Chain Store Age Executive Fax articles from July 2005

Chain Store Age Executive Fax archives from July 2005

New stores, new markets.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... IKEA has opened its first store in the Southeast with a new location in Atlanta, marking the Swedish home-furnishings retailer's 23rd U.S. store.... Tommy Hilfiger Co. is opening the Cincinnati-area's first Tommy Hilfiger store, an outlet, at...

Wal-Mart heir dies in plane crash, world's largest retailer mourns.(John Walton)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... John Walton, one of three sons of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton and a member of the company's board of directors, died Monday in a plane crash in Wyoming. Walton, 58, was killed when the experimental ultralight aircraft he was piloting crashed...

Sears dealers sue over merger with Kmart.
July 1, 2005... Yet another ripple has formed in the wake of the Sears-Kmart merger, this one stems from dissatisfied Sears dealers. A group of more than 200 dealers of Sears products has sued Sears Holdings Corp. The suit alleges that Sears, Roebuck and Co.'s...

Burlington Coat Factory may be for sale.(Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. is exploring "strategic alternatives" to enhance shareholder value. The retailer, whose profit nearly doubled last quarter, has hired Goldman Sachs & Co. as its financial advisor. Although the chain said...

RadioShack Corp.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Claire Babrowski appointed)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... RadioShack Corp. has appointed former McDonald's Corp. executive Claire Babrowski as COO and executive VP. She will be responsible for the electronics retailer's U.S. and Canadian operations.

Federated Department Stores, Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Timothy M. Adams appointed and Eric Salus resigns)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Federated Department Stores, Inc. has appointed Timothy M. Adams as chairman of Macy's Home Store. He succeeds Eric Salus, who resigned. Adams previously served as chairman of Macy's Florida division since April 2001.

OfficeMax Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Ryan Vero appointed)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... OfficeMax Inc. has named Ryan Vero as executive VP and chief merchandising officer to oversee the company's combined merchandising and marketing activities. Vero joined OfficeMax in 1994, and also served as executive VP, e-Commerce/Direct, and...

Albertson's, Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Wayne C. Sales appointed)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Albertson's, Inc. has named Wayne C. Sales to its board of directors. Sales is president and CEO of Canadian Tire Corp., Ltd., and previously held senior leadership roles at Kmart Corp.

Circuit City Stores, Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Steven E. Jackson appointed)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Circuit City Stores, Inc. has appointed Steven E. Jackson as VP, real estate. He was most recently VP, real estate and development for PETsMART, Inc., and served as VP, real estate for Shaw's Supermarket, Inc. prior to that.

Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Tony Corradi appointed)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Tony Corradi recently joined Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. as VP and chief technology officer. Corradi previously served as a technology consultant to the regional retailer.

The Bombay Co.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Bruce A. Quinnell appointed)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Bombay Co. has added Bruce A. Quinnell to its board. He currently serves as the chairman of the board of Hot Topic, Inc. and of Zoom Systems, Inc., and previously held positions at Borders Group, Inc.

Home Depot buys bigger lumber presence.(Williams Bros.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Home Depot plans to add to its arsenal with the acquisition of Suwanee, Ga.-based Williams Bros. Lumber Co. in order to extend its reach into the $400 billion professional-contractor market. The professional-contractor business presently...

A&P unloads distribution operations on C&S.(Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.)(C and S Wholesale Grocers Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) has entered into an agreement to transfer its U.S. distribution operations and some warehouse facilities and related assets to C&S Wholesale Grocers. The transaction is expected to begin in July and be...

Family Dollar overtime suit ends in mistrial.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Tuscaloosa, Ala., judge in a lawsuit filed against Family Dollar by former and current store managers declared a mistrial because the jurors were unable to reach a verdict. The plaintiffs claimed that Family Dollar should classify its store...

This week's retail news nuggets.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Congress has revised a bill that would have required retailers to move products containing pseudoephedrine behind the pharmacy counter. The newly revised bill exempts stores that don't have a pharmacist on duty.... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is...

