Roundy's Supermarkets Inc. is being shopped around for sale, and although it is not yet known who will buy it, we may now know who won't be a buyer.
Some media reports had speculated that Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. might consider making a bid for Roundy's. However, citing unnamed sources, The Wall Street Journal reported today that private equity firms are interested in acquiring Kroger, with the expectation that the company will soon begin exploring a leveraged buyout with the help of Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
Milwaukee-based Roundy's is owned by Willis Stein & Partners, a Chicago-based equity investment firm that has acknowledged it has put the parent company of Pick 'n Save stores on the sell block.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Chancellor Martha Saunders has been appointed president of the University of Southern Mississippi, her alma mater. Saunders will move to her new post about May 21.
“The opportunity to return to my hometown in a leadership role is compelling. I will assist in the rebuilding of a campus devastated by Hurricane Katrina and will work to move USM to its next level of academic excellence," Saunders said. "I am mindful that I am leaving one of the finest universities in the country. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will continue to thrive because of the quality of its faculty and staff and the incredible talents of its student body. The legacy here is strong and will remain so."
U.W. System President Kevin Reilly, who is expected to name an interim chancellor soon, said Saunders' success in Wisconsin made her a strong candidate for the USM post.
"Wisconsin's loss is definitely Mississippi's gain. This is a terrific professional and personal opportunity for Chancellor Saunders. She earned a reputation here as an astute and energetic leader, and a great ambassador for our public university. We will move quickly to name an interim chancellor, to ensure continuity in leadership for UW-Whitewater students, faculty and staff," Reilly said.

Marcus Hotels and Resorts, a division of Milwaukee-based Marcus Corp., announced today the appointment of Tim Smith to general manager of the InterContinental Milwaukee Hotel.  
"Tim has been a key part of our success, having helped lead the development of the sales philosophies, marketing, and deployment of, amongst others, the seven hotels Marcus has added to its portfolio in the past 12 months, including one property under construction," said Bill Otto, president and chief operating officer of Marcus Hotels and Resorts. "In light of the fact that Tim has been so instrumental in the marketing and overall development of the InterContinental Milwaukee, we have every confidence that he will bring to the job the image and attitude necessary to ensure the InterContinental Milwaukee exceeds everyone's highest expectations."
Smith has been with the Marcus Corp. for more than 19 years.

Large Format Digital, a Madison-based graphics company, plans to relocate to a business park in Edgerton. Read more in headlines from newspapers around the state at www.biztimes.com.

In a strange, roundabout way, the resignation of Rockwell Automation Inc. senior vice president and chief financial officer James Gelly this week might be a good sign that the company plans to stay in Milwaukee. Read more in today's Milwaukee Biz Blog.

BizTimes Daily readers can get a jumpstart on their Easter weekend by checking out the OnMilwaukee.com Weekend Preview. OnMilwaukee.com is a media partner of SBT.

Technology consultant Paul Gibler, known as "The Web Chef," says SBT's redesigned Web site is an excellent example of using Web 2.0 concepts to help companies better connect with their customers. Gibler is a principal consultant for ConnectingDots, a Madison-based e-business and marketing strategic consulting and training company. For more, read his review of the SBT Web site in his blog for the Wisconsin Technology Network.

Readers of Small Business Times and the BizTimes Daily news bulletin are invited to register on line for free to attend the Wisconsin Business & Technology Expo, May 2-3. Pre-registered business people can see more than 200 businesses and organizations that have reserved booths to showcase their products, services and staff at the Expo. Attendees also can sign up for more than 30 free seminars to help them grow their companies. For more information about the attractions at the Expo, visit www.biztimes.com/expo.

The BizTimes Stock Index managed to eke out a .17-point gain and finish the week at 179.05 Thursday, and the markets were closed today in observance of Good Friday. The largest local gainers Thursday were Joy Global Inc. (up $1.18 to $44.78) and Harley-Davidson Inc. (up 94 cents to $61.56). The largest local decliners Thursday were Rockwell Automation Inc. (down $3.46 to $58.07) and Marcus Corp. (down 53 cents to $23.12). The BizTimes Stock Index was created by Small Business Times and is monitored by North Shore Bank. The index, which measures the stock values of publicly held companies based in southeastern Wisconsin, is updated daily and can be viewed at www.biztimes.com.