Marketing

Petco EVP of merchandising Brad Weston has been given additional responsibilities to oversee the retailer’s small format concept branded as Unleashed.

Weston was named president of Unleashed by Petco to oversee strategy and operations of the fast growing 100 unit operation and will continue to lead the retailer’ merchandising organization. Weston joined Petco in 2011.

Nashville, Tenn. - Cybera Inc., has hired Jeremy Landa as it new senior VP of finance Jeremy Landa. Landa will be part of Cybera’s executive team, responsible for providing strategic financial leadership to support the company’s growth and expansion.

Prior to joining Cybera, Landa served as CFO of Simplex Healthcare. During his career, Landa also oversaw the corporate strategic planning process for Gaylord Entertainment.

San Diego -- Petco today that Brad Weston, currently executive VP, chief merchandising officer, has been named president of the company’s small-format division, Unleashed by Petco. In this newly created and expanded role, Weston will drive all future strategy and operations for Unleashed by Petco, while continuing to lead merchandising for the Petco brand.

American Express added Walmart’s U.S. network of 4,100 stores as locations where customers can participate in the card issuers prepaid Serve offering.

Greenwich, Conn. — Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Retail Services has appointed Jessica Curtis as senior managing director in the Greenwich, Conn., office. Curtis will represent national clients in their expansion plans and work with local entrepreneurial retailers and restaurants ready to grow beyond their current locations.

The Hillshire Brands Company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Catterton portfolio company Van’s Natural Foods. Van’s is a leading better-for-you food brand of frozen breakfast and snack foods.

Hillshire Brands will pay $165 million for Van’s, which is expected to have net revenues of approximately $60 million in calendar year 2014. The transaction is expected to close in May 2014 pending regulatory clearance.

Milwaukee -- Roundy’s, Inc. will open Mariano’s Edgewater in Chicago on April 22. Edgewater is the fifth Mariano’s store to open of the 11 former Dominick’s locations acquired by Roundy’s in December 2013, and the eighth in the city of Chicago.

Store features will include a Vero Italian coffee and gelato shop, Squeez’d smoothie bar, and access to “Mariano’s Tastemakers,” 14 chefs and lifestyle experts who provide demos and advice.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market claimed the honor for best brand on Pinterest at the Shorty (the Shorties) Awards on April 7. The Shorties are an annual awards event that honors the best short-form content creators on Twitter and on other social media sites.

Whole Foods Market joined Pinterest in 2011, and currently has 180,000 followers.