International Business

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus Group announced that Joshua Schulman has been appointed president of Bergdorf Goodman, effective May 7.

Schulman, 40, joins Neiman Marcus from Jimmy Choo where he was CEO. In this role, he oversaw the international expansion of the brand and the growth of jimmychoo.com. Prior to Jimmy Choo, Schulman was president, Kenneth Cole New York, and managing director, international strategic alliances, Gap, Inc.

Less than a year from today Target’s first stores in Canada open and the company encounters a familiar competitive challenge in Walmart as well as some unfamiliar operators.

New York -- Private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners has acquired an 80% ownership stake in the 25-store natural food chain Earth Fare. The deal values the company at $300 million.

MONTREAL — Dollar stores in the United States have seen much success in recent years (check out Retailing Today's report on Dollar General here) and they appear to be doing just as well north of the border.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group said Wednesday that, in partnership with Mitsubishi Estate Co., it began construction of Shisui Premium Outlets (Shisui Town, Inba District, Chiba Prefecture), the ninth Premium Outlet Center in Japan.

Phase I, comprising 234,000 sq. ft. of GLA, is scheduled to open in spring 2013 with approximately 100 stores, including international brands, Japanese brands and restaurants. Simon owns a 40% interest in the project.
 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday evening elected Jan Babiak, a retired managing partner for Ernst & Young, to its board of directors. Babiak, who joins the board as an independent director, becomes the board’s 12th member.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has joined Supplier Connection, a group of 15 large businesses committed to driving small business growth by simplifying access to their global supply chains.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway announced Monday that it has promoted its executive VP and CFO Robert Edwards to the position of president.

Edwards has held his current role since 2004. He will have overall responsibility for the company's retail operations, marketing, merchandising, corporate brands, manufacturing, distribution and finance functions, and will continue as CFO until a successor is named to the position.