International Business

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s has appointed Starbucks executive Michelle Gass to the newly created position of chief customer officer. She will report directly to Kohl’s chairman, president and CEO Kevin Mansell.

Gass, who joins Kohl’s on June 17, will have leadership responsibility for Kohl’s branding across all channels. She will oversee all marketing efforts, the company’s high growth e-commerce business on Kohls.com and the customer’s total omnichannel experience.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart announced that Dan Bartlett will become the company's new executive VP of corporate affairs in late June.  Bartlett, 41, most recently served as president and CEO of the U. S. arm of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a global business advisory firm serving corporations, non-profits and associations in 52 countries.

SHANGHAI — A day after Hershey announced plans to launch a new brand in China — marking the first time the company launches a new brand outside the U.S in its 120-year history — the company announced plans to open its Asia Innovation Center in Shanghai. 

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. reported a 26% drop in its first-quarter profit as unseasonably cool weather, the payroll tax increase and other economic pressures took a toll on sales.

Target earned $498 million the three months ended May 4, down from $697 million in the year-ago period. Sales rose 1% to $16.71 billion.

Same-store sales fell 0.6%. The number of transactions fell 1.9%.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has appointed Dan Bartlett, former senior counselor to George W. Bush, as its EVP of corporate affairs. Bartlett was most recently president and CEO of the U.S. arm of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a global business advisory firm serving corporations, nonprofits and associations in 52 countries.

Memphis – AutoZone reported net sales of $2.2 billion for third quarter fiscal 2013, representing a 4.5% increase from $2.1 billion during the same period in fiscal 2012. Meanwhile, net income increased almost 7% from $248.6 million to $265.6 million. Same store sales experienced a slight 0.1% dip compared to third quarter fiscal 2012.

Philadelphia – Urban Outfitters, Inc. reported stronger than expected net sales, which drove a 39% increase in net earnings. The specialty retailer reported record total net sales of $648 million during first quarter fiscal 2014, up 14% from $568 million in the same quarter last year. Net earnings for the quarter were $47 million, higher than analyst expectations and up 39% from first quarter fiscal 2013.

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.