Labor & Employment

Ralph Lauren Corp. has named a 25-year Proctor & Gamble executive to head up its ongoing turnaround effort.     The company appointed Patrice Louvet as president and CEO, effective July 17, 2017. At the time, he will also be appointed to the board. Louvet will dual report to founder Ralph Lauren in his capacity as executive chairman and to the company’s board.  

A month after it announced it would close 400 stores, the other shoe has dropped at Rue 21.   The Warrendale, Pennsylvania-based retailer announced it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and entered into agreements with some of its lenders to reduce the company's debt and provide additional capital in support of its restructuring. The company, which expects to continue normal business operations throughout the process, listed its assets and liabilities in the range of $1 billion and $10 billion, according to its court filing.

Kroger Co. has made changes in its executive team, including naming a new retail VP.   Calvin Kaufman was named senior VP of retail divisions. He will replace Sukanya Madlinger, who is retiring in June. Madlinger has been with Kroger for 31 years.   

A home improvement chain is taking a page from science fiction to keep employees safe.   Lowe's and Virginia Tech have joined forces to develop an exosuit — a wearable robotic suit with lift-assist technology — for Lowe's store employees. The lightweight exosuit, which is designed to help employees lift and move product throughout the store more efficiently, and aids against muscle fatigue, is being piloted in Lowe's Christiansburg, Virginia, store.  

Jewel Food Stores (Jewel-Osco), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Albertsons Companies, is expanding its footprint in Indiana.    Jewel-Osco said it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Central Grocers to acquire 19 Strack & Van Til stores and other certain assets. Strack & Van Til is owned by Central Grocers, which filed for bankruptcy protection at the beginning of May.   

Eddie Lampert, the chairman and CEO of embattled Sears Holdings Corp., is not holding back.    Days after he gave a rare newspaper interview in which he commented on the current state of affairs at Sears and partially blamed media coverage for its troubles, Lampert has taken vendors to task in a new blog post on the company’s website.  

Walmart is the subject of a federal lawsuit involving its alleged treatment of pregnant workers.   

There’s been a new twist in the U.S. lawsuit over Wal-Mart’s alleged bribery in Mexico.  

Macy’s reported disappointing earnings for its first quarter, as its sale continued to slide.    Macy's posted a first quarter profit of $71 million, or 23 cents a share, down from $116 million, or 37 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Excluding some costs, Macy's adjusted per-share profit fell to 24 cents from 40 cents, below analysts' expectations for 35 cents.   

Struggling Marsh Supermarkets is looking for a buyer, but it doesn’t have all that much time.    The 86-year-old grocery store chain on Thursday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and said it is seeking a buyer for all or part of its business.  The company’s 44 locations will continue normal operations throughout the process.  But the stores will be shuttered if the company does not find a buyer within 60 days.