Chain Store Age Executive Fax articles from September 2005

Chain Store Age Executive Fax archives from September 2005

New stores, new markets.(Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Corp., Walgreens Co., Chico's FAS Inc. new store plans)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World will open its first California location in 2007. The retailer will debut in Victoria Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga, with a 180,000-sq.-ft. store. Construction is set to begin in six months.... Walgreens will develop a...

High gas prices hurt August sales, no relief seen for labor day.
September 2, 2005... Retailers posted solid August sales growth of 3.7%, but it still fell short of the 4% growth originally predicted, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). The findings are based on the ICSC's preliminary tally of 66...

Nash Finch Co.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Ron Marshall resigned)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Nash Finch Co. CEO Ron Marshall will resign from the food wholesaler in March 2006.

FAO Schwarz hired Ed Schmults as CEO.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... FAO Schwarz hired Ed Schmults as CEO. He joins the toy retailer from e-retailer RedEnvelope Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores named Stephen F. Quinn as senior VP, marketing, effective Sept. 12.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Wal-Mart Stores named Stephen F. Quinn as senior VP, marketing, effective Sept. 12. Quinn is chief marketing officer for Frito-Lay, North America.

Ann Taylor Stores Corp. named Laura A. Weil as COO.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Ann Taylor Stores Corp. named Laura A. Weil as COO. Weil comes to Ann Taylor from American Eagle Outfitters, where she has served as CFO and executive VP since 1995.

Office Depot.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Charles E. Brown and Patricia A. McKay promoted)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Patricia A McKay, who has served on the board of Office Depot since May 2004, has been named CFO. McKay, who resigned her board position with the appointment, replaces Charles E. Brown, who was named Office Depot president, international, in...

The Dress Barn.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Gene L. Wexler appointed)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... The Dress Barn appointed Gene L. Wexler as senior VP and general counsel, effective immediately.

Big Lots.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Lisa Bachmann appointed)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Big Lots has appointed Lisa Bachmann as senior VP of information technology/merchandise planning and allocation. Bachmann joined the closeout retailer in 2002 as senior VP of merchandise planning and allocation.

Wild Oats Markets.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Daniel Bolstad fired)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Wild Oats Markets fired its newly appointed senior VP of operations Daniel Bolstad for an undisclosed cause.

Jones Apparel Group.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Clare Cuthbert appointed)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Jones Apparel Group appointed Clare Cuthbert as president of the company's accessories division.

The Macerich Co.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Anthony Lauro promoted)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... The Macerich Co. has promoted Anthony Lauro to assistant VP, security, for the company's Eastern Property Group.

Seven-Eleven Japan bids for rest of U.S. unit.
September 2, 2005... Seven-Eleven Japan Co. said it will launch a $1.2 billion cash tender offer for the 27.3% stake that it doesn't already own of U.S. affiliate 7-Eleven Inc. Seven-Eleven Japan, which is Japan's largest convenience store operator with more than...

Federated completes merger with May.
September 2, 2005... Federated Department Stores announced it has completed its merger with The May Department Stores Co., forming a company with more than 1,000 stores and $30 billion in annual sales. Federated said it will operate all of May's stores under their...

Haggar acquired by equity buyout group.(Infinity Associates LLC acquires Haggar Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Clothier Haggar Corp. was purchased for $212 million by a consortium led by buyout-specialist Infinity Associates LLC. Also participating in the transaction were Perseus LLC and Hong Kong-based manufacturer Symphony Holdings Inc. The purchase...

This week's retail news nuggets.(Saks Inc. for sale, Lowe's Companies Inc. expansion plans, Zale Corp. plans to close stores)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... If rumors of Saks, Inc.'s coming sale are true, the upscale retailer may be sold in pieces rather a single deal, published reports say. Blackstone and Jones Apparel are reportedly interested only in the Saks Fifth Avenue chain, while Bon-Ton...

New stores, new markets.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... The Vitamin Shoppe will open a new store in Columbia, S.C. this month. It is the vitamin chain's second store in the Columbia market.... The grand opening of Cabela's new Lehi, Utah store is slated for this month. The event, which celebrates...

Retailers react to devastation: emergency aid plus conservation.
September 9, 2005... Hurricane Katrina and and the devastation of the southern United States triggered an outpouring of relief efforts from retailers. Many chains, even some with no stores in the south, are providing supplies, services, donations (or all three) to...

Albertson's steps up to the sales block.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... One of the big three supermarkets is looking to make a big move. Spurred by lagging sales, Boise, Idaho-based Albertson's is considering putting itself up for sale. According to Albertson's, other "strategic alternatives" may be considered, as...

