Labor & Employment

New York -- The CEO of Fastenal, Willard Oberton,  will resign from the 2,700 store chain, effective Dec. 31. Oberton, 56, will remain chairman of the company and continue to be actively involved in strategic planning and performance measurements.    

J.P. Bilbrey, CEO of Hershey, has been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to President Obama’s newly-established Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA).  

Bilbrey will be one of the 15 private sector leaders providing guidance to the president on strengthening partnerships with African nations to leverage the opportunities for U.S. companies committed to supporting the continent for the long term. 

The private-sector council will focus on strengthening the U.S.’ commercial relationships with African nations. 

New York –- Corporate realignment costs, particularly severance, increased net loss at Fairway Group Holdings Corp., the parent company of Fairway Market, during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net loss grew to $17.23 million from $12.22 million.  

Mike Smith was named SVP finance and CFO North America at McCormick.  In this role he will oversee investor relations, treasury and serve as the CFO of the newly formed North American Leadership Team. 

Smith’s new team focuses on North American alignment and strategy for growth, performance and people. Joyce Brooks, VP, investor relations and Bob Conrad, VP treasurer will report directly to Smith. 

Industrial and construction supplies retailer Fastenal said CEO Willard Oberton planned to resign from the 2,700 store retailer effective December 31.

The company on Friday, Nov. 7 disclosed that  Oberton notified the board of directors the prior Monday of his decision to resign. Plans call for Oberton, 56, to remain as chairman of the company and to be actively involved in strategic planning and performance measurements.

New York-- Ann Inc. is forecasting declining sales for the fiscal third and fourth quarter and full year 2014. The company is also launching a comprehensive, end-to-end assessment of its supply  chain to identify opportunities to enhance profitability, with a focus on speed, flexibility, improving product sell-through and reducing the cost of goods sold.  

Marana, Ariz. -- Simon broke ground Thursday on Tucson Premium Outlets in Marana, Arizona. The multi-million dollar project will feature more than 90 retailers, and is slated to open fall 2015.  

Thorofare, N.J. -- Shrink—including shoplifting, employee or supplier fraud and administrative errors—cost the global retail industry more than $128 billion last year, with $42 billion lost in the United States alone, according to the latest Global Retail Theft Barometer study. This represents 1.29% of retail sales, on average.