New stores, new markets.(FamilyMart Company Ltd will open stores in US)(Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc will open in New York)(Bebe Stores, Inc will open boutique in California)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2005... Japanese convenience store operator FamilyMart will open its first U.S. store, called "Famima," in West Hollywood, Calif. It is the first of 200 units that the company plans to open in the United States over the next four years.... Build-A-Bear...

Shopping heats up nicely in June: industry posts 5.3% comps growth.
July 8, 2005... It was the strongest monthly retail performance since May 2004. Chain store sales posted a dramatic 5.3% surge in June, according to the same-store sales tally from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Luxury stores and...

Federated Department Stores named Julie Greiner chairman and CEO of its Macy's Florida division, effective July 31.(chief executive officer)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2005... Federated Department Stores named Julie Greiner chairman and CEO of its Macy's Florida division, effective July 31. The Bloomingdale's executive succeeds Timothy Adams, who recently was named chairman and CEO of Macy's Home Store.

Whitehall Jewellers.(Steven Pully is the new chairman of the board)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2005... Whitehall Jewellers has named Steven Pully as chairman of the board. Pully replaces Daniel Levy, who will remain on the board. Levy had been serving as interim chairman since March, when chairman and CEO Hugh Patinkin died of a heart attack.

OfficeMax president and CEO Sam K. Duncan was elected chairman by the company's board..(Brief Article)
July 8, 2005... OfficeMax president and CEO Sam K. Duncan was elected chairman by the company's board. He replaces the retiring George J. Harad. Duncan joined OfficeMax in April 2005 following his tenure as president and CEO of Shopko Stores.

SuperValu.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2005... SuperValu has announced that Janet Haugarth, who currently leads the company's Northern region as president and oversees its Northwest marketing region, will become a corporate senior VP and president/COO of SuperValu's Distribution Food Cos.

Former ICSC trustee, Marty Sherman, has died at the age of 76.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Obituary)
July 8, 2005... Former ICSC trustee, Marty Sherman, has died at the age of 76. He had held positions at U.S. Shoe Corp., which was later acquired by Luxottica Corp., and was an ICSC trustee from 1979 to 1987....

Lowe's Cos.(William W. Edwards is the new vice president)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2005... Lowe's Cos. has promoted William W. Edwards to senior VP, store operations for the north central division. He replaces Nick Canter, who was recently promoted to executive VP, store operations. Edwards joined Lowe's in 1993.

Walgreen pharmacists strike in Chicagoland.(Brief Article)
July 8, 2005... Walgreen Co. workers in Illinois and Indiana delivered on their threat to strike. Some 1,200 pharmacists at about 400 Walgreen Co. stores in the Chicago area went on strike on Wednesday, amid failed negotiations. In the most recent offer, the...

Amid price war, ASDA downsizes work force.
July 8, 2005... Wal-Mart-owned British supermarket group Asda today plans to cut 200 management jobs and up to 1,200 managerial store positions in a bid to challenge its rival, Tesco PLC. Asda has been engaged in a price war with Britain's No. 1 chain Tesco...

Competitors pounce on Winn-Dixie locations.(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc to be sold)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2005... Bankrupt grocery-store chain Winn-Dixie Stores agreed to sell 79 locations to undisclosed buyers for about $38.7 million. Grocery wholesaler and retailer Supervalu Inc. has placed a $9.5 million bid on 37 of the stores, according to a report...

This week's retail news nuggets.(Proffitt's/McRae's unit sold to Belk Inc )(Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises to close adivision and dicontinue a brand)(Lojas Renner is sold)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2005... Saks, Inc. has completed the sale of its Proffitt's/McRae's unit to Belk Inc. in a transaction valued at $622 million in cash, plus the assumption of about $1 million in capitalized lease obligations and other liabilities.... Saks Fifth Avenue...

New stores, new markets.(Cost-U-Less Inc opens new store in Cayman Islands)(CBL & Associates Properties, Inc opens in Colorado)(Pep Boys-Manny, Moe and Jack reopens in Chicago)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Cost-U-Less Inc. is in the process of opening its first new store in the Cayman Islands in years. The company already received a business license and estimates the store will open 12 to 18 months after the permitting, approval and lease process...

