A restaurants, the chicken served at Chick-fil-A I-15 and Sahara will be 100 percent whole breast meat, without any fillers, hormones or additives. Each chicken breast is hand-breaded to order and pressure cooked in 100 percent refined peanut oil, which is naturally trans-fat- and cholesterol-free. By the end of 2019, every Chick-fil-A restaurant will serve chicken raised without antibiotics.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc. 

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family owned and privately held restaurant company founded in 1964 by S. Truett Cathy. Devoted to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate, and known for its original chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A serves freshly prepared food in more than 2,000 restaurants in 46 states and Washington, D.C. Chick-fil-A system sales exceeded $6 billion in 2015, which marks 48 consecutive years of sales growth. Chick-fil-A earned a top spot in the 2015 Customer Service Hall of Fame for the second year in a row and is the only quick service restaurant to make the Customer Service Hall of Fame. The company was also the only restaurant brand named to the Top 10 “Best Companies to Work For” by 24/7 Wall Street. More information on Chick-fil-A is available on the chain’s website located at www.chick-fil-a.com.

Source: Chick-fil-A, Inc.