Consumer Affairs & Relations

Ahold CEO Dick Boer cited competitive pressures in New England as a contributing factor in the company’s flat U.S. sales in the first quarter, but it’s not stopping the company from targeting online expansion.  

Ahold's U.S. operations posted first-quarter net sales of $8 billion, down 0.3%. Excluding fuel sales, overall sales were flat relative to the same period last year. Identical sales growth excluding gas was 0.1%, which included the positive impact this year of the post-Easter week falling into the second quarter.

Brussels, Belgium - Dirk Van den Berghe has decided to resign from his role as CEO of Delhaize Belgium and Luxembourg effective July 31. Delhaize Group is announcing that Van den Berghe has decided to resign and accept a new role outside the company.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has reportedly been given a May 30 deadline to settle a labor dispute in the Chinese city of Changde. According to the Wall Street Journal, Changde officials want Wal-Mart to reach an out-of-court settlement with workers at a store there which is scheduled to close.

For the second year in a row, Sears' brand of Kenmore appliances will fuel competitive juices in Las Vegas when 400 cooks gather later this year for the World Food Championships.

Philadelphia – The board of directors of Urban Outfitters Inc. has authorized the repurchase of 10 million common shares under a share repurchase program. Pursuant to this program, the company, at its discretion, may repurchase its common shares from time to time, subject to market conditions and at prevailing market prices.

Urban Outfitters has repurchased all of the shares available under its previous share repurchase programs, including the 10 million common shares authorized by the board of directors in August 2013.

Welch's has appointed Tom Dixon as chief marketing officer. Most recently, Dixon was VP and GM for the Schwan Food Company’s frozen pizza division.

“As a family-farmer owned business, Welch’s has been delivering the goodness of the grape to adults and children alike for generations,” said Dixon. “I’m excited to become part of this iconic brand with such a rich heritage and a portfolio of family favorites. I’m looking forward to continuing Welch’s tradition of bringing consumers nutritious and delicious products.”

Just four months after launching a major ad campaign, Staples named Frank Bifulco to the role of EVP of marketing where he will drive the brand’s ongoing repositioning.

The Lovely Candy Company has expanded its gluten- and GMO-free line with a gluten-free licorice, which it touts as the first gluten-free extruded licorice product in North America.

Branded as Lovely Licorice, the product is marketed to consumers with food sensitivities such as celiac disease. The gluten-free licorice is the brainchild of company founder Mike Nakamura, whose wife has not been able to have licorice because of her gluten-free dietary restraints. Nakamura founded the company in 2013 as a result of her request for licorice she could eat.