In a $45 million settlement, Footstar stays in Kmart stores.(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Kmart gets $45 million. Footstar, which operates footwear departments in Kmart, gets to keep selling shoes in Kmart stores--a crucial development in the Mahwah, N.J.-based company's effort to emerge from bankruptcy court. The deal ends a...

Walgreen strike simmers in Chicagoland.(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Walgreen pharmacists are entering the second week of a strike affecting some 400 stores in northern Illinois and Indiana. The retailer said the fact that 200 pharmacists have resigned from the National Pharmacists Association and returned to...

Bon-Ton joins crowd, sells credit business.(HSBC Retail Services )(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Bon-Ton Stores became the latest retailer to cash in its credit-card receivables. The York, Pa.-based department store chain sold its proprietary credit-card business to HSBC Retail Services for $316 million. Under the deal, HSBC picks up the...

Linens 'n Things, Inc.(appointments)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Linens 'n Things, Inc. hired Jane Gilmartin as executive VP and chief merchandising officer. She will report directly to president and chief operating officer Jack Moore.

Subway Restaurants' global Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)
July 15, 2005... Chris Carroll, senior VP and director of marketing of Subway Restaurants' global Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust, has resigned. Carroll saw Jared Fogle become Subway's dieting guru and brand icon. He plans to take time off to evaluate his...

Party City Corp.(appointments)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Party City Corp. named Bill Bub VP of sales and store operations. Bub has been with Party City, America's largest party-goods chain, since 1998.

Sears, Roebuck and Co.(Joan Chow promoted to senior vice president)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Sears, Roebuck and Co. announced the promotion of Joan Chow to senior VP and chief marketing officer for Sears Retail. Chow previously served as VP, marketing services.

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.(Tom DiDonato is vice president of human resources)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. has hired Tom DiDonato as executive VP of human resources, effective July 26. He will have responsibilities in many areas, including recruiting, training, and any future additions to American Eagle.

Kmart.(Kmart Holding Corp promotes Peter Whitsett as senior vice president)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Kmart announced the promotion of Peter Whitsett to senior VP and Kmart merchandising officer. Whitsett was previously senior VP/GMM for Kmart.

Avon Products Inc., the direct seller of cosmetics.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Paul S. Pressler joins board of directors)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Avon Products Inc., the direct seller of cosmetics, named Gap Inc. President and CEO Paul S. Pressler to its board of directors.

Best Buy.(Tim McGeehan to replace Brian Dunn as executive vice president at Best Buy Company Inc)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Best Buy promoted Tim McGeehan to executive vice president, retail sales. McGeehan, age 38, will lead the company's U.S. stores. He fills the position vacated when Best Buy promoted Brian Dunn to president, retail-North America last December....

Wal-Mart blows whistle on 'whistle blower'.(case against Jared Bowen )(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... In a complaint against the retailer filed with the Department of Labor, former Wal-Mart executive Jared Bowen is described as a whistle blower who was fired unfairly by a corrupt organization. Wal-Mart fired back today, claiming that Bowen's...

June retail sales lift industry optimism.(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... According to the U.S. Commerce Department, June retail sales increased 1.7% seasonally adjusted from May and increased 10.4% unadjusted year-over-year. "The retailing industry as a whole has rarely, if ever, been in such good shape," said...

Grapes of wrath: Kroger's labeling mistake.(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Kroger says its mislabeling of grapes was an honest mistake. But California regulators said the company's Food 4 Less and Ralphs divisions could face fines of up to $3,000 for each bag of fruit sold with false advertising. In two weeks in late...

This week's retail news nuggets.(May Department Stores to be taken over by Federated Department Stores )(Build-A-Bear Workshop opens new store in Manhattan)(Jones Apparel Group to close facility)(Brief Article)
July 15, 2005... Shareholders approved the $11 billion takeover of May Department Stores by Federated Department Stores at their annual meetings.... Build-A-Bear Workshop today opened the company's biggest store yet at Fifth Avenue and 46th Street in...

New stores, new markets.(Bed, Bath and Beyond Inc. to open a shopping center)(Dippin' Dots Inc. opens a new store)(Stater Brothers Holdings Inc. to open a new full service supermarket)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... Bed Bath & Beyond will open a 32,500-sq.-ft. store in November at Randhurst Shopping Center in Mount Prospect, Ill. The store will take the place of Circuit City.... Dippin' Dots Franchising, Inc. opened a new store in Rogue Valley Mall in...

