Marketing

Twenty-year Walmart veteran Laura Phillips is set to become the company's senior VP of sustainability, effective Jan. 1, according to GreenBiz. Manuel Gomez, who previously held the title, has accepted a new position with Walmart de Mexico and Central America as VP of strategy for e-commerce, the report said.

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is upping its store count in the greater Chicago market.

The new specialty grocer will open three Chicagoland stores on Oct. 14, with one in the city, one in Crystal Lake and one in Naperville. The openings will give Fresh Thyme seven Chicagoland locations.

The chain, which offers organic products at value prices, recently opened a central support hub in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The same day that TJX announced the retirement of its CEO, Ascena Retail Group named a new executive to lead its recently acquired Ann Inc. division.
 

Saks Fifth Avenue is expanding further into the specialty store business.

The retailer announced plans to open a 21,000-sq.-ft. store devoted to jewelry and contemporary women’s ready-to-wear in Greenwich, Connecticut. Earlier this year, Saks announced plans to open a standalone shoe store concept, 10022-Shoe, also in Greenwich.

Saks already operates a women’s-only store in Greenwich, which it opened in 1997.

All three of the Saks stores will be in walking distance of one another.

Teen apparel and footwear retailer Tilly's has tapped an executive who previously led the company to fill the shoes of Daniel Griesemer who stepped down as president, CEO and a member of the board effective Oct. 7.

Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in Texas on Oct. 10. A 28,000-sq.-ft. North El Paso store is located in Sunland Park Mall, and a 25,000-sq-ft. North Tarrant store is located in Presidio Crossing.

These openings are part of the retailer’s 2015 expansion program, totaling approximately 70 new locations during the year.

Jet is abandoning its fee model less than three months after it launched in order to broaden its appeal to shoppers.

The online marketplace startup announced Wednesday that it will get rid of its $50 annual membership fee.

Fred’s Super Dollar has turned to an operational executive from Walgreens to take over as executive VP of store operations.

red's announced that John Foley has been appointed to the new role. Mike Holligan, who formerly served in this capacity, will move to the open position of regional VP store operations.