Marketing

Memphis -- Discount general merchandise chain Fred’s has named Michael K. Bloom as its president and COO, effective immediately. Until recently, Bloom held the same position at Family Dollar Stores Inc.; he resigned in early January after just over two years in the position and could be owed as much as $4.8 million in severance by Family Dollar, according to an SEC filing.

With two Pixar movies hitting theaters this year — Inside Out (June 19) and The Good Dinosaur (November 25) — Disney Consumer Products has a slate of innovative new toys in the works for retailers.

Both movies will have robust toy lines from Japaneses licensee TOMY, whose innovative approach, strength in international markets and ability to reflect Pixar’s unique storytelling in its product lines made them the ideal choice for Pixar Animation Studios’ most exciting year yet, the company said.

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Café has named Salil Bapat as CFO, effective immediately. Bapat previously was CFO for YUM Brands' Latin America and Caribbean region.

Whole Foods Market plans to cater to the health-focused community of obstacle racers with a new omnichannel partnership.

The natural and organic foods supermarket will connect with consumers via Spartan Race’s “Food of the Day” platform, beginning in 2015. Spartan Race is an obstacle racing company that facilitated over 130 races in 17 countries last year.

The Fresh Market is heading into the new year with fresh leadership changes at the top.

The specialty grocery retailer announced that Craig Carlk, president and CEO, and a member of the board of directors, has left the company and has resigned as a member of the board.

The board has appointed Sean Crane, executive VP and COO, as interim CEO while the company evaluates candidates to replace Carlock.

Family Dollar is urging its shareholders to support a buyout offer from rival discounter Dollar Tree with less than two weeks remaining before a vote on the pending deal.

Family Dollar shareholders are scheduled to vote Jan. 22. on whether to accept the Dollar Tree offer.

Family Dollar has rejected numerous approaches from Dollar General, the latest worth $9.1 billion in cash, in favor of an $8.5 billion cash-and-stock offer from Dollar Tree. It has cited risks that the Dollar General deal would be blocked because of anti-monopoly rules.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Brands Group, the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, announced that in 2014 its U.S. franchisees opened a total of 422 net new Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins.

Denver -- Sandwich quick-serve chain Quizno’s has named Doug Pendergast as its new president and CEO, succeeding Stuart Mathis, who resigned the company.

Pendergast joins Quizno’s from The Krystal Co., where he was president and CEO; he also has held senior executive positions with Craftworks, Church’s Chicken and AFC Enterprises.