Marketing

Armonk, N.Y. – In-store sales of women’s clothing are expected to see a 9.2% increase in the third quarter of 2012 versus the year-ago period, according to a just-released IBM analytics-based forecast of U.S. retail sales data. The report predicts a 6.2% increase in sales of children’s clothing and a 5.2% increase in footwear. Men’s clothing, however, is forecast to lag, dropping 6.7%.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Dollar General will now offer Westerm Union branded  general-purpose reloadable (GPR) prepaid cards at Dollar General’s more than 10,000 stores in 40 states.

Orlando, Fla. -- Convenience-store operator WaWa has entered the Florida market, opening a store across from Sea World in Orlando. Four additional units are scheduled to open in the Orlando market during the next four five weeks.

Chicago -- The first of Target’s smaller-format CityTarget urban stores are slated to open on July 25 in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle.

Two years in the making, the smaller stores will feature broad offerings in a space two-thirds the size of a regular Target store – or 80,000 sq. ft. to 100,000 sq. ft., compared with 135,000 sq. ft. to 175,000 sq. ft.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Royal Ahold's American division has split its EVP marketing and merchandising position in two, the company said.

Ahold USA announced the appointment of Erik Keptner to the newly created position of EVP marketing. The search for an EVP merchandising is ongoing, the company said. Ahold USA operates the Giant-Carlisle, Giant-Landover and Stop & Shop chains and the online grocery service Peapod.

Denver -- Quick-serve sandwich chain Quiznos announced that it has named Stuart Mathis as president and CEO, effective July 30.

The company also named Susan Lintonsmith as chief marketing officer.

Mathis was previously president of The UPS Store. He succeeds Greg MacDonald, who is stepping down as Quiznos' president and CEO, effective immediately. 

Lintonsmith was previously senior VP and CMO of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.
 

ABILENE, Kan. — Alco this week began offering products for sale on its website. The company has launched an e-commerce site that will offer more than 10,000 items. Features of the site include "24/7" online shopping in a secure, searchable web environment, plus delivery to home or place of business.

Williamsville, N.Y. -- Tops Friendly Markets has entered an agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers affiliate GU Markets to acquire 21 supermarkets located in upstate New York and Vermont.

Tops said the acquisition will bring its number of operating stores to 153 and will expand Tops' footprint further into areas of northern and eastern New York State and neighboring northern Vermont. For the time being, 20 of the stores will continue to operate under the Grand Union banner, while the other store will continue to operate under the Bryant's banner.