Labor & Employment

New Albany, Ohio – Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Abercrombie & Fitch Stores Inc. have offered to pay $96,000 to 13 assistant managers for failing to pay proper overtime wages, in connection with a lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of New York. This is in addition to prior offers from Abercrombie & Fitch to pay other assistant managers who had joined the lawsuit.  

Mooresville, N.C. – Lowe’s has released its 2013 Corporate Sustainability Report, which highlight its efforts to promote the well-being of its employees, its communities and the environment. The report includes Lowe's first set of public sustainability goals, which establish new targets for energy use, carbon emissions and waste for the year 2020.

By 2020, Lowe’s aims to achieve the following milestones for energy use, carbon emissions and waste, measured against a 2010 baseline:

New York -- Legendary Los Angeles retailer Fred Segal is going global. The company, which was acquired by media and licensing company Sandow in 2012, plans to open up to 10 luxury retail lifestyle centers in the United States and across the world during the next five to 10 years. And leading the expansion will be its newly hired CEO, retail veteran Paul Blum, who most recently served as CEO of Juicy Couture. Prior to that, he served as CEO of David Yurman and Kenneth Cole Productions.

Brussels, Belgium - Dirk Van den Berghe has decided to resign from his role as CEO of Delhaize Belgium and Luxembourg effective July 31. Delhaize Group is announcing that Van den Berghe has decided to resign and accept a new role outside the company.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has reportedly been given a May 30 deadline to settle a labor dispute in the Chinese city of Changde. According to the Wall Street Journal, Changde officials want Wal-Mart to reach an out-of-court settlement with workers at a store there which is scheduled to close.

Welch's has appointed Tom Dixon as chief marketing officer. Most recently, Dixon was VP and GM for the Schwan Food Company’s frozen pizza division.

“As a family-farmer owned business, Welch’s has been delivering the goodness of the grape to adults and children alike for generations,” said Dixon. “I’m excited to become part of this iconic brand with such a rich heritage and a portfolio of family favorites. I’m looking forward to continuing Welch’s tradition of bringing consumers nutritious and delicious products.”

Dallas -- Fast-casual restaurant chain Corner Bakery Café announced two multi-unit development agreements with California-based businessman Anil Yadav, CEO of JIB Management, who plans to open 16 cafes in Seattle, and seven in Las Vegas, over the next seven years.
 

New York - Aeropostale Inc. has entered into definitive agreements with respect to its previously announced strategic partnership and $150 million senior secured credit facilities with Sycamore Partners. As previously announced on March 13, 2014, the senior secured credit facilities with affiliates of Sycamore Partners consist of a five-year $100 million term loan facility and a ten-year $50 million term loan facility that includes a sourcing arrangement with MGF Sourcing, also an affiliate of Sycamore Partners.