Mixed back-to-school forecasts offer Murky view of late summer.(National Retail Federation)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported that consumer back-to-school spending will decrease this year. It found that families with school-aged children will spend an average of $443.77 on back-to-school items, 8.2% lower than last year....

Six chains sue visa over interchange fees.
July 22, 2005... Charging that Visa unlawfully fixed credit-card interchange fees and restricted competition, The Kroger Co. filed a federal lawsuit against Visa USA and Visa International Service Association. Joining Kroger in the suit are Walgreen Co.,...

Wal-Mart stores unveils green concept.(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... Wal-Mart Stores has opened an experimental supercenter in McKinney, Texas. The new prototype will serve as a proving ground for new "green" design and energy-management techniques. The supercenter will carry Wal-Mart's complete range of...

Hewlett-Packard.(Randy Mott appointed)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... Technology giant Hewlett-Packard hired former Wal-Mart CIO Randy Mott away from his most recent employer, Dell, where he worked for the past five years. Mott will serve as HP's new CIO.

Target Corp.(Paul Singer retires)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... Target Corp. senior VP and CIO Paul Singer will retire effective Aug. 26. Singer was awarded the Career Achievement Award by Retail Systems Alert Group during the recent Retail Systems 2005 Conference.

J. Jill Group Inc.(Mark Campton appointed)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... The J. Jill Group Inc. appointed Mark Campton VP of visual merchandising. He joins the merchant from Saks Department Store Group's Parisian division, where he filled a similar role.

Payless ShoeSource.(Matthew Rubel, Howard Fricke elected)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... Payless ShoeSource elected Matthew Rubel to CEO and president and Howard Fricke to chairman. Previously, the titles of chairman and CEO belonged to Steven Douglass, who resigned.

The Bombay Co.(Justin W. Lewis appointed)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... The Bombay Co. announced the appointment of Justin W. Lewis as senior VP, chief marketing officer, effective Aug. 15. Lewis previously was VP of marketing for Circuit City.

Food Lion.(promotions at Food Lion L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... Food Lion is shuffling seven VPs as part of its ongoing associate-development initiative. Scott Harrison, Geoff Waldau, John Mercer, Mark Messier, Ty Burns, Gaelo de la Fuente and Bob Stapleton will be switching vice presidential positions.

Modell's Sporting Goods.(Jon Friedman appointed)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... Jon Friedman is now senior VP, CFO and treasurer of Modell's Sporting Goods. Friedman was previously with Toys "R" Us overseeing financial functions.

Safeway.(Hank Cominiello appointed)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... Safeway named Hank Cominiello president of the company's Eastern Division.

A&P sells Canadian division to Metro Inc.(Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) agreed to sell its Canadian business to Canadian supermarket chain Metro. The $1.48 billion deal will almost double the size of Metro Inc., which will become a 579-store chain. As part of the deal, A&P...

Home Depot buys National Waterworks.(National Waterworks Holdings Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... The Home Depot agreed to buy water-systems supplier National Waterworks Holdings Inc., following up its recent purchase of USABluebook, a catalog distributor to the water industry. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Reuters reported that a...

Shopper activity in London bounces back.(London Terrorist Bombings, 2005)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2005... According to figures from SPSL's retail Traffic Index, shopper numbers inside London's congestion zone in the days following the July 7 bombings have shown Londoners to be surprisingly resilient. The Milton Keynes, U.K.-based firm expected the...

This week's retail news nuggets.
July 22, 2005... Toys "R" Us Inc. has completed its previously announced $6.6 billion sale to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Bain Capital Inc. and Vornado Realty Trust.... Wal-Mart Stores has applied to establish a Utah industrial bank that would allow the...

New stores, new markets.
July 29, 2005... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will open 42 stores in China by the end of 2006. The new stores will nearly double the number of Wal-Mart stores currently operational in China, from 48 stores to 90.... IKEA is opening two new stores this fall. One will...

