Marketing

Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) continues to expand its capabilities and has done so again with another key retail industry hire.

ECRM recently hired retail and consumer packaged goods data veteran Jennifer Zannelli to the newly created role of ECRM Data Sales. In this capacity, Zannelli will lead strategic sales initiatives for ECRM Data and also help develop new products and services.

Save Mart Supermarkets is revving up its marketing efforts with a multi-year agreement to co- sponsor the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.

Save Mart Supermarkets’ status as either title or co-title sponsor of the annual Cup event in Sonoma is one of the longest runs in all of NASCAR Cup racing. The new agreement is for five years, extending through 2020. First partnering with the raceway in 1992, Save Mart will celebrate its 25thanniversary as a race sponsor in Sonoma in 2016.

A former Target executive who led new format, new store and remodeling programs while also overseeing pharmacies and clinics is joining Rite Aid as executive vice president of store operations.

Bryan Everett will be responsible for all operations at the company’s nearly 4,600 chainwide stores and will report to Rite Aid’s president and COO Ken Martindale. Everett will succeed Bob Thompson, who has announced his retirement from the company, effective January.

New York -- It’s official: Toys “R” Us is moving out of Times Square and Gap is moving in, but not just with one store.

Gap is planning to open two separate flagships, one for its namesake brand the other for Old Navy, in the space now occupied by Toys “R” Us.

“We're pleased to confirm our plans to construct our newest Gap and Old Navy flagship stores in one of one of the world's most well-known locations – Times Square,” the company said.

New York -- Put your dukes up: Everlast Worldwide is going to open physical stores.

Everlast Worldwide, a global leader in the design, manufacturing, licensing and marketing of authentic boxing equipment and apparel, will open its first-ever U.S. stores this summer. The company, whose roots date back to 1910, will open three locations in Florida, at Westfield Broward Mall in Plantation, Pembroke Lakes Mall in Pembroke Pines, according to Licensemag.com.

New York -- A former Walgreens executive is heading to Lululemon Athletica. 

Lululemon has named Miguel Almeida as executive VP-digital.

Port Washington, Wis. -- Allen Edmonds, the 93-year-old premium men’s shoe brand, is embracing the digital age.

The company is offering its first-ever “Factory Seconds” flash sale on its web site. The seven-day-long sale starts June 26 and ends on July 2.

Cincinnati – The Kroger Co. is responding to explosive financial performance with a two-for-one stock split, dividend increase and share buyback program. Kroger has delivered double-digit compound growth in its dividend since it was reinstated in 2006, and expects further growth.

Washington, D.C. – Americans are feeling patriotic as July 4 approaches and putting their wallets where their feelings are. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) 2015 Independence Day Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, more than 156 million consumers, or 64% of those celebrating, are planning to take part in the July 4 holiday by attending a cookout, picnic or barbecue, spending an average of $71.23 per household, up 4% from $68.16 in 2014.

Aliso Viejo, Calif. - Johnny Rockets is expanding into Poland, with its first Polish location expected in Warsaw in early 2016. The casual dining chain has reached a development agreement with HDS Polska Group to build and operate 10 Johnny Rockets restaurants during the next 10 years.
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HDS Polska Group is a subsidiary of publicly-traded company Lagardere Services that operates a network of more than 800 outlets in the Polish market including convenience stores, coffee shops and full service restaurants.