International Business

Seattle -- Starbucks on Wednesday released its 13th Global Responsibility Report, which highlights the company’s progress on long-term goals for community engagement, sustainability and ethical sourcing. The coffee giant also announced the launch of its fourth annual Global Month of Service, with Starbucks employees, customers and community members once again coming together to help contribute more than one million community service hours per year by 2015.

Talk of nearshoring and a resurgent U.S. manufacturing sector weren’t enough to help the Stanley Furniture Company avoid shuttering a domestic manufacturing plant that employs 400 people.

Following steep losses last year, Stanley said it would close its 562,000-sq.-ft. facility in Robbinsville, NC., where ironically enough the company’s Young America line of Juvenile furniture was manufactured.

Robert M. Long, former president, CEO and chairman of Longs Drug Stores passed away March 27 due to complications, which occurred as a result of inclusion body myositis.  

Long was a well-known industry veteran having led Longs Drug Stores for more than 20 years. His retirement from the Walnut Creek, Calif.-based pharmacy retailer as CEO in 2000 marked the first time that a member of the founding family was not heading the company.

Premium denim brand True Religion named former top executives from Levi Strauss & Co., and Gap inc., to its board of directors.

The purveyor of premium products said John Anderson and Marka Hansen agreed to serve on its board. Anderson spent 32 years at Levi Strauss & Co, ultimately serving as president and CEO while Hansen previously spent 24 years at Gap and most recently served as president of Gap North America.

Arysta LifeScience president and CEO Wayne Hewett will stand for election to The Home Depot’s board of directors when current director Bonnie Hill steps down.

Ankeny, Iowa -- Casey’s General Stores plans to break ground on the company’s second distribution center in November 2014. The facility will be located in Terre Haute, Ind.

Chicago -- Claire's Stores on Tuesday said its CEO, James D. Fielding, has resigned. He will be replaced by Beatrice Lafon, currently president of Claire’s Europe, effective April 2. The specialty retailer also posted a lower profit for the fourth quarter amid a drop in sales.

Fielding joined Claire's from The Walt Disney Co. in June 2012.

Dallas — SRS Real Estate Partners, in partnership with Cresa Toronto, has opened an office in Toronto, Canada. It is the company’s first Canadian office and second international location. Jamie Grossman, managing principal for Cresa Toronto will oversee the new office, while SRS has brought in Lindsay Ryder as first VP for SRS.

Houston — Fuddruckers has opened its first restaurant in Europe — in Varese, Italy near Milan. The fast casual restaurant is the first of 10 planned by a new franchise partner, Vinum et Alia. Future sites being considered are in Italy, Poland and Switzerland.

The design of the 5,000-sq.-ft., 120-seat restaurant references Fuddruckers’ classic roadhouse origins.

Los Angeles and Tokyo — Pinkberry has selected Royal Holdings to roll out franchises across Japan. An experienced franchisee, Royal Holdings operates 722 restaurants across several brands.

The initial development plan calls for 50 Pinkberry frozen yogurt stores.