Marketing

Vancouver, Wash. -- The international arm of Take-and-bake pizza operator Papa Murphy’s announced Monday it has signed a master franchise agreement with MAM Foodco to open 100 locations throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The first location, which marks the chain’s debut outside North America, is slated to open in Dubai, UAE, before the end of 2012.
 

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.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Finish Line has named Scott Hoffman as EVP, chief merchandising officer.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop has expanded its gas rewards programs to customers in New Jersey.

NEW YORK — Brown Shoe Company has acquired the Sam & Libby brand and reunited it with its founders, Sam and Libby Edelman. For the last eight years, the brand was owned by The Jones Group.

NEW YORK — Macy's is paying homage to the TV sitcom with its new, "What's in Store?" campaign.

The campaign, which debuted on Sept. 10, will consist of a series of comedic shorts featuring new Macy’s Herald Square store manager, Harold, as he collides with the many stars and wacky situations that make the “World’s Largest Store” a haven for the fun and fashionable.

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.

Manchester, N.H. -- Clothing retailer Big Dogs has opened a new prototype for future expansion. The new format has opened in three 2,400-sq.-ft. stores, in outlet shopping centers in Alabama, Missouri, and Nevada.

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.
 

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.