Marketing

Cary, N.C. -- C-store operator The Pantry said Thursday it has named Joe Venezia as senior VP operations for the chain.

Venezia most recently worked at TitleMax, and before that served in regional general manager positions at Wal-Mart.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu has named Kathy Persian as SVP and chief information officer. Persian joined the company in February 2010 in the role of group VP retail and merchandising systems, and later moved to group VP corporate planning, analysis and business process. Persian was named to the CIO post following the decision by Wayne Shurts to accept a position with another company. Shurts joined Supervalu in April 2010.

Foothills Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal Inc. said Thursday it has dropped its temporary shareholder rights plan, citing feedback from stakeholders, and has proposed to expand its board to include two nominees of activist investor Clinton Group.

In July, Clinton Group, which owns approximately 7% of Wet Seal, called for a sale of the retailer, expressing dissatisfaction with its performance, and made a play for four seats on the board. In response, the retailer adopted a temporary shareholder rights plan with a 10% trigger.

Camp Hill, Pa. — Rite Aid narrowed its second-quarter loss to $41.4 million in the second quarter from a $94.7 million loss in the year-ago period.

Revenue slipped to $6.23 billion from $6.27 billion last year, missing Wall Street’s projected $6.25 billion in sales. Same-store sales were essentially flat for the quarter.

Loveland, Colo. -- Bass Pro Shops has signed a letter of intent with Loveland, Colo.-based shopping center developer McWhinney to anchor a new northern Colorado development at Centerra.

The approximately 117,000-sq.-ft. Bass Pro Shops is intended to draw shoppers from Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and beyond.

“We are very excited to bring Bass Pro Shops to Loveland and be part of the Centerra development,” said Johnny Morris, founder and CEO, Bass Pro Shops.

PITTSBURGH — Dick's Sporting Goods has launced a new mobile application for iPhone and Android smartphones.

With the new Dick's Sporting Goods Mobile App, users will have access to all the benefits of the ScoreCard Rewards Program, the ability to locate Dick's stores in the area or make purchases directly from the app as well as be rewarded for engaging with the Dick's Sporting Goods brand on social media.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets announced that it has signed a lease for its first store in the state of North Carolina. The company said it is looking forward to continued growth in the state, and that the new location will be part of a new division based in Charlotte.

The 56,000-sq. ft. store, which will be located in Ballantyne, N.C., is scheduled to open in early 2014.
 

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Interior designer Cathy Hobbs has been named as the exclusive brand ambassador for Mythic Paint, a maker of zero-volatile organic compounds (VOC), zero-toxins and non-carcinogenic high performance paint.