Labor & Employment

Pleasanton, Calif.— Safeway Inc. announced that the president of its Chicago-area Dominick’s Finer Foods division, Don Keprta, has resigned. Brian Baer, Dominick’s CFO and VP of finance, will assume the role of acting president of Dominick’s.

Washington, D.C. — A report released Thursday by the National Retail Federation, which expanded on earlier news by the U.S. Commerce Department, showed that warm weather, reduced gas prices and strong Father’s Day promotions helped power retail sales for the 12th consecutive month and past Wall Street expectations.

According to the NRF, retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) in June increased 0.3% seasonally adjusted from May and 5.5% unadjusted year-over-year.

St. Louis — Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. president John Haugh said Thursday that he will resign as the company’s president, as reported by the St. Louis Business Journal.

Haugh’s resignation is effective July 22, according to an SEC filing. His successor hasn’t been named, but current duties will be filled in the interim by Chief Financial and Operations Officer Tina Klocke, Chief Entertainment Officer Teresa Kroll and Chief Executive Maxine Clark.

Haugh has been at the helm since 2009.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Pet Supplies “Plus” announced that Dave Bolen was promoted to president and CEO, effective July 11.

Bolen joined PSP on May 2 as president after spending five years at Petco Animal Supplies, a national retailer of pet food and supplies, where he served as EVP and chief merchandising officer. Prior to Petco, Bolen served as EVP merchandising, marketing and supply chain at Jo-Ann Stores, a leading specialty retailer of fabric and craft supplies.

Milford, Conn. — The Subway restaurant chain announced that a franchisee in Toledo, Ohio, has opened the brand's 8,000th non-traditional location— in a two million-sq.-ft. automobile assembly facility that produces Jeep and Chrysler vehicles.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has combined its two largest divisions and named Kevin Peters to the new role of president of North America. The change gives Peters, who previously served as president of North American retail, continuing oversight of the retail group in addition to leadership of the company’s North American business solutions division which is focused on large and mid-size commercial customers.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool Corp. announced that it was inducted into the Made in the USA Foundation's Hall of Fame at an awards dinner on July 2 in Santa Monica, Calif. Whirlpool was the winner of the Large Kitchen Appliances Category.

Boca Raton, Fla. — Office Depot Inc. announced Wednesday that it has appointed Kevin Peters as president, North America, a new position that combines the company’s previous North American Retail and North American Business Solutions divisions.

Peters was previously president of North American Retail.