Marketing

It may have taken longer than originally thought, but competition authorities in South Africa cleared the way for Walmart to move forward with its acquisition of Massmart, the company announced Tuesday.

MIAMI, Fla.  — Winn-Dixie has completed the remodeling of its Miami-area store in Aventura that wil better cater to the community's Jewish residents with expanded kosher offerings.

The remodeled store also featuresa cleaner and more modern and attractive setting, hardwood flooring throughout the produce, deli and bakery departments, and a dedicated area offering free Wi-Fi access and complimentary coffee, the company reported.

At its annual meeting, Lowe’s chairman and CEO Robert A. Niblock continued to hammer on the theme of transformation at the nation's second-largest home center chain.

“Making home improvement simple for customers starts with making it simple for our employees by providing them with the right technology and resources,” said Niblock. “Throughout our 65-year history, Lowe’s has changed many times. To be successful in the future, we must transform the shopping experience for customers wherever and however they choose to shop with Lowe’s.”

DENVER, Colo. and MONTREAL — Molson Coors Brewing Company has announced that Andrew Molson, the current vice chairman of the Molson Coors board of directors assumed the role of chairman, and Pete Coors, current chairman, assumed the role of vice chairman, effective May 26. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Food Marketing Institute announced that one of its former executives is rejoining the organization, while another will be retiring.

FMI announced last Friday that Patrick Davis has rejoined the organization as its VP state government relations, where he will serve as the principal liaison between FMI and state associations. Prior to rejoining FMI, Davis served as president and founder of Alliance Consulting.

New York City -- The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) has announced the Outstanding Specialty Food Retailers of 2011. The winners are: Central Market, Austin, Texas; Fromagination, Madison, Wisc.; Olives Gourmet Grocer, Long Beach, Calif.; The Cheese Iron, Portland, Maine; The Fresh Market, Greensboro, N.C.; and ZZest Market & Café, Rochester, Minn.

San Francisco -- Gap will enter the Italian outlet center market, opening a namesale store at the Vicolungo Outlet Center near Milan, on June 2.

New York City -- Foot Locker announced a series of organizational changes designed to enhance its focus on its two key business units -- retail stores and direct-to-customer, and to strengthen the operations supporting each unit. The changes will take effect as of July 1.

The company will consolidate the reporting of all its retail store businesses under Richard A. Johnson, who will be promoted to executive VP and group president – retail stores. He will be responsible for all of Foot Locker’s domestic and international store banners.

New York City -- The Tommy Hilfiger Group said Friday that it will begin selling men's clothing in 90 locations of The Bay, a Canadian department store.

Gary Sheinbaum, CEO of Tommy Hilfiger North America, said Canada's "robust economy and increasingly discerning fashion consumers" influenced the decision.

The company described the setup as a "shop-in-shop," encompassing about 500 sq. ft. The shop will open by November.

The company has a similar set-up in the United States with Macy’s.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — 99 Cents Only Stores announced that retail sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, a 14-week period, were $366.4 million, compared with $328.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, a 13-week period. The additional week included in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 contributed an additional $26.9 million of retail sales, the company reported. Same-store sales, calculated on a comparable 13-week period, increased 0.5%