Nash Finch.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Nash Finch CEO Ron Marshall will resign as of March 2, 2006. He will continue as CEO and as a director of the company until that date and will assist in the search for his successor.

Tractor Supply Co.(Tractor Supply Co. (Nashville, Tennessee) appointed Anthony Crudele, Cal Massmann retired)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Tractor Supply Co. hired Anthony Crudele as its new CFO. He will succeed Cal Massmann, who plans to retire. Crudele was most recently with The Sports Authority, where he served as CFO.

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P).(Brenda Galgano, John Metzger and Eric Claus appointed)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) named John Metzger to the new position of executive VP. Brenda Galgano will become senior VP and CFO. The moves follow the appointment of Eric Claus as president and CEO in late July. Claus was...

Among the new directors of Shop.org are Frank Han, executive VP and general manager, HSN.com.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Among the new directors of Shop.org are Frank Han, executive VP and general manager, HSN.com; and Scott A. Key, VP, relationship marketing and business development, Gap Inc.

WM Morrison.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Paul Manduca)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... WM Morrison has appointed Paul Manduca, the former head of Deutsche Asset Management's European division, as a non-executive director. Manduca was previously chief executive of Rothschild Asset Management.

Ingles Markets.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Gordon S. Myers)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Gordon S. Myers will retire from Ingles Markets effective Sept. 24. He was VP of real estate. Myers has been employed by Ingles since 1993.

Jones Apparel Group.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Efthimios Sotos)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Jones Apparel Group announced that Efthimios Sotos has been appointed to the position of executive VP, treasurer, strategic and financial planning. He will continue to lead the treasury function. The company also appointed Deborah Gargiulo to...

Executive shuffle at Sears Holdings Corp.(Edward Lampert)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Edward Lampert is rolling up his sleeves. As part of a major executive shakeup, the hedge-fund wizard and chairman of Sears Holdings Corp. will be taking a more hands-on role at the retailer. Lampert will direct the marketing, merchandising and...

Downsized: Mervyn's to close 62 stores.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Mervyn's plans to close 62 underperforming stores and lay off 4,800 workers as its streamlines operations and focuses its efforts on high-growth markets in the West and Southwest. The closings will leave the Hayward, Calif.-based company with...

Supervalu to sell 20 Pittsburgh Shop 'n Saves.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Competition in Pittsburgh has compelled SuperValu to take action. The Minneapolis-based company plans to sell its 20 corporate-owned Shop 'n Save stores in Pittsburgh. The company cited increased competition combined with rising gas prices as...

This week's retail news nuggets.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... OfficeMax plans to open an 180,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Edwardsville, Kan., in November. The new center is replacing an older one in Kansas Center.... Opening statements were read in the trial pitting Toys "R" Us against Amazon.com....

New stores, new markets.(Maurices Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Maurices is opening a new young men's and women's fashion store in Shelbyville, Ind., one of 65 stores nationwide the retailer plans to open this year.... Arlington Gateway in Arlington, Va., will be home to a new P.F. Chang's China Bistro....

TJX deals with executive shakeup; CEO Ted English resigns suddenly.
September 16, 2005... No one was more surprised than chairman Bernard Cammarata, he says, when TJX veteran Edmond (Ted) English abruptly resigned his post as president and CEO, citing the need for a "fresh perspective at the top" as his reason for the immediate...

Linens 'n Things looks for a buyer.(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... The latest in a line of stores to consider a sale, home furnishings retailer Linens 'n Things, Clifton, N.J., has hired Credit Suisse First Boston to explore strategic options and is, according to reports, considering a sale. According to a...

Giant Food denies store closing reports.
September 16, 2005... Contrary to recent reports, Landover, Md.-based Giant Food says it has no plans to shutter or rename stores. Rather, according to president and CEO Marc Smith, the chain will renovate 18 Giant Food stores over the next two years, causing...

Jo-Ann Stores.(Brian P. Carney and Valerie Gentile Sachs resigned from Jo-Ann Store)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Jo-Ann Stores announced the resignation of two key finance executives effective at the end of the month: Brian P. Carney, executive VP and CFO; and Valerie Gentile Sachs, executive VP, general counsel and secretary. The retailer said the two...

SmartBargains.(SmartBargains appointed Benjamin Fischman)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Off-price e-retailer SmartBargains named Benjamin Fischman as president and CEO. Fischman previously headed the company's marketing and sales efforts. Prior to joining SmartBargains, he founded Lids Inc., a specialty headwear retailer.

