Labor & Employment

Broomfield, Colo. – Famous Brands International, parent company of TCBY Yogurt and Mrs. Fields Cookies, has appointed Neal Courtney as CEO. Neal had been serving as the company's interim CEO since February and served as COO since May 2012.

Minneapolis -- Target said it plans to open a new store in Spokane, Wash., in July 2014.

The 135,000-sq.-ft. store, part of the Regal Plaza shopping center, will be the retailer’s third location in the Spokane area.

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack has appointed marketing and communications executive Merianne Roth as the company’s new VP of communications.

Roth's responsibilities will include RadioShack's corporate communications, community relations, internal communications and event marketing. She will report to Jennifer Warren, SVP and CMO. 

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears Holdings on Friday joined the growing list of retailers and other companies severing ties with Southern celebrity chef Paula Deen in the wake of the controversy regarding her use of a racial slur. Both Sears and Kmart sold Paula Deen products.

“After careful consideration of all available information, we have made the decision to phase out all products tied to the brand,” Sears said in a statement. “We will continue to evaluate the situation. Our members’ needs will be given first priority.’

Hicksville, N.Y. - The battle between the board of Men’s Wearhouse and its founder and former chairman, George Zimmer, continues to have a significant negative impact on the company’s online image.  According to a report by GenSent Insights, the company’s sentiment score, a measure of the tone surrounding a brand on a scale of -100 to +100, plummeted from an average of + 68 in mid-June to a low of -52.  The sentiment on Twitter alone fell from an uncommonly high score of +93 to a low of -80. 

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kid Brands' board is going to see some changes, following Hugh Rovit's announcement that he will not be seeking re-election as a director at the company's annual shareholders meeting.

Boucherville, Quebec - Canadian home improvement retailer Rona Inc. is closing 11 non-profitable stores as part of a broader restructuring plan. Rona will also reduce administrative, marketing, merchandising and distribution expenses and eliminate 125 administrative jobs. In February 2013, Rona cut 200 jobs.

Rona rejected an unsolicited $1.72 billion USD buyout offer from Lowe’s in August 2012.

Walmart said the head of its Indian operations left the company this week and named Ramnik Narsey, SVP of Walmart International, to serve as the interim leader for the company’s Indian business. To read more click here.