International Business

SHANGHAI — Hershey is heading to China to launch a candy brand called Lancaster, marking the first time in its 120-year history that the company has launched a new brand outside of the United States. It’s also the first time in 30 years that Hershey launches a brand that is neither a brand extension nor an acquisition.

The brand will be available in the cities of Wuhan, Hangzhou and Chengdu in June, with wider distribution following next year. 

LOS ANGELES — Virtual Piggy, an online service that allows parents to monitor their children's online shopping behavior, is heading across the Atlantic for the first time.

The company has signed partnership agreements with Toy Galaxy and Toadstool in the U.K. to integrate the Virtual Piggy solution into both companies' e-commerce operations. 

Atlanta -- American Sportswear, a Panama-based wholesaler and retailer that exclusively distributes the Tommy Hilfiger brand for most of Latin America and the Caribbean, is utilizing the LogFire extended warehouse management solution.

With the cloud-based warehouse and inventory management capabilities of LogFire technology, American Sportswear will manage its multichannel distribution network, retail store replenishments and in-store inventory management.

DENVER -- Fast food hamburger chain Smashburger plans to more than double its nationwide store count to about 500 in the next few years. The chain currently runs about 200 locations across the US.

According to public comments from Smashburger chariman and CEO Dave Prokupek, the chain may also launch a US IPO at some point in the future. “The idea of good food fast isn’t going to go away anytime soon,” said Prokupek.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Bruce G. Bodaken, former chairman, president and CEO of Blue Shield California, been named to the Rite Aid Corporation board of directors. Bodaken, 61, served with Blue Shield for 18 years, including 12 in his most recent role, and currently serves as director and audit committee chairman of WageWorks, Inc. He is also a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Roundtable on Value & Science-Driven Health Care.

Former Nike executive Tony Moralejo has been appointed chief development officer at Church’s Chicken. Moralejo will be responsible for domestic and international expansion for the global chicken chain, as well as franchising, re-imaging, construction and real estate management. 

He will report directly to president and CEO Jim Hyatt and will be a member of the brand’s executive team.

New York -- Bloomingdale’s plans to open a 167,000-sq.-ft., three-level store at the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu in fall 2015. It will be the retailer’s first location in the state of Hawaii.

The new store will be part of a redevelopment of a portion of Ala Moana, by GeneralGrowth Properties. Construction will begin in 2014. The upscale chain of department stores, owned by Macy’s, will join a Macy’s store which already operates at the shopping center.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Co. has appointed Deverl Maserang as executive VP leading the company’s global supply chain organization, effective June 3. He will be accountable for end-to-end supply chain operations globally spanning manufacturing, engineering, procurement, distribution, planning, transportation, inventory management and worldwide sourcing.

Maserang joins Starbucks from Chiquita Brands International, where he led the Global Value Chain for Chiquita and Fresh Express.

Seattle -- Online jewelry retailer Blue Nile has appointed Mindy Meads to its board of directors. Meads previously served as co-CEO of Aeropostale and president and CEO of Victoria’s Secret, among other executive posts in a 35-year apparel retail career. She also serves on the board of Wet Seal.

New York -- Brixmor Property Group has appointed Michael V. Pappagallo as president and CFO, effective May 20.

Pappagallo will play an integral role in the execution of Brixmor's long-term business and capital markets strategy.  In addition, he will lead the company's finance and accounting teams, as well as have functional oversight of its property operations, information technology, acquisitions/dispositions and investor relations efforts.