Marketing

U.S. consumers have more options for grocery shopping than ever before. But German discount grocer Lidl, aiming to emulate the U.S. success of the growing Aldi chain, says it will “create a unique experience for American consumers that will be unlike anything else in the market.”

Target chairman and CEO Brian Cornell commented on the chain’s new partnership with CVS Health in a Q&A on Target’s blog, A Bullseye View. Here are some excerpts: 

Gap Inc. is planning to close 175 of its Gap stores and streamline its workforce by as many as 250 positions as the struggling retailer moves to re-ignite productivity and growth at its namesake brand.

The company says the series of strategic actions are part of a comprehensive effort to deliver more consistent and compelling product collections and engage customers across all channels.

Neckarlsum, Germany — Another German supermarket retailer has its sights set on the United States: Discount grocer Lidl on Friday announced it is establishing a U.S. corporate headquarters, in Arlington County, Va. The move comes as rival Aldi contines to aggressively expand throughout the United States.

New York — Apple has opened its sixth store in Manhattan, on the Upper East Side in a Beaux Arts building that was originally the home of the U.S. Mortgage & Trust bank in the 1920s. The site, on Madison Avenue, most recently housed a luxury retailer.

Wayne, New Jersey — Toys "R" Us Inc. narrowed its losses in the fiscal first quarter. But the chain’s revenue and same-store sales both fell amid a decrease in promotional activities and weakness in the baby and entertainment segments.

Toys “R” Us recently appointed former Domino’s Pizza chief executive David Brandon as its next CEO, effective July 1. He will take the reins from current CEO Antonio Urcelay.

Debra Berman, former chief marketing office of J.C. Penney, is joining Yahoo in the new position of senior VP of consumer marketing, effective July 6.

"In this newly created role Debra will oversee product marketing, help drive audience engagement and lead consumer brand strategy," Yahoo chief marketing officer Kathy Savitt wrote in a company blog post on Friday.     

Arlington, Va. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is publicly urging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to approve H.R. 1314, a bill to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and extend Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) legislation. The bill is scheduled for vote June 12.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets may be considering opening a smaller-store format, according to a report in The Gainesville Sun.

London, U.K. — Gordon Brothers Europe (GBE), a firm specializing in restructurings for the retail, commercial and industrial sectors, has named Heinz Weber as president, overseeing the European subsidiary of Gordon Brothers Group. Weber has more 10 years of leadership experience with GBE, including managing director, head of D-A-CH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), in a 20-plus-year career.