Macy's banner to fly over May Co.; federated to sell 68 locations.(May Department Stores Co.)(Brief Article)
July 29, 2005... The Macy's banner will fly over most of the May Department Store fleet in fall 2006, after Federated's acquisition of St. Louis-based May. But the Lord & Taylor nameplate will live on. Cincinnati-based Federated said it hasn't decided what to...

Wal-Mart tops list of 'sticky' retailers.(Brief Article)
July 29, 2005... Wal-Mart tops the list of the stickiest retailers according to Retail Forward's ShopperScape Scorecard. "Being a sticky retailer is a good thing. It means that one's patrons shop more often," Mandy Putnam, VP of Retail Forward and author of...

Walgreen pharmacists return to work.(Brief Article)
July 29, 2005... Chicago-area Walgreen Co. staff pharmacists voted Monday night to return to work following a work stoppage that began on July 6. Walgreens was given the news by the National Pharmacists Association, which acts as a bargaining agent for staff...

Wild Oats Markets.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Dan Bolstad appointed)(Brief Article)
July 29, 2005... Wild Oats Markets named Dan Bolstad senior VP of operations. He succeeds Edward Sunlap, who resigned.

Ultimate Electronics.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Richard Hettlinger, Michelle VanHoose and David Smith appointed)
July 29, 2005... Consumer-electronics retailer Ultimate Electronics announced three new hires: Richard Hettlinger, senior VP and CFO; Michelle VanHoose, senior VP, human resources; and David Smith, VP of marketing.

Borders Group Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Donald G. Campbell, Brian T. Light and Michael Weiss appointed)
July 29, 2005... Borders Group Inc. elected three new members to its board of directors, effective Aug. 1: Donald G. Campbell, senior executive VP and chief administrative and business development officer of The TJX Cos.; Brian T. Light, executive VP of...

Family Dollar Stores Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Robert George appointed)
July 29, 2005... Family Dollar Stores Inc. hired Robert George, former senior VP and general merchandise manager of Staples Inc., as executive VP and chief merchandising officer.

Marsh Supermarkets.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(John C. Elbin appointed and Douglas Dougherty retires)(Brief Article)
July 29, 2005... Marsh Supermarkets named John C. Elbin chief financial officer. He replaces Douglas Dougherty, who retired earlier this year.

Federated Department Stores.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Michael Osborn appointetd)(Brief Article)
July 29, 2005... Federated Department Stores appointed Michael Osborn president of its Macy's Home Store division, effective Aug. 8.

Food Lion.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Derrick Penick appointed and Cathy Green retires)(Brief Article)
July 29, 2005... Food Lion hired Derrick Penick, former merchandiser for Kroger, as senior VP of fresh merchandising and distribution. He replaces Cathy Green, who is now senior VP of retail operations.

Tweeter Home Entertainment Group Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Joe McGuire appointed)(Brief Article)
July 29, 2005... Consumer-electronics retailer Tweeter Home Entertainment Group Inc. named Joe McGuire president and CEO. McGuire has been serving as interim CEO since March 15.

Small retailers compete with the big boys.(DollarDays International)(Brief Article)
July 29, 2005... DollarDays International conducted a survey and found that unique items, personalized customer service and competitive pricing are what small retailers believe to be their best competitive strategies against big-box chain stores such as...

Tractor supply grows by acquisition, again.(Brief Article)
July 29, 2005... Retail farm and ranch store chain Tractor Supply Co. signed a letter of intent to purchase privately held Del's Farm Supply of Lakewood, Wash. Del's operates 17 stores primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Del's 2004 sales were approximately $34...

Buck stops there: Wal-Mart Japan CEO quits.
July 29, 2005... The CEO of struggling Japanese supermarket Seiyu, a Wal-Mart affiliate, resigned last week after the chain posted its fourth straight loss this year. Masao Kiuchi told reporters that he was stepping down to take responsibility for the poor...

This week's retail news nuggets.
July 29, 2005... Wal-Mart Stores filed a suit seeking to void former vice chairman Tom Couhlin's multimillion-dollar retirement package. Coughlin resigned in March amid allegations of misuse of corporate funds, a charge he denies.... Tops Markets will exit...