Marketing

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Panasonic Corporation of North America has appointed Betty Noonan to lead its marketing and branding functions. Noonan, who was most recently VP and director of Kodak's worldwide consumer marketing operations, will be responsible for integrating the company's marketing and enhancing the Panasonic brand.  

Eden Prairie, Minn. — McAlister’s Corp., a quick-casual restaurant chain with more than McAlister’s Deli locations across the United States, has chosen WAND Corp. to provide an enterprise level digital menu board solution for all McAlister’s Deli corporate and franchise digital sites. The project promises to be one of the largest U.S. deployments of digital menu boards to date.

COLUMBUS, Ohio— DSW Inc. and its largest shareholder, Retail Ventures have completed their previously-announced merger.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. — Dollar General Corp. announced that it plans to open its first stores in California in 2012 following successful expansions in such other western states as Arizona and Colorado in recent years.

“Our California stores will mark a significant milestone for Dollar General, giving us a coast-to-coast presence for the first time,” said Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Hasbro announced that it is reorganizing its global games business and moving its games marketing and games development employees from East Longmeadow, Mass. to Rhode Island. 

WASHINGTON — Target announced that it will provide new libraries for 42 schools in the United States as part of the 2011 Target School Library Makeover program.

Topeka, Kan. — Collective Brands reported that first-quarter 2011 net earnings were $26.4 million, or 42 cents per share, compared with $54.2 million, or 83 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2010.

The company reported that net sales decreased 1.1% to $869 million. Same-store sales were down 7.4%. 

New York — Gap Inc. plans to Athleta stores at the Grove shopping center in Los Angeles and at Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach, Calif., this fall, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Gap bought Athleta, which sells sells women’s clothing for such sports as yoga, running and swimming, along with shoes and other fitness accessories, in 2008. At the time, Athleta just an online and catalog business. The brand opened its first two retail stores in the last year, both in Northern California.