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Circle K Opens 100th Location in Sweden, Adds EV Charging Points

Circle K has achieved a significant milestone in Sweden with the opening of its 100th location in the country. As part of its commitment to sustainability, one-third of these locations now provide charging facilities for electric vehicles.

In the past year alone, Circle K has added 160 new charging points for public use, bringing the total number of charging points in its nationwide network to over 465. This expansion allows more EV owners to conveniently charge their vehicles, promoting the adoption of cleaner transportation alternatives.

The growing demand for EV charging infrastructure has prompted Circle K to further invest in expanding its network. An additional 112 charging points are completely ready – but waiting to be connected to the power grid.

“In parallel with the high pace of the rollout, we also put a lot of focus on everything else related to charging – such as making the charging experience really smooth,” said Jenni Alterling, senior manager of e-mobility at Circle K.

In addition to the 112 charging points that are ready for grid connection, another seven stations are being built, which will host 42 more charging points.

“Of course, it is frustrating that we build quickly, but then have to wait for a grid connection. We’ve pointed this out for many years, but we’re building at triple the rate anyway, and we’ll continue to do so. With this rate of expansion, we will reach 1000 charging points in 2026,” Alterling concludes.

With the opening of its 100th location and the continuous expansion of its EV charging network, Circle K is demonstrating its commitment to sustainable practices and providing innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of its customers.

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Giant Food, Shady Brook Farms Donate 11K Turkeys to Food Banks

 

Giant Food Representatives Donate Shady Brook Farms Holiday Turkeys to Capital Area Food Bank

Giant Food, the leading greater Washington, D.C. regional grocery chain, has announced its annual holiday turkey donations. In partnership with Shady Brook Farms, Giant Food will be donating 11,000 turkeys to its local Feeding America food banks partners as well as local organizations including Martha’s Table, Men Aiming Higher, THEARC: Building Bridges Across The River, Greater Washington Urban League and Greater Baltimore Urban League. Since 2011, Giant has donated 62,000 turkeys during Thanksgiving and this year, Shady Brook Farms is generously providing additional turkeys to make an even larger impact.

“At Giant, fighting food insecurity in the communities we serve is one of our top priorities,” said Dyani Hanrahan, vice president of marketing and community relations, Giant Food, and Maryland Food Bank board member. “We are proud to support over 20 community organizations this Thanksgiving in partnership with Shady Brook Farms to make sure our neighbors in need enjoy their holiday celebrations with family and loved ones.”

“At Shady Brook Farms, we take great responsibility in not only giving back during the critical holiday season, but also throughout the year to ensure families and local communities have access to delicious and nutritious meals,” said Hannah Kern, Shady Brook Farms marketing manager. “Partnering with a like-minded organization such as Giant Food to provide turkeys to those in need is incredibly meaningful and we’re beyond appreciative of their collaboration on impactful initiatives such as this.”

Additionally, Giant launched the annual “Lend a Hand for Hunger” campaign to benefit five area Feeding America food banks – Capital Area Food Bank, Maryland Food Bank, Food Bank of Delaware, Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank – and other area nonprofits.

The campaign, running from Oct. 27 to Dec. 31 in all 164 Giant stores, offers customers an opportunity to support their neighbors by rounding up their change to the nearest dollar amount during checkout in-store or selecting a donation of $1$3 or $5 during checkout in-store or online. Last year, through the generous support of associates and customers, over $1 million was raised to fight food insecurity.

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Publix Shuffles C-Suite as CEO Jones Becomes Executive Chairman

Effective Jan. 1, Publix CEO Todd Jones will become executive chairman, President Kevin Murphy will be promoted to CEO, and Senior Vice President John Goff will be promoted to president. Chairman of the Board Ed Crenshaw will remain on the board of directors as chairman emeritus.

Jones began his career in 1980 as a front service clerk in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. He worked in various positions before becoming a store manager in 1988. He was promoted to district manager in 1997, regional director in 1999 and vice president of the Jacksonville Division in 2003. In 2005, Jones was promoted to senior vice president of product business development. He was named president in 2008, CEO and president in 2016 and CEO in 2019.

“Todd has been an outstanding leader,” said Crenshaw. “He has been committed to continuing Publix’s success and passionate about the development and promotion of our associates. We’re pleased he will continue to provide leadership to our company as executive chairman.”

Murphy began his career in 1984 as a front service clerk in Margate, Fla. He worked in various positions before becoming a store manager in 1995. He was promoted to district manager in 2003, regional director in 2009, and vice president of the Miami Division in 2014. In 2016, Murphy was promoted to senior vice president of retail operations. He was named president in 2019.

Goff began his career in 1991 as a front service clerk in Jacksonville, Fla. He worked in various positions before becoming a store manager in 2005. He was promoted to district manager in 2010, regional director in 2014, and vice president of the Miami Division in 2019. In 2022, Goff was promoted to senior vice president of retail operations.

“We are delighted to have leaders with the experience of Kevin and John who are ready to take the next steps in their careers,” said Jones. “I am confident in their ability to lead our company into the future and to continue to make Publix a great place to shop for our customers and a great place to work for our associates.”

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the United States with more than 250,000 associates,  operates 1,358 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. For 26 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at corporate.publix.com/newsroom.

For more news of interest to the grocery industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.