International Business

New York -- Uniqlo will be the exclusive, multi-year, corporate sponsor of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Museum’s Friday night free admission program, which provides free access to the public to the Museum and all exhibitions from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., every Friday, throughout the year.
 
“Uniqlo Free Friday Nights” will launch on May 3. That evening, the first 1,000 visitors will receive a special Uniqlo tote bag. Also in May, the Museum will begin extending its public schedule to seven days per week.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Key Mattel brands drove Mattel sales for the first quarter of 2013. 

Mattel's net sales for the quarter were $996 million, up 7% compared to $928 million last year, and net income increased dramatically to $38.5 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to last year's first quarter net income of $7.8 million, or $0.02 per share.

With 6,700 stores in 12 markets, Tesco is a formidable competitor globally, but Walmart won’t have to worry about competing with the company on its home turf.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo reported a net revenue increase of 1% to $12,581 billion from $12,428 billion for the period ended March 23. Its net income declined by slightly more than 1 billion to $1,085 billion from $1,133 billion. 

However, on a constant currency basis, revenue increased 4%. 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chiquita Brands will look to national IT infrastructure and cloud solutions provider Peak 10 Inc. for global operations support. 

After relocating its corporate headquarters from Cincinnati to Charlotte, N.C., Chiquita has chosen to house its business-critical information, including shipping, accounts payable and receivable, production and distribution data for its global operations, within Peak 10’s new 14,000-sq.-ft.-facility in North Charlotte.

J.C. Penney late Thursday announced that chief operating officer Michael W. Kramer had left the company.

His departure was disclosed in an 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In connection with Kramer’s departure, he received a lump sum cash payment of $2,143,414. In addition, the company also disclosed that Daniel Walker had resigned as the company’s chief talent officer.

San Francisco -- In a presentation to shareholders at its annual investor meeting on Wednesday, Gap CEO Glenn Murphy outlined growth initiatives that include taking Old Navy international via a franchising route, and expanding on its online programs.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart said Wednesday that it has been granted approval to continue its listing on the Nasdaq stock market while it works to secure full compliance with listing requirements.

According to Stein Mart, a panel gave the retailer a thumbs-up to continue the listing, and Nasdaq has given Stein Mart until August to comply with all applicable requirements for continued listing on the exchange.

Burlington, Mass. -- Demandware said Tuesday that Crabtree & Evelyn has re-launched  its U.S. e-commerce site, Crabtree-evelyn.com, on the Demandware Commerce platform. In addition, Crabtree & Evelyn is leveraging Demandware’s web design capabilities to extend the online shopping experience to smartphones and tablets.

The 500+-store Crabtree & Evelyn also plans to use Demandware Commerce to support its global expansion strategy.

London -- Grocery chain Fresh & Easy’s British parent Tesco confirmed Wednesday that it will abandon its U.S. business, selling off the 199-store chain and taking a $3.5 billion write-down.