Ahold

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Martin’s Super Markets has promoted Tim Killelea to VP operations, the chain said.

Martin’s, founded in 1947, operates 21 stores in northern Indiana and Michigan, but is a separate company from Martin’s Food Markets, which is part of Royal Ahold’s Pennsylvania-based Giant-Carlisle chain.

The company said Killelea, who began as a store manager in Mishawaka, Ind., in 1969, would have primary responsibility for overseeing all aspects of store operations for the retailer.

CARLISLE, Pa. — A Martin’s Food Markets store in Indiana, Pa., has opened the doors to its new Marketplace Café, the chain announced.

Martin’s, part of Royal Ahold’s Giant-Carlisle branch, said the chain had received a restaurant liquor license from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and would sell domestic and imported beer for customers dining in and carrying out.

The café also will stock such food items as hot and cold sandwiches, wraps and paninis; a salad bar; soups; baked goods and coffees.

NEW YORK — Supermarket giant Royal Ahold, which operates under five banners in the United States, reported that U.S. customers' continued focus on value drove its sales.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Fast on the heels of her departure from Ahold USA’s Giant Foods of Landover supermarket unit, Robin Michel has been tapped for an increasingly critical role at retail giant Sears Holdings. Michel, who left as president of Giant-Landover in December 2010, will serve as SVP and president of food and consumables, health and beauty and pharmacy at Sears and its Kmart subsidiary.

AMSTERDAM — Former Ahold senior executive Albert Heijn, who helped lead the overhaul of the Dutch-based supermarket giant in the 1960s and 1970s, died peacefully Thursday at his home in the United Kingdom, the company announced. He was 83.

LANDOVER, Md. — Two-and-a-half years after joining the company, Robin Michel is leaving as president of the Giant-Landover division of Ahold USA to pursue other opportunities, the company confirmed Monday.

Michel will depart at the end of the month, according to Ahold USA spokesperson Sara Neumann. She will be replaced on a temporary basis as operations chief by Don Sussman, EVP supply chain at Ahold, while the company conducts a search for a successor.

PHILADELPHIA — Safeway will sell two stores in the Philadelphia area to one of Ahold’s supermarket banners, according to published reports.

The Philadelphia Business Journal reported Thursday that Giant-Carlisle will buy two Genuardi’s supermarkets in Bucks County, Pa.

Each store will be closed on Nov. 13 and will re-open in first quarter 2011 under the Giant banner. Store employees will have the opportunity to transfer to other Genuardi’s stores or interview to work at Giant.

AMSTERDAM Supermarket giant Ahold said Thursday it has named Dick Boer CEO, effective March 2011. The company also has tapped Carl Schlicker to replace Larry Benjamin as COO of its Ahold USA division, which generates roughly 60% of its total revenues.