BJ's Wholesale Club.(BJ's Wholesale Club appointed Richard Wilson)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... BJ's Wholesale Club named Richard Wilson senior VP of general merchandise. He will be responsible for general merchandise category mix including domestics, electronics, giftware, seasonal merchandise, furniture, books, toys and sporting goods....

Wal-Mart Stores.(Wal-Mart Stores appointed David Wild)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Wal-Mart Stores named David Wild as the fifth CEO in eight years for its German operations. Wild, 50, who joined Wal-Mart in 2004, will head the 88 stores that Wal-Mart operates in Germany, where a consumer-spending crunch in recent years has...

Lawsuit looms over factory conditions.
September 16, 2005... Wal-Mart Stores is accused of failing to monitor labor conditions at overseas factories that allegedly maintained sweatshop conditions. The suit seeks class-action status and claims that Southern California grocery workers were harmed because...

Office Depot outlines plans for downsizing.
September 16, 2005... Delray Beach, Fla.-based Office Depot announced it is closing 16 stores in North America and 11 stores and a warehouse abroad as part of a larger restructuring that will cost $82.2 million. The chain also is eliminating its Viking brand in the...

Sports Authority names Campisi as president.(David Campisi )(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Englewood, Col.-based sporting goods retailer The Sports Authority promoted David Campisi to president of the company. Campisi, who joined the chain in November 2004 as president of merchandising, will continue to oversee merchandising,...

This week's retail news nuggets.(Walgreen Co. and Senior Healthcare Partners )(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Walgreen Co. is joint-venturing with pharmaceutical services firm Senior Healthcare Partners to provide prescription services to assisted-living and other senior communities. Under the agreement, the two will form a new business called...

New stores, new markets.(Cingular Interactive L.P. and Starbucks Corp. open new stores at Michigan)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Starbucks and Cingular negotiated leases to open new stores in the Westford Valley Marketplace in Westford, Mass. Starbucks will occupy 1,500 sq. ft. while Cingular's new home will be 1,100 sq. ft.... Cato is slated to open new stores in...

NRF sees 5% holiday sales growth despite high price of gasoline.(National Retail Federation)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... The National Retail Federation (NRF) projected retail sales growth of 5% for the upcoming holiday season, as compared with 6.7% growth last holiday season, one of the strongest in recent years. A 5% increase in sales from last year would bring...

So long Marshall Field's, hello Macy's.(Federated Department Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Marshall Field's is out and Macy's is in. Federated Department Stores, which acquired Marshall Field's in August along with its parent company May Department Stores, said it will roll out the Macy's nameplate to all 62 Marshall Field's stores....

Starbucks ceo sees health-care crisis.(Howard Schultz )
September 23, 2005... Starbucks expects to spend more than $200 million this year for health care for its 80,000 U.S. employees, more than the total amount it spends on the raw materials, or green coffee, that it buys from Africa, Indonesia and other countries. The...

The Container Store named Sharon Ellis as its CFO.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... The Container Store named Sharon Ellis as its CFO. She has more than 15 years of financial and banking experience, most recently as senior VP of commercial banking at JPMorgan Chase. Additionally, the retailer named three new VPs: Mona Williams...

Bluefly, Inc., a leading on-line retailer of apparel and accessories, appointed Brad Matson as chief marketing officer.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)
September 23, 2005... Bluefly, Inc., a leading on-line retailer of apparel and accessories, appointed Brad Matson as chief marketing officer. Matson joins Bluefly from Spiegel Catalog, where he served as senior VP of advertising and brand communications.

Safeway Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(appointment of James D. White)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Safeway Inc. appointed James D. White, 44, to the position of senior VP, corporate brands. He joins Safeway from Gillette Co., where he spent three years as senior VP of business development, North America.

Design Within Reach Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(Wayne Badovinus )(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Furniture retailer Design Within Reach Inc. said chief executive Wayne Badovinus has stepped down from his position due to personal reasons, but will remain chairman. Badovinus will replace current chairman John Hansen, who will remain on the...

Provide Commerce Inc.(PEOPLE IN THE NEWS)(appointment of Eric Carlborg)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Provide Commerce Inc., an Internet retailer of flowers and gourmet foods, has appointed Eric Carlborg as CFO. He joins the company from Merrill Lynch.

7-Eleven rebuffs Japanese buyout offer.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... 7-Eleven, the world's largest convenience store chain, rejected as "inadequate" a tender offer from Seven-Eleven Japan for the 27% of 7-Eleven it doesn't already own. The Japanese bid of $1.2 billion, $32.50 per share was deemed too low, and...

