Marketing

Au Bon Pain is updating its brand experience with a new customer-centric design that gives the store a more distinct personality. It also makes the space easier to navigate, with the layout redesigned to speed service.

“We’re taking the customer experience to the next level,” said Sue Morelli, CEO for Au Bon Pain, which operates 318 locations in the United States and internationally. “The response we’ve been getting to our new prototype has validated our decision to accelerate our growth, including going to new markets nationally.”

HERSHEY, Pa. — Just one month after filling in as the interim leader of chocolate giant Hershey, John Bilbrey officially took the reigns as president and CEO of the company.

Bilbrey also was elected to Hershey's board of directors, Hershey said Wednesday. Bilbrey, who served as the company's EVP and COO until May, replaced David West, who exited left his post after 10 years to become the chief executive at Del Monte Foods.

Irvine, Calif. -- Steadfast Cos. said Wednesday that financial services industry veterans Greg Brakovich and Jamie Shepherdson have joined forces with the company to provide advisory services and to facilitate the strategic expansion of the sales and the distribution effort for the company’s privately placed and publicly registered investment products.

HOUSTON — Men's Wearhouse has named Douglas Ewert president and CEO of the company, succeeding George Zimmer.

As previously announced, Zimmer will continue as executive chairman of the board of directors.

Zimmer stated, "I am excited to turn over the day-to-day reins of Men's Wearhouse to Doug. I know he has the same passion for this company and its people as I do. With him leading our efforts, we will continue to provide the highest level of service to our customers and our unique culture will thrive."  

Alexandria, Va. -- A poll from the Society of Human Resource Management, released Thursday, showed that the number of U.S. organizations with a formal succession plan in place decreased during the past five years from 29% in 2006 to 23% in 2011.

While less than a quarter of businesses have a formal plan in place, the numbers improve when informal plans are considered. More than one-third, or 38%, of human resources professionals said their organization currently has an informal succession plan or process in place (up from 29% in 2006).

Walmart is moving forward with what could be characterized as a roll out of its Neighborhood Market format nearly 13 years after the first unit opened in the fall of 1998. Just don’t call it a Neighborhood Market.

Au Bon Pain is updating its brand experience with a new customer-centric design that gives the store a more distinct personality. It also makes the space easier to navigate, with the layout redesigned to speed service.

“We’re taking the customer experience to the next level,” said Sue Morelli, CEO for Au Bon Pain, which operates 318 locations in the United States and internationally. “The response we’ve been getting to our new prototype has validated our decision to accelerate our growth, including going to new markets nationally.”

FORT WORTH, Texas — Pier 1 Imports reported a comparable-store sales increase of 10.2% and net income of $14.1 million, or 12 cents per share, for the first quarter, as it continues to implement its three-year growth plan. For the prior year first quarter, the company reported net income of $7.7 million, or 7 cents per share.