Ahold

CARLISLE, Pa. — The New Jersey Retail Merchants Association has named Ahold USA director of pharmacy professional services David Sencabaugh the New Jersey Council of Chain Drug Stores 2011 Pharmacist of the Year, Ahold USA said Monday.

Ahold USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Netherlands-based Royal Ahold, operates the Giant-Carlisle, Giant-Landover and Stop & Shop supermarket chains, as well as the Peapod online grocery service.

TRENTON, N.J. — Six retailers on Wednesday filed suit naming Wyeth and Teva Pharmaceuticals as defendants and alleging that the defendants unlawfully delayed the entry of generic versions of Wyeth's antidepressant Effexor XR (venlafaxine). A summons was issued to Wyeth and Teva on Thursday.

The retailers include Ahold USA, H-E-B, Kroger, Safeway, Supervalu and Walgreens. The companies are suing for three-times damages plus attorneys fees.

Wyeth was acquired by Pfizer in October 2009.

AMSTERDAM — Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold reported sales of $9.3 billion and profits of $347.8 million in third quarter 2011, the company said.

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. — A Giant Food location in Phoenixville, Pa., opened its new gas station Wednesday, Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant said.

Royal Ahold-owned Giant, also known as Giant-Carlisle — to distinguish it from Landover, Md.-based Giant Food, owned by the same company — said the station would have eight pumps.

CARLISLE, Pa. — The U.S. subsidiary of Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold is hoping to attract local and diverse suppliers to its stores in the markets in which it operates.

Ahold USA said Thursday that it had its first annual Local/Diverse Business Opportunity Fair last month. The fair attracted participants from more than 140 companies that were given the opportunity to have their products reviewed by Ahold USA procurement teams for placement in more than 750 stores throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

CARLISLE, Pa. — The U.S. subsidiary of Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold has appointed Raymond McCall SVP pharmacy and health and beauty care, the company said Wednesday.

McCall will be responsible for strategic leadership, direction and business plan design and execution for the pharmacy and health and beauty care teams for Ahold USA, which operates the Giant-Carlisle, Giant-Landover and Stop & Shop chains. He will be based out of the company’s Carlisle, Pa., support office.

PHILADELPHIA — Giant-Carlisle plans to open its first store in Philadelphia next week, the grocery chain said.

AMSTERDAM — Ahold has tapped retail veteran James McCann to serve in the newly created role of chief commercial development officer.

McCann, who most recently served as executive director for Carrefour France and a member of Carrefour's group executive board, will focus on developing new and innovative ways to serve customer needs, build customer loyalty and broaden Ahold's offering. He also will be responsible for leading Ahold's e-commerce initiatives and will strengthen the company's online business globally.