Consumer Affairs & Relations

WASHINGTON — U.S. families are increasingly embracing organic products when they shop, according to a study conducted in mid-January by the Organic Trade Association.

"More and more parents choose organic foods primarily because of their desire to provide healthful options for their children," said Christine Bushway, OTA's CEO and executive director.

WASHINGTON — The Grocery Manufacturers Association has named Karin F.R. Moore as VP and general counsel.

“I am pleased to welcome Karin to the GMA team,” said GMA president and CEO Pamela Bailey.  “Her legal skill and trade association management experience make her the logical choice for this position, and I am certain that she will provide great value to GMA and its member companies as we advance the association’s member-driven agenda.”

NEW YORK — Century 21 Department Store is expanding its popular downtown Manhattan flagship store.

The new store, which will be unveiled on April 9, will featue three new selling floors to accomodate its expanded merchandise assortment. The store will now total six floors and more than 2250,000 square feet.

Lululemon Athletica, manufacturer of yoga-inspired athletic apparel has announced that its chief product officer, Sheree Waterson, will be leaving the company effective April 15.

“We appreciate the many contributions that Sheree made during her time with lululemon, particularly in the area of design,” said Lululemon’s CEO Christine Day.

Waterson joined Lululemon in 2008 and has more than 25 years of consumer and retail industry experience.

Boston -- Walmart Canada and Target Canada are very competitively positioned from a basket price perspective, according to a recent report by Kantar Retail.  

Based on the study’s results, Kantar Retail believes that Target’s “Pay Less” consumables prices will stack up well against its Canadian competition and that the retailer will prove to be a formidable challenge to Walmart Canada’s price position in the market.  

Jen Coleman and Laura Wiertzema are such big fans of Target they created a blog on Tumblr called "Target Does It Again," and regularly post photo on Instagram. The company took notice this week.

Vancouver, British Columbia -- Lululemon Athletica Inc. said that chief product officer Sheree Waterson will be leaving Lululemon effective April 15, in what it described as a “leadership change in the product organization.”

The news comes just weeks after the specialty retailer had to recall its signature Luon-fabric yoga pants from store shelves for being too sheer. The company warned that the move could lead to shortages and dent its profit by up to $40 million this fiscal year.

Target was among six companies recognized by Second Harvest Heartland, a member of Feeding America, as one of the relief organization’s Hunger Heroes.