Consumer Affairs & Relations

Brand Keys, a customer engagement and research consultancy, has identified the 25 brands consumers regard as the most patriotic.

Topping the list were Jeep, Hershey and Coca-Cola with Walmart the only retail brand to make the list at number 15.

MONROE, Mich. — La-Z-Boy has nominated Michael T. Lawton to serve a one-year term on the company's board of directors. La-Z-Boy shareholders will get to vote at the annual meeting, Aug. 21.

Williamsville, N.Y. -- Tops Friendly Markets has officially unveiled 12 former Grand Union stores in eastern and northern New York under the Tops banner at grand re-opening ceremonies.

The new Tops branded stores include stores in Saratoga, Warrensburg, Warren, Franklin, Essex, Clinton and Fulton counties.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Leading home furnishings retailer Ikea has extended its partnership with ECOtality, a clean electric transportation and storage technologies company, and plans to add 24 Blink electric vehicle charging stations across eight more locations in the United States.

Brooklyn, Ohio – The Weiss family, which founded the public American Greetings greeting card company is now looking to take it private. As reported by Reuters, the Weiss family is raising an existing buyout offer of $18.20 per share to $19 per share.

The increased offer was contained in a regulatory filing made July 1.
 

DEARBORN, Mich. — Workwear brand Carhartt is collaborating with vehicle seat cover protection manufacturer Covercraft to deliver Carhartt duck seat protection for pickups, SUVs, vans and over-the-road work trucks.

New York -- Federal authorities have arrested a former Tiffany & Co. executive, charging her with stealing more than $1 million in jewelry and then reselling it for $1.3 million.

According to reports, Ingrid Lederhaas-Okun was arrested at her home in Darien, Conn. She was charged with wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property by the FBI, and could face up to 30 years in prison.

Minneapolis -- Target said it plans to open a new store in Spokane, Wash., in July 2014.

The 135,000-sq.-ft. store, part of the Regal Plaza shopping center, will be the retailer’s third location in the Spokane area.