Consumer Affairs & Relations

New York -- Tiffany & Co. has announced plans to open a two-level store in Moscow’s GUM luxury department store, located in Red Square. At about 4,520 sq. ft., the new store is Tiffany’s first wholly owned retail business in Russia, and is expected to open in the first quarter of 2014.

“Establishing a presence at this preeminent department store is a milestone in our growth strategy as a leading global luxury brand and underscores the importance of the Russian market,” said Frederic Cumenal, executive VP Tiffany & Co.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is putting its money where its mouth is and not only making changes across produce sourcing, training and operations to offer customers fresher produce, but also rolling out a 100% money-back guarantee. 

According to the company, customers who are not completely satisfied with its produce can bring back their receipt for a full refund, no questions asked and no need to bring back the produce.

ST. LOUIS — Build-A-Bear Workshop’s board of directors has appointed Sharon Price John as CEO and chief president bear. She replaces Maxine Clark, who announced earlier this year her plans to retire from her chief executive bear position. 

Clark will remain a member of the board. 

Starbucks Coffee Company is extending its indoor no-smoking policy to the outdoors. The company will prohibit anyone up to 25 feet from a Starbucks store from smoking, effective June 1, where permitted by its leases. 

The new rule will apply to the 7,000 shops owned and operated by Starbucks Corp., regardless of whether they have outdoor seating areas. 

New York -- Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. is on a roll. The white-hot luxury fashion and accessories company plans to open up to 50 stores in North America in its current fiscal year, plus additional units in Europe and the Far East. Michael Kors currently has 44 stores in Europe, with another 40 planned for its new fiscal year. 

SPARKS, Md. — McCormick & Company, a global manufacturer, marketer and distributor of spices, seasoning mixes and condiments, has acquired Wuhan Asia-Pacific Condiments Co. WAPC manufactures and markets the DaQiao and ChuShiLe brand of bouillon products, which have a leading position in the central region of China. 

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Seventh Generation, a leading green brand which has championed sustainability for 25 years, has acquired New York-based Bobble, a leading brand in the reusable, self-filtering water bottle category. 

New York -- Consumer sentiment for the week ended May 27 maintained a near five-year high level, according to the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index on Thursday.

Crediting an improving economy and healing personal finances, Americans are expressing continued optimism, as the Index was at minus 29.7 in the period compared with minus 29.4 a week earlier. The margin of error for the figure is 3 percentage points.

According to Bloomberg, views on the current state of the economy matched a mid-April reading as the strongest since January 2008.

Memphis -- Fred's Inc. said Thursday that profit for the quarter ended May 4 rose 9% to $11.4 million, from $10.5 million last year. Results topped Wall Street forecasts.

Revenue edged up to $501.5 million from $500.5 million, beating analysts’ estimated $499.5 million in revenue. Same-store sales dipped 1.3%.

ATLANTA — The Home Depot announced a single-day effort to prepare residents in storm-prone regions for the upcoming hurricane season. On July 27, Home Depot said it will host Hurricane Preparedness Workshops at more than 700 of its stores from the Gulf Coast to New England.

The expansion of the workshops is one of several preemptive measures the company is taking in preparation for 2013 hurricane activity, which is once again predicted to be above average.