International Business

Urbi et Orbi (The City and The World): The phrase is not just the theme of an annual speech from the Pope, but also summarizes what’s taking place in retail across North America: urbanization and globalization.  

HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Company has selected Universal McCann to handle its global media planning and buying activities. 

Hershey’s global media assignment includes all paid media, including TV, print, digital and Hispanic for the U.S. business — the company’s largest — as well as Hershey’s growing international businesses.

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma on Wednesday reported better-than-expected second-quarter profit amid same-strong sales. The retailer raised its full-year forecast, but its profit outlook still fell short of market expectations.

The company also announced that it will expand its international presence, adding more stores in Australia and entering the United Kingdom later this year, and debuting in the Philippines in 2014.

Milford, Conn. — Subway opened its 40,000th location at an AppleGreen petrol station in Ipswich, England. The company has opened 1,761 locations around the world since the start of 2013. The largest chain of sub shops in the world, Subway leads the next largest chain by more than 5,500 locations.

The U.K. is the brand’s third largest market, behind the U.S. and Canada. There are 14,000 international locations in 102 countries outside the U.S.

PARK CITY, Utah — Skullcandy has appointed Heidi O'Neill, who is VP and GM of women’s training and fitness at Nike, to the company's board of directors. 

Greenwood Village, Colo. — Red Robin Gourmet Burgers has announced the opening of two new restaurants. The first will open in Canton Crossing, Md., and Inner Harbor location in downtown Baltimore in late September. The second will open in Monroeville, Pa., at The District at Monroeville Mall outside of Pittsburgh in early October.

NEW YORK — Tiffany & Co. saw sales growth and an improved operating margin for the second quarter ended July 31, fueled largely by its performance in China. 

The company’s total sales in the Americas region were lackluster, increasing 2% to $444 million in the second quarter. Comparable-store sales remained flat for the quarter.

New York – Tiffany & Co. grew its net earnings 16% during the second quarter of fiscal 2013, and also increased net sales and same-store sales. Net earnings increased 16% to $107 million, from $92 million in the same quarter a year earlier.