Marketing

The nation’s leading natural and organic grocer proved its doubters wrong with a better than expected fourth quarter earnings report, a rosy outlook for the coming year and dedication to a long-term growth strategy.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. has named Jacqueline Hourigan Rice as senior VP, chief risk and compliance officer. Rice is a 17-year veteran of General Motors, where she most recently served as chief compliance officer.  

Chicago -- The marketing chiefs of U.S. retailers are optimistic about the upcoming holiday season, forecasting a solid 4.1% increase in overall holiday store sales, according to a recent BDO USA survey. The projection is in line with the National Retail Federation’s 4.1% expected holiday sales increase, and is a full percentage point higher than actual retail sales gains in the 2013 season.

Walmart and Sam’s Club suppliers are in for a holiday treat of sorts when Sam’s Club hosts an upcoming meeting of the Bentonville Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce.

For the first time ever, the chamber’s Walstreet Speaker Series will be held in the expansive auditorium at Sam’s Club home office in Bentonville, Ark., with Walmart’s EVP of merchandising operations Scott Huff serving as the guest speaker.

Redmond, Wash. -- Guitar Center and four additional new retailers and restaurants are slated to open at Redmond Town Center, in Redmond, Wash., later this year and into next spring.  

Archer Daniels Midland Company has appointed Juan R. Luciano the next CEO and also has elected him to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately.  Luciano previously served as company’s president and COO responsible for leading and running the company’s global operations.

Luciano succeeds Patricia Woertz, who will continue in the role of ADM’s chairman of the board and is expected to retire in May 2016.

Mateo, Calif. -- ShopRunner announced a new partnership with Alipay which will pave the way for Chinese online shoppers to buy directly from U.S. retailers’ ecommerce sites. Alipay is China's leading e-payments provider and is widely used by hundreds of millions of Chinese online shoppers.  

Jacqueline Hourigan Rice will join Target Dec. 1 as the retailer’s SVP of risk and compliance after holding a similar role at General Motors.

In her new role Rice will assume some responsibilities previously held by Ann Scovil who retired in March as vp of assurance, risk and compliance. Rice will also have responsibility for corporate security and Target’s suppliers. She will report directly to Target CEO Brian Cornell who joined the company in August.