Colorado Community College Now Offering WAFC Certificate Program
The Western Association of Food Chains Inc. (WAFC) and the Colorado Community College system have partnered to offer the WAFC-endorsed “Retail Management Certificate Program.” The 10-course college curriculum provides relevant and practical content that applies across all segments of the retail food industry.
The first statewide advisory meeting was held May 20 in Denver, combining several representatives of Colorado’s community colleges and the food industry. Currently, the company members include: Albertsons LLC, Costco, King Soopers/City Markets, Loaf & Jug, Safeway, Whole Foods and Coca-Cola.
First launched in 2000, the Retail Management Certificate Program was established to help provide food industry associates with the tools and credit they need to continue their education and advance in their careers. Today, thousands of industry associates are pursuing their WAFC-endorsed Retail Management Certificate and almost 500 more are now graduates.
Nash Finch Gets Unsolicited Offer, Sells Four Avanza Stores
In late May, Nash Finch Co. sold four of its five Avanza stores, each of which is located in Colorado, to a Texas-based supermarket chain after receiving an unsolicited offer for them.
Bob Dimond, CFO, EVP, and treasurer of Edina-based Nash Finch, told Twin Cities Business that Nash Finch hadn’t been looking for a buyer to purchase its Hispanic-oriented Avanza stores. But when Littlefield, Texas-based Lowe’s Market submitted a bid, the company conducted an evaluation and determined that the offer was in its best interest.
Dimond said Lowe’s Market indicated that it plans to keep the Avanza name and the Hispanic orientation of the stores that it bought.
Whole Foods Closes Wine Shop in Denver, Will Move Sales to Boulder
Whole Foods Market is closing its Merchant of Vino wine and spirits shop at its Tamarac Square location in south Denver, reports The Denver Post. It appears to be finalizing plans to instead have its one liquor-licensed store—a limitation under state law—in Boulder, where Alfalfa’s is operating a full-strength liquor store.
Sang Lee, owner of Ace Wine & Spirits in Boulder, said Whole Foods is acquiring his store that borders the Whole Foods, at 2905 Pearl St., on the east.
In other news from the same development, according to the Denver Business Journal, the owner of the Tamarac Square mall in southeast Denver revealed May 18 that it will tear down the two-story property and sell the land to Target so the retailer can build a store on the site. Target will build a 130,000-s.f. store.
King Soopers Opening Gas Station Near Boulder Store
King Soopers plans to open a company-operated gas station near its central Boulder store in August, spokeswoman Kelli McGannon told The Denver Post.
The station will be located at 3005 Arapahoe Ave., in place of a Conoco service station that recently closed and has since been demolished. The station will neighbor King Soopers’ store at 1650 30th St. in the Sunrise Center.
King Soopers operates a few gas stations in Boulder and Broomfield counties and offers discounted gas at its company-operated stations and also Shell stations for “SooperCard” holders who accumulate points by purchasing certain items or spending a certain amount of money.
