Labor & Employment

Birmingham, Ala. -- Books-A-Million said late Monday that it was unable to put a deal together to acquire the leases and assets of 30 Borders bookstores out of bankruptcy.

"The company’s efforts to secure the inventory, fixtures, equipment and leasehold interests for 30 Borders stores has ended unsuccessfully because the parties could not agree on terms and the going out of business sales at these locations commenced," Clyde B. Anderson, Books-A-Million CEO, said.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Tuesday that it has promoted its current Quality Food Centers division president Donna Giordano to president of the Ralphs Division.

Giordano, who has been based in Seattle with QFC, replaces Mike Donnelly, who was promoted to senior VP merchandising for Kroger. She will be based in Los Angeles.
 

In recognition of his significant contributions to the art and science of supply chain and logistics management, Dr. James R. Stock will receive Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ (CSCMP) 2011 Distinguished Service Award.

Stock serves as the Frank Harvey Endowed Professor of Marketing at the University of South Florida and becomes the 46th person to receive the annual award since it was created in 1965. He will be honored during the opening general session on Monday, Oct. 3, at CSCMP’s Annual Global Conference in Philadelphia.

Washington, D.C. -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that consumer confidence in the United States took an unexpected upward turn in July, from an eight-month low.

Results were led by a rebound in jobs’ outlook over the next six months.

The Conference Board’s index climbed to 59.5 from a revised 57.6 reading in June that was lower than previously estimated, according to Bloomberg research. Economists predicted the July gauge would fall to 56, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Books-A-Million's efforts to secure the inventory, fixtures, equipment and leasehold interests for 30 Borders stores ended unsuccessfully because the company could not agree with Borders on terms and the going out of business sales at these locations commenced, the company announced Monday.

Toronto -- Sears Canada, a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corp., said Monday it has hired former Limited Brands online executive VP Steven Goldsmith as its executive VP merchandising, apparel and accessories.

The move comes after the resignation of Sears Canada CEO Dene Rogers and subsequent replacement by former Loblaw Cos. executive Calvin McDonald.

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Tuesday promoted Donna Giordano to the role of president of the Ralphs division.

Giordano, 57, has been president of the company's Quality Food Centers division, based in Seattle, since 2002. She succeeds Mike Donnelly, who was recently promoted to SVP merchandising for Kroger.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Discount grocery chain Bottom Dollar Food announced plans to enter the greater Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, markets.

The expansion includes 14 stores that will open in 2012 and is said to create more than 600 jobs.