Marketing

New York -- Target Corp. has added its name to a legal defense of gay marriage. The move comes four years after the company was criticized for supporting a strident opponent of same-sex unions.

Target signed a court brief backing marriage equality in a pending court case and publicly declared its support of gay marriage, joining the likes of Starbucks, Apple and Intel.

New York -- Sascha Bopp, CEO of Crate &and Barrel, has resigned. The retailer’s COO and CFO, Adrian Mitchell, has assumed interim leadership. A search is underway for a permanent replacement.

“This position will concentrate on supporting the company’s evolving business strategy and include a deepened focus on the customer experience and growth in the digital space,” the company said in a statement.

New York -- Aldi was recognized as the nation's low-price grocery leader for the fourth year in a row, according to a recent consumer survey conducted by Market Force Information. Aldi announced in December 2013 that it intends to open 650 new stores across the country during the next five years.

When asked to rank the top grocers offering low prices, the 6,200 consumers who participated in the study ranked Aldi first, followed by Costco and Walmart third.

Scottsdale, Ariz. - The Cold Stone Creamery will open its first store in Pakistan in September. Kahala Brands, the parent company of Cold Stone Creamery, has signed a master franchise agreement with Venus Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., part of the Venus Group of companies, spearheaded by Adnan Asad.  

Conway, Ark. -- The Central Landing retail development now underway in Conway, Arkansas, has added a well-established name as a key anchor for the development’s first phase. Will Wilson, president of Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC and the company’s partner, the Conway Development Corporation, announced the completion of a letter of intent with Dillard’s to become part of the Central Landing development.

The Arkansas-based retailer will become an anchor for the development’s first phase.

North Bergen, N.J. - John Bowlin has been appointed to the board of directors of Vitamin Shoppe Inc., effective Oct. 1. Bowlin currently serves as a director of Generac Power Systems Inc. and the Schwann Food Company.

Prior to his current role, Bowlin most recently held the position of president and CEO of Miller Brewing Company. Throughout his career, Bowlin has served in senior leadership roles at Philip Morris Companies Inc., Kraft Foods Company, Oscar Mayer Food Corp. and General Foods Corp.

Houston — JLL announced it has expanded its retail capabilities into Houston with the addition of Mark Raines as a senior VP. Partnering with Dallas retail brokerage lead Clay Smith and Austin and San Antonio market lead Todd Wallace, Raines will focus on JLL’s retail business including tenant representation and agency leasing and will serve as Houston’s retail brokerage leader.

Los Angeles — The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has inked an exclusive deal with developer L.A. Style to expand the coffee and tea retailer into Japan by the end of this year.

L.A. Style is a joint-venture partnership between fast-casual restaurateur Hotland Co. and Japan’s largest shopping mall developer Aeon Mall Co.
The deal ultimately calls for 200 stores across Japan.

Virginia Beach, Virginia — Tupelo Honey Cafe has leased 7,000 sq. ft. at Town Center of Virginia Beach, offering traditional Southern restaurant fare. This second Tupelo Honey Cafe in Virginia will be located at the corner of Constitution Drive and Main Street on the first floor of the newly constructed 4525 Main Street Tower, according to Divaris Real Estate, which leases and manages the center.

Dallas —
 SRS Real Estate Partners has hired Danielle M. O'Hara Murphy as a senior associate in the Orlando office. She will primarily focus on providing tenant representation for national retailers, as well as acquisitions, dispositions, investment properties and landlord representation.

O’Hara Murphy previously worked with CBRE, The Staubach Company and JLL.