Marketing

Synchrony Financial will continue to offer consumer financing to Pandora Jewelry customers.

The two companies have announced a multi-year extension of their consumer financing program agreement. The program, which began in 2011, will continue to provide Pandora shoppers with access to a range of payment options through the Pandora Preferred card program. Special financing will be available at select concept stores nationwide.

Russ Dispense, president of the King Soopers division of The Kroger Co., plans to retire on July 1 after 51 years with the company.

Dispense began his career with Kroger in 1965, when he joined King Soopers as a courtesy clerk. He served in various leadership positions in stores and district management through the years, as well as at warehouses, manufacturing plants and administrative offices. Dispense was promoted to VP of retail operations and merchandising for the King Soopers division in 1983. He also served as VP of real estate.

For Pet Supplies Plus, it’s all about convenience and service. The third-largest specialty player in a fast-growing business that has proven resilient even in hard times, the privately held retailer has found a sweet spot amid bigger box competitors with its friendly neighborhood-store positioning.

Henry Ford Health System, a six-hospital system headquartered here, and Kroger on Wednesday announced a new partnership designed to answer common dietary health questions and help consumers eat and shop healthier.

Henry Ford LiveWell Wednesdays debuts June 1 at all 126 Kroger stores throughout Michigan. Every Wednesday, Henry Ford will provide Kroger shoppers with a healthy recipe developed by registered dietitian nutritionists. Shoppers will receive a brochure including a list of all ingredients needed for the recipe and a link to a video cooking demonstration.

Fred’s on Thursday reported its earnings for the first quarter ended April 30, posting an 8% increase in total sales and a net income of $1.3 million. The company saw comparable store sales increase 1% for the first quarter, which is slightly better than the 0.8% increase in comps it posted in Q1 2015. 

Chip Wilson, the founder of Lululemon Athletica Inc., is not one to mince words.

Wilson, the company’s largest shareholder with a 14.2% stake, on Wednesday issued an open letter to investors in which he sharply criticized the apparel retailer’s management, calling its competence “uninspiring at best.” He called for annual election of the board to hold members accountable for Lululemon’s performance.

Walmart is reviving a familiar icon to be the symbol of its low-price marketing.

The discounter announced it is bringing back its yellow smiley image, which has been in hibernation for some 10 years. The image can already be seen in some digital advertising and will expand to television ads and select in-store signage next week.

The 95-year old co-founder of the North Carolina-based supermarket chain that became Food Lion has died at the age of 95.
 
Ralph Ketner and two others in 1957 founded Food Town, which changed its name to Food Lion in 1982.  

When it comes to providing online customer service, Land’s End is the one to beat.

StellaService, an independent company that measures the customer service performance of online businesses, recognized Lands' End with the 2016 StellaService Elite Award for exceptional customer service.

StellaService cited Lands' End for excelling in phone, chat and email, with a phone response time of less than 45 seconds.

The long-drawn out battle over the merger of Staples and Office Depot has claimed its first victim.

Staples chairman and CEO Ron Sargent will step down after the chain’s annual shareholders meeting on June 14. His exit comes just weeks after a federal judge struck down Staples’ proposed acquisition of rival Office Depot. http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/staples-and-office-depot-call-merger-wake-ruling%3Cbr />