Consumer Affairs & Relations

Dallas – Zale Corp. reported net earnings of $9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, an impressive 80% jump from $5 million a year earlier. This soaring growth came even as revenues slipped 3% to $431 million, from $443 million.

A lower cost of sales and higher pretax earnings and operating earnings helped boost Zale’s net earnings. Zale cited the net decrease of 78 stores compared to the prior year and a decline in the Canadian exchange rate, partially offset by same-store sales growth of 1.9%, as driving down revenues.

Sprouts Farmers Market has appointed Nancy LaMons as chief human resources officer.

LaMons was most recently as chief people officer at the Fiesta Restaurant Group. Previously, LaMons held senior positions at J.C. Penney and PepsiCo. LaMons has a bachelor’s degree in finance, an MBA with an emphasis on human resources, labor and industrial relations, and an Ed.M. with an emphasis in organization and leadership development.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. cut the compensation of former CEO Gregg Steinhafel to $13 million in fiscal 2013 from $20.6 million in fiscal 2012. According to a regulatory filing, Target decided to reduce Steinhafel’s total compensation after holding meetings and calls with shareholders owning 40% of total company shares and two proxy advisory firms.

Robert Price, former SVP and CMO for CVS, has been named president of Edible Arrangements International.

The operator of more than 1,100 stores worldwide is looking to Price to help significantly grow the brand's global presence.

Woonsocket, R.I. – CVS Caremark has introduced a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy called “Prescription for a Better World” as part of its 2013 CSR report. Prescription for a Better World includes goals such as access to affordable health care; the environmental impacts of its operations, including those contributing to climate change; product stewardship; patient safety; employee engagement and workplace inclusion; and the safe disposal of prescription drugs.

Minneapolis – The vast majority of Target customers intend to continue spending the same amount of money or more there in the next year as they did before the December 2013 data breach. According to a new Bloomberg National Poll of 1,020 Target customers, 85% of respondents will spend the same amount of money, 7% will spend more and 7% will spend less, with 1% having no opinion.

New York -- Costco Wholesale Corp. has opened its first store in continental Europe, a 140,000-sq.-ft. location in Seville, Spain.

Costco will follow it up with a store in Madrid, according to media reports.

More than 1,200 leaders from the toy and baby products industries gathered at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York to celebrate the 2014 Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund Gala.