Marketing

Kirkland’s reported improved year-over-year net sales for the full fiscal year 2014 but a decrease in the fourth quarter, thanks to severe weather-related declines in traffic throughout December, which affected important weekend sales days.

Net sales increased 2.7% to $460.6 million during fiscal 2014, compared with $448.4 million the prior fiscal year, while same-store sales rose 0.5%.

During the fourth quarter, net sales decreased 4.2% to $156.1 million, compared with $162.9 million in the previous fourth quarter. Same-store sales were flat.

Shopko is leveraging social media to tout its expanded brand assortment. The retailer is holding an eight-week Facebook giveaway offering participants a chance to win prize packages featuring some of the national brands it carries.

Now through March 28, customers can enter to win a Rachael Ray cookware set, Dyson upright vacuum, SodaStream, Keurig coffee maker, Crock Pot, Ninja kitchen system, KitchenAid stand mixer or Shark steam mop.

Virginia Beach, Va. — Ingenuity Development has entered into a strategic alliance with a New York Stock Exchange-traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to combine forces on joint venture opportunities for retail and mixed-use projects in the Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast. Ingenuity will also see opportunities to work with its affiliate, Divaris Real Estate, to lease and manage completed projects.

San Francisco -- The Levi's brand has chosen a customized advertising agency model. Effective immediately, the Levi's brand will transition to a combined agency team from Draftfcb Worldwide and The House Worldwide to deliver global marketing, creative and strategic support.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts has entered multi-unit store development agreement with five existing franchise groups to develop 22 new restaurants throughout the Greater Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area over the next several years. The five franchise groups and their development plans include:

• Existing franchisee Arun Mandi plans to develop eight restaurants throughout Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Mandi currently operates 28 locations in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. His next restaurant is planned to open in 2015.

Despite inclement weather this winter, Scotts Miracle-Gro’s financial results for the first quarter ended Dec. 28 showed signs of improvement.

Net sales for the quarter totaled $196.4 million, down 5% from $205.8 million during the same quarter a year ago. The company pointed to the timing of pre-season shipments to retailers for the decline.

Salisbury, N.C. -- Food Lion has unveiled a new online tool, MVP Coupon Hub, to make accessing grocery coupons online easier for customers. The new tool, found on the grocer's website, features convenient load-to-card and printable coupons on customers' favorite items.

"We're proud to bring our customers the new MVP Coupon Hub, which helps customers save by offering hundreds of additional coupons," said Keith Nicks, director of loyalty and digital marketing for Food Lion.

New York -- Fairway Holdings Corp., operators of Fairway Markets, announced that CEO Herbert Ruetsch will retire after fifteen years with the company, including the last two years as chief executive.  Ruetsch will remain a special advisor to Fairway and continue to provide input into certain merchandising and product initiatives.

William Sanford, president of Fairway, will assume the role of interim CEO while the board undertakes a search for a permanent replacement.