Marketing

MODESTO, Calif. — Save Mart Supermarkets on Wednesday announced the hiring of Brett Wing as VP FoodMaxx operations. Wing comes from Cub Foods/Supervalu in Hudson, Wis., and brings 35 years of grocery store and senior management experience, the grocer stated.

Target’s plan to achieve $6 billion in Canadian sales by 2017 is doable, according to Bernstein Research analyst Colin McGranahan, who notes the company’s goal is dependent on achieving sales productivity levels higher than the United States.

The Eco-Me brand of unique dog grooming products is the newest arrival to the pet department at Target.

The brand said it secured placement in 450 Target stores for its line of all-natural pet cleaning and grooming products that are Ph-balanced specifically for pets.

News reports this week speculated Denver might be getting a new CityTarget store. Get used to seeing similar speculation in other major markets as the company seeks to tap a new growth frontier.

New York -- Supervalu plans to cut as many as 2,500 positions at its Albertsons unit. The reductions, which will occur across all 247 Albertsons stores in California and Nevada, will begin the week of June 17 and should be completed around July 1, according to a statement.

“A decision of this nature is never easy, but it is the necessary step for us to take to help improve our business and accelerate our turnaround," Dan Sanders, president of the Albertsons Southern California Division, said in a statement.
 

New York -- Kenneth Cole Productions said its board has approved founder Kenneth Cole's offer to buy up the remaining part of the company that he doesn't already own in a deal worth $245 million.

Cole, currently the chairman and CEO of Kenneth Cole, holds about 46% of its outstanding common stock and controls 89% of its voting power. He will pay $15.25 for each share of the company that he doesn't already own.

By Stephen J. Pargeter, [email protected]

New York -- Claire’s Stores Inc. has named James D. Fielding, former president of Disney Stores Worldwide, as CEO, effective June 18, 2012. Fielding, who resigned from Disney on Monday, will also join Claire’s board of directors.

“I look forward to capitalizing on the many growth initiatives available to the company, including new stores, development of the Icing concept, continued international expansion in markets such as Mexico, India and China, and optimization of e-commerce,” Fielding said in a statement.

New York -- J.C. Penney has angered a conservative group with a Father's Day ad that features a gay couple and their two young children. The print ad shows the two men playing with their 3-year-olds and reads, "First Pals - What makes Dad so cool? He's the swim coach, tent maker, best friend, bike fixer and hug giver - all rolled into one. Or two.” It is part of a spread in Penney’s June catalog, mailed out this week.

Toronto -- Loft, a division of Ann Inc. — formerly known as Ann Taylor — will open its first Canadian location at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, Ontario, in late 2012.

"Canada represents a natural step as we move to expand internationally, and we are excited to open our first store outside the U.S. in such a vibrant city like Toronto," said Gary Muto, brand president.