International Business

WAYNE, N.J. — Babies”R”Us is getting ready to give its exclusive Truly Scrumptious line designed by Heidi Klum the international treatment.

Following Truly Scrumptious’ successful U.S. launch in fall, the retailer decided to roll out the line of products for babies and children in more than a dozen countries outside the U.S. beginning early 2013.

New York -- Starbucks Coffee Co. is moving ahead full-steam. The company on Wednesday announced accelerated global growth plans that include opening at least 1,500 stores in the United States during the next five years. Including Canada and South America in the mix, Starbucks expects to add a total of 3,000 new locations in its Americas region — and renovate thousands more — by 2017.

Chicago -- Claire's Stores Inc. announced the recent opening of the first Claire's stores in China, in DaNing Life Hub in Shanghai. The company’s second China store will open on Dec. 7, in Grand Gateway Mall in Shanghai.

Claire’s has entered China on an owned and operated basis and has established a new division based in Shanghai.

NEW YORK — Verizon Communications has elected Kathryn A. Tesija, EVP of merchandising and supply chain at Target to the Verizon board of directors, effective immediately.

"Kathee Tesija brings to Verizon her valuable consumer insight as well as significant experience in managing the complex, large-scale, global retail functions of merchandising and supply chain," said Lowell C. McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO.

The addition of Tesija brings Verizon's total board membership to 12.

Burlington, Mass. -- Demandware announced Ethan Allen Interiors will leverage the Demandware Commerce platform as the digital foundation of its global expansion strategy.

Ethan Allen recently launched its first site on the Demandware platform in Canada to coincide with the grand opening of its first Design Center in Montreal. Ethan Allen plans to re-launch its U.S. e-commerce site with Demandware in 2013 in addition to site launches in other countries, including Europe, to support its new design center in Brussels.

MIAMI — PureFormulas.com, an online health supplement e-retailer, has appointed Daniel Moure as its new CMO.

Tesco arrived in the U.S. in 2007 amid great fanfare with its first Fresh & Easy stores. Now, just five years later, the 30 year Tesco veteran in charge of the 200 unit operation is gone and the company is looking to unload the stores.

Kelly Semrau, SVP of global corporate affairs, communication and sustainability at SC Johnson, is the newest board member at the American Cleaning Institute (ACI).

The group, previously known as the Soap and Detergent Association, confirmed her appointment at a recent meeting where Amway’s Catherine Ehrenberger and Sasol’s Tom O’Brien were also appointed to new posts.

Ehrenberger, vp of research and development, quality and regulatory at Amway, was named board chair and O’Brien, group vp and general manager as Sasol, was named vice chair.