Marketing

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Companies announced that that Marise Kumar has joined the company as senior VP strategy and modeling. She joins Lowe’s with more than 25 years of experience in brand management, general management and executive leadership, serving most recently as chief customer experience officer and chief marketing officer for Best Buy.

Strong sales of the top 15 brands at H.J. Heinz enabled the company to produce its 30th consecutive quarter of organic sales growth, the company announced Tuesday.

The company's top 15 brands collectively produced organic sales growth of 4.6%, led by Heinz, Quero, ABC, Classico, Golden Circle, Master and Ore-Ida brands. Global Ketchup delivered organic sales growth of 5% thanks to a strong performance in U.S., Brazil and Russia.

Positive same-store sales in 12 of 14 merchandise categories at Lowe’s pushed third-quarter profits up 76%.

Lowe's reported third-quarter net income of $396 million, up 76% from earnings of $225 million a year ago on revenues that increased 2% to $12.07 billion, ahead of consensus estimates of $11.93 billion. Same-store sales increased 1.8%.

Lowe’s president and CEO Robert Niblock called the results solid and said the company is focused on improving execution, delivering value and increasing product differentiation.

NEW YORK — The late Russ Berrie, former CEO and chairman of Russ Berrie & Company, and Judy Ellis, founder of the nation’s first baccalaureate program in toy design, are the newest inductees to the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.

Established in 1984, the Hall of Fame comprises 59 individuals who have been previously recognized for their significant contributions to the growth and success of the toy industry. Berrie and Ellis were nominated from within the toy industry and selected by a vote of TIA members and previous Hall of Fame honorees.

NORWICH, N.Y. — Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya has won the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 Retail and Consumer Products Award. Ulukaya was also awarded the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 Overall Award.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award encourages entrepreneurial activity and recognizes leaders and visionaries who demonstrate innovation, financial success and personal commitment as they create and build world-class businesses.

New York -- Lowe's Cos. said Monday that its third-quarter net income jumped 76%, helped by lower costs and higher revenue. Its adjusted earnings without charges and its revenue both beat Wall Street forecasts.  

Lowe's earned $396 million for the three months ended Nov. 2. That compares with $225 in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 2% to $12.07 billion from $11.85 billion. Same-store sales were up 1.8%.

CINCINNATI — P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program has won the 2012 Economist Social Innovation Award.

“As a Company, we are both honored by the recognition and inspired by our employees and global partners who have worked to deliver more than 5 billion liters of clean drinking water to families in developing countries, helping save nearly 30,000 lives,” said P&G CEO, president and chairman of the board, Bob McDonald.

Canton, Mass. -- Casual Male Retail Group reported Friday a loss of $1.6 million in the third quarter, flat with the prior year’s third quarter.

Sales dipped slightly to $88.7 million from $89 million, and same-store sales inched up 1.5%. However, same-store sales for Destination XL rose 13.8% in the quarter.