Labor & Employment

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. is celebrating the 35th anniversary of Gap Foundation at a special gathering at the company's San Francisco headquarters on Sept. 13.

“We’re proud to celebrate 35 years of Gap Inc. employees fulfilling the promise made by Doris and Don Fisher to ‘do more than sell clothes,’” said Bobbi Silten, president of Gap Foundation. “It’s an exciting milestone for everyone involved with the company.”

New York -- Michael Francis, who was ousted as president of J.C. Penney Co. in June, is going to Gap Inc., according to Ad Age.

Francis will serve as a marketing creative advisor for Gap, and join the chain in the advisory role on Sept. 16, the report said.

New York -- Hollister has fired three male models it flew in for the grand opening store of its first store in South Korea after the models mocked Asians in photos and on their social media accounts, according to various media reports.

With the political conventions coming to an end, it’s clear now that election season is in full swing. And, while I don’t pretend to know what the long-term implications of an Obama re-election or a Romney win would mean for our economy or our country, I do think that what happens on Nov. 6 will almost certainly have an impact on our industry — particularly, shopper sentiment and ultimately holiday sales.

Philadelphia -- Three-fourths (75%) of retailers forecast an increase in holiday sales this year, according to a survey by Hay Group, a global management consultancy.

The annual Seasonal Staffing Survey report also finds that retailers have more confidence in holiday hiring plans. While 57% of retailers plan to hire seasonal workers at the same level as 2011, 36% say they will be hiring more. This stands in contrast to 2011 when just 10% planned to hire more seasonal workers than the year prior.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu announced that Bill Parker has been named the interim president of Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy, a 43- store division in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk, Va., market, effective Sept. 15.

Parker, Farm Fresh’s current senior VP merchandising, will replace Gaelo de la Fuente who became the company’s president in April 2010 and is leaving the company to pursue other interests.
 

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu has named Bill Parker as the interim president of Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy, a 43- store division in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk, Va. market. Parker, Farm Fresh's current SVP merchandising, will replace Gaelo de la Fuente who became the company’s president in April 2010 and is leaving the company to pursue other interests. Parker will assume the new role on Sept. 15.

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Progressive AE and Design Plus, both of which are based in Grand Raids, Mich., announced they have merged to create one of the area’s largest full-service design firms specializing in architecture, engineering and interior design. Financial details of the merger were not disclosed.