Wal-mart grows abroad, but faces suit at home.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Wal-Mart Stores made its first investment in Central America with the purchase of a 33.3% stake in Central American Retail Holding Co. (CARHCO), from Dutch retailer Royal Ahold NV. CARHCO is the largest retailer in Central America, with stores...

Tesco denies Albertson's purchase rumors.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Tesco CEO Terry Leahy discredited rumors that the U.K. supermarket chain is in the hunt to buy U.S. grocery heavyweight Albertson's. The rumors centered around a Reuters report that Tesco sent representatives to the U.S. to consider a bid for...

This week's retail news Nuggets.(Target Corp., Wegmans Food Markets Inc. and Whole Foods Market Inc. open new facilities)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Target Corp. has begun building a 2 million-sq.-ft. import warehouse in Savannah, Ga. The facility is scheduled for completion in summer 2007.... Wegmans will enter Maryland with a new 140,000-sq.-ft. location to open in Hunt Valley on Oct. 2....

New stores, new markets.(Cabela's Inc., Gymboree Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. open new facilities)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Gymboree opened its first outlet store in Jeffersonville, Ohio, at Prime Outlets, the state's largest outlet center.... The first Wal-Mart Supercenter in the greater San Francisco Bay Area opened in Gilroy, Calif., in the Pacheco Pass Shopping...

Retailers re-surface from Rita, but consumer confidence shaken.(Hurricane Rita)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Dealing with scattered blackouts and some late deliveries, retailers in the wake of Hurricane Rita came back to life early this week. The majority of retailers have restocked their shelves and are serving customers filled with pent up demand...

Cost cutting at Sears hits health plan.(Sears, Roebuck and Co.)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... "Like most companies, Sears is struggling with the spiraling cost of health care," said the Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based retail giant. Unlike most retail companies, medical costs for retirees accounted for about 17% of operating income last...

Stolen profits: survey adds up the damage.(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... One in every 27.8 employees was apprehended for theft from their employer, according to the 17th Annual Retail Theft Survey, conducted by Jack Hayes International. As bad as that sounds, the truth is worse. "That number is just the ones who are...

Sears Holdings Corp.(promoted Julie Younglove-Webb to senior vice president)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Sears Holdings Corp. promoted Julie Younglove-Webb, 35, to senior VP and general manager, Sears Essentials and Sears Grand, effective immediately. In her new role, Younglove-Webb oversees all new-store development, store operations and...

Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp.(appointed Alan G. Silverglat to its board of directors)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. added Alan G. Silverglat to its board of directors. Silverglat will also join the audit committee.

PETsMART.(appointed Joseph S. Hardin Jr. to its board of directors)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... PETsMART named Joseph S. Hardin Jr., the retired president and CEO of Kinko's, to its board of directors, bringing its membership to 12. Prior to his leadership position at Kinko's, Hardin served in several executive positions at Wal-Mart over...

BJ's Wholesale Club.(promoted Alison Gregg Corcoran to executive vice president)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Natick, Mass.-based BJ's Wholesale Club promoted Alison Gregg Corcoran to executive VP of member insight and marketing, a newly created position. She will assume responsibility for all of BJ's marketing operations including membership...

Safeway.(president, Lyle Waterman retired)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway's Lyle Waterman, president of the company's Portland Division, is retiring after 46 years. He will leave his division post on Oct. 9, but remain with the company on special assignment through the end of the...

A new front in the battle over interchange.(Visa U.S.A. Inc., MasterCard International Inc. and BankAmerica Corp. sued for setting interchange fees for credit cards)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... In the past several months, more than 30 legal actions have been mounted as reaction to high interchange fees. Here's the latest: Four major retail associations filed an antitrust, class-action lawsuit accusing Visa USA, MasterCard and a number...

Retail forecasts point to strong holidays.(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Retail Forward's fourth-quarter retail sales growth projection is 5.0% to 5.5%. The Columbus, Ohio-based consulting firm predicted that the key retail sectors known as GAFO (general merchandise, such as department stores, warehouse clubs,...

Party city agrees to $360 million sale.(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... In an effort to be the life of the retail party industry, a pair of investment firms have signed a deal to acquire 500-store Party City. Party City's board of directors unanimously approved a $360 million sale of the company to Berkshire...

This week's retail news nuggets.(Kohl's Department Stores Inc. opens new stores in Florida)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. shows interest to buy Tommy Hilfiger Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Kohl's Department Stores will make its first appearance in Florida on Oct. 6 as it simultaneously opens 10 locations statewide.... Leaders from unions that broke away from the AFL-CIO pledged Tuesday to organize Wal-Mart Stores workers and...