Consumer Affairs & Relations

As part of its new ad match campaign, Family Dollar plans to match the price on any local competitors' printed advertisement starting tomorrow.

HoneyBaked is wasting no time in preparing for the holiday season by adding more than 10,000 part-time employees to its current workforce — a 600% total increase in its workforce across 400 stores nationwide.

Lakewood, Colo. -- Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, whose banners include Einstein Bros., Bagels, Noah's New York Bagels, and Manhattan Bagel brands, has agreed to be acquired by JAB Holding Company for approximately $374 million.

The agreement, unanimously approved by Einstein Noah Restaurant Group’s directors, represents a premium of approximately 47% over Einstein Noah’s 30-day average trading price.

New Albany, Ohio – A federal judge has reportedly rejected an Aug. 29 settlement of a lawsuit over the pay received by co-CEO Michael Jeffries. According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge James Graham in Columbus, Ohio, said shareholders belonging to the City of Plantation, Florida Police Officers' Employees' Retirement System, who challenged the $140 million in pay and additional travel expenses Jeffries has received since 2007, give up too much in the settlement.

Coty CEO Michele Scannavini has stepped down from his role at the company for personal reasons and resigned from Coty's board.

Coty's chairman, Bart Becht, will become interim CEO, working with Coty's executive committee to ensure a smooth transition and oversee major decisions at the company. The company plans to immediately begin its search for Scannavini's permanent successor. Becht will remain as chairman of the company once a permanent successor has been appointed.

Dallas – The Container Store has hired Pete Lodwick as VP and general counsel. Lodwick will lead both internal and external teams responsible for legal strategy, regulatory affairs, and corporate compliance.

Prior to joining The Container Store, Lodwick practiced for 34 years at the Dallas-based law firm Thompson & Knight in the corporate and securities department.

Coach has announced that executive chairman Lew Frankfort plans to retire upon his term’s expiration. He will not stand for re-election to the board at the company’s annual meeting of stockholders in November.

The company intends to bestow upon him the honorary title of chairman emeritus at that time.

Curbing the rising cost of utilities can improve the bottom line

For multi-site retail companies, energy efficiency makes business sense. It allows retailers to reduce cost and risk, and create good will with investors, employees, customers and the government. Ultimately, it also helps improve the bottom line.

When it comes to energy management, reducing operating cost should be the focus where the cost of energy is a sizeable part of operating the business.