Marketing

Canada’s leading grocer has developed a novel idea that its supermarket competitors in the U.S. may want to think about using.

Loblaw has introduced Naturally Imperfect-labeled produce. The company describes the new line as the smaller, misshapen produce that still tastes great and is good for you. The produce will now be available at stores in Ontario and Quebec.

The Children’s Place Inc. on Thursday accelerated its store closing plans to 200 stores through 2017 (including 76 stores closed in 2013 and 2014), up from its previous announced target of 125 stores through 2016.

New York -- Juicy Couture, which was acquired by Authentic Brands Group in 2013, may no longer be a coveted brand in the United States, but it is still has great appeal in foreign markets. The company expects to open 133 stores (through its various licensing partners) during the next five years, according to Women's Wear Daily.

Juicy will open 31 international locations in eight countries this year, the report said. Three of the countries — India, South Africa and Azerbaijan — will be new market entries for the brand.

Houston -- Baker Katz, an X Team International partner and full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm, announced the acquisition of the former Baytown Seafood establishment situated on 30,000 sq. ft. of land in Houston.

The property is located at the cross streets of I-10 East and Haden Road. Baker Katz plans to demolish the current building to construct an 8,000-sq.-ft. building occupied by a combination of restaurant and retail tenants.

Columbus, Ohio – Expenses, primarily related to incremental marketing activities, helped decrease profits at Express Inc. during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. But the chain beat Wall Street analysts earnings and sales estimates while also giving an upbeat outlook for its current quarter.

Express reported net income of $41.8 million, down 16% from $49.7 million last year.

Baltimore - Under Armour has opened its first-ever digital headquarters, in downtown Austin, Texas. The 35,000-plus-sq.-ft. “Connected Fitness” center employs more than 100 engineers, data scientists, designers, and product innovators in digital health, fitness, and sports, and is expected to grow substantially by the end of the year. It is the sporting goods company’s facility solely dedicated to digital innovation.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. laid off 1,700 mostly headquarters employees on Tuesday and is eliminating 1,400 open positions. According to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Target notified employees of the workforce reduction in an email.

The cuts are part of a two-year, $2 billion corporate restructuring. Roughly 13% of the jobs in Target’s Minneapolis workforce will be eliminated, the report noted.

Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS Health is making a series of organizational changes to further drive enterprise alignment and fuel its growth strategy.

The changes include:

•The promotion of Josh Flum to executive VP, pharmacy services. In addition to overseeing retail pharmacy operations, pharmacy professional services, and payer relations, Flum will also have oversight of a new Enterprise Product Innovation and Development team, and a new Enterprise Pharmacy Growth team.

Phoenix – PetSmart on Wednesday named industry veteran Michael J. Massey as its president and CEO, effective immediately. Massey, who most recently served as CEO and president of Collective Brands Inc., replaces David Lenhardt, who stepped down upon the closing of private equity firm BC Partners’s acquisition of the pet supplies retailer.  Also, BC Partners managing partner Raymond Svider has been appointed non-executive chairman.

Houston – Salata, a custom salad and salad wrap restaurant eatery, will open a 26,000-sq.-ft corporate complex in West Houston. Construction on the facility began in January and completion is estimated for summer 2015.

The headquarters will house offices for the chain's corporate employees, a training restaurant for franchisees and managers and a production facility. It will also feature a 2,500-sq.-ft. restaurant open to the public during regular lunch hours, which will also serve as a test kitchen and training restaurant.