Content about North Carolina

Cary, N.C. -- The Pantry, a leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., has appointed former Dollar General executive Kathleen Guion to its board of directors.

Guion most recently served as division president of store operation and development from 2005 until her retirement in 2012 from Dollar General Corporation.

Salisbury, N.C. — Delhaize's Food Lion, Harveys and Reid's chains have earned their 12th consecutive Energy Star award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Belk has named Dorlisa Flur to the newly created position of EVP omni-channel, reporting to John Belk, president and chief operating officer.

Flur joins Belk after eight years at Family Dollar Stores, most recently as vice chair, strategy and chief administrative officer. Prior roles included chief merchandising officer and the EVP strategy and marketing. Prior to Family Dollar Stores, Flur spent her professional career at management consulting firm McKinsey and Company.

Matthews, N.C. -- Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc. reported that its fiscal first-quarter net income rose nearly 67%. The company earned $22.8 million for the quarter that ended Jan. 1, up from $13.7 million in the same quarter last year. The prior year's results included an $18 million cost to settle some pension liabilities and employee benefits in connection with the sale of its industrial thread manufacturing company.
    

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- Mall owner CBL & Associates Properties said Thursday that, in 2013, it will complete multi-million dollar renovations at three major malls: Friendly Center in Greensboro, N.C.; Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake, Va.; and The Mall of Acadiana in Lafayette, La.

Fayetteville, N.C. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties announced an expansion of Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville, N.C. The 46,000-sq.-ft. expansion will deliver new retailers to the fully leased center, such as Chico’s, Loft, White House|Black Market, Men’s Wearhouse, Reed’s Jewelers and Lane Bryant.  Additional stores and restaurants will be announced as the project progresses.  

Construction on the expansion is scheduled to begin in early 2013, with a grand opening anticipated in late fall 2013.

New York -- Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe’s is telling investors and analysts that changes are in the works, a message it has delivered steadily over the last several quarters.

Greensboro, N.C. - The Fresh Market said Wednesday it has entered into agreements to lease four new store locations that are currently operated as Rice Epicurean Markets, a family-owned specialty food retailer based in Houston.

Rice Epicurean Markets will continue to operate the stores through the end of the year, and will close these four stores during the first quarter of 2013.

Regional retailers are typically defined by geography, but Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk is a bit different than most. Distinguished by its signature Southern hospitality, the nation’s largest privately held department store chain has a dominant presence throughout the South and a footprint as far west as Oklahoma and north through Maryland. But its reach extends even farther, as Canadians and Californians alike shop its e-commerce site. 

INDIANAPOLIS -- Simon Property Group and Paragon Outlet Partners, Baltimore,  have signed a letter of intent to jointly develop Charlotte Premium Outlets, in Stallings, N.C.

Projected to open in 2014, the outlet center will be 400,000 sq. ft. and will house approximately 100 designer and name brand stores.
  
The project, which is expected to break ground during spring 2013, is a 50/50 joint venture between Simon Property Group and Paragon Outlet Partners.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets announced that it has signed a lease for its first store in the state of North Carolina. The company said it is looking forward to continued growth in the state, and that the new location will be part of a new division based in Charlotte.

The 56,000-sq. ft. store, which will be located in Ballantyne, N.C., is scheduled to open in early 2014.
 

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores said Wednesday it plans to settle a class-action matter with more than 1,700 New York store managers who filed suit on claims of unpaid overtime wages.

The preliminary settlement provides for a maximum payment of $14 million by Family Dollar. Settlement terms are pending court approval, and the discounter plans to record a fourth quarter charge to cover the costs.