International Business

WAYZATA, Minn. — Sugar substitute Truvia will expand beyond U.S. borders, bringing its stevia sweeteners to Mexico.

Truvia has joined forces with Grupo Herdez, a market leader in the production, distribution, and sale of foods in Mexico, to distribute and market Truvia sweetener in Mexico. Truvia, which recently branched into Canada, will now have a presence throughout North America in 2013, although it could face an uphill battle in Mexico where artificial sweeteners have yet to catch on with consumers.

Chicago -- Claire's Stores announced Wednesday the recent opening of company-owned-and-operated Claire's stores in Italy and Luxembourg, bringing the retailer’s European presence to 15 countries.

According to Claire’s European president Beatrice LaFon, the first Italian store was opened in the Milan Fiordaliso shopping centre, and the first Luxembourg store was opened in Esch Sur Alzette on Rue de l'Alzette.

During December, the company said it also plans to enter Indonesia on a franchise basis.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Nov. 25 rose 30% to $416 million, compared with $320 million in the year-ago period and surpassing analysts’ forecasts.

Sales increased 9.6% to $23.71 billion from $21.2 billion, beating Wall Street’s estimated $22.11 in revenue. Same-store sales increased 6% domestically and 7% internationally, excluding fuel sales and foreign exchange effects.

New York -- Sephora plans to open 50 stores in Latin America by 2016, the San Francisco Business Times reported.

Sephora opened its first Latin American store in 2011, in Mexico City. It was followed by locations in Puebla and Guadalajara and another one in Mexico City in 2012. It plans to open an additional five locations in the country in 2013.

It is also expanding in Brazil — the third largest beauty market in the world — with four new stores this year and another six in the pipeline, according to the report.

NEW YORK — In an era of increasingly complex global supply chains and product safety concerns, Deloitte and Decernis have formed a strategic alliance to provide compliance solutions to consumer product, food service, retail and distribution companies.

The alliance combines Deloitte's food safety, quality and supply chain experience and the software platform and content provided by Decernis for tracking and alerting consumer businesses about compliance issues.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Former Estee Lauder executive Suzanne Dawson has joined high-end skincare brand Murad as its new CMO. Dawson will oversee all global marketing, including brand development, advertising, public relations, creative and education for products, services and new market opportunities. She will report to GM Richard Murad.

DALLAS and LOS ANGELES — Sequential Brands Group, a company that owns, markets and licenses a portfolio of consumer brands, including DVS Action Sports, will acquire Heelys, a maker of sports-inspired products targeted to the youth market.

Laval, Quebec City -- Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. announced that it has signed, through its wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Mac's Convenience Stores LLC, an agreement to acquire 29 stores, 25 stores are located in Illinois, three in Missouri and one in Oklahoma. The transaction is anticipated to close in December 2012.

All the stores would eventually be rebranded under the Circle K brand. Couche-Tard’s Midwest division would operate 28 of them and the other one would be operated by the Southwest division.