Mergers & Acquisitions

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Monday announced the appointment of Peter Bocian as its new executive vice president and CFO. Bocian, 58, will oversee the company's financial functions including accounting, tax, audit, treasury, investor relations, planning and business development. He will report directly to Robert Edwards, Safeway's president, and will assume his new responsibilities on Feb. 19.

NEW YORK — Iconix Brand Group has gained a controlling stake of the apparel brand, Buffalo David Bitton from Buffalo International.

Iconix now owns 51% of the brand and as part of the deal, formed a new joint venture company with Buffalo International. Iconix will control this joint venture and consolidate its results.  Buffalo International will be the core licensee for the new joint venture.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu on Monday announced that Sam K. Duncan will become president and CEO, effective immediately. He succeeds Wayne Sales, who has served as the company’s president and CEO since July 2012.

Former converse executive Jack Boys is the new CEO of Cole Haan following Nike’s recent sale of the brand to a private equity firm.

Apax Partners completed the previously announced acquisition of Cole Haan from Nike and named Boy’s to the role of CEO effective immediately. Boys became CEO of Converse in 2001 and remained in that roles following Nike’s acquisition of Converse in 2003 through 2010. Prior to Converse, he was vp of global marketing at The North Face and has previously held positions with Avia, LeCoq Sportif and CVEO Corporation.

New York -- Sears Canada is letting go of 700 workers as part of a plan to "right-size" the operation.

The lay-offs will include 360 department store associates and about 300 distribution center workers, as well as some head office personnel.

Sears Canada, majority-owned by Sears Holdings Corp., has falling sales. It is also facing major competition by Wal-Mart Stores and Target, which is set to make its Canadian debut this spring.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic supermarket chain, Harris Teeter, reported that sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 increased by 3.7% to $1.16 billion from $1.12 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. The increase in sales was driven by an increase in comparable-store sales of 2.53% and sales from new stores, partially offset by store closings.

Matthews, N.C. -- Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc. reported that its fiscal first-quarter net income rose nearly 67%. The company earned $22.8 million for the quarter that ended Jan. 1, up from $13.7 million in the same quarter last year. The prior year's results included an $18 million cost to settle some pension liabilities and employee benefits in connection with the sale of its industrial thread manufacturing company.
    

St. Louis -- Retail veteran Maxine Clark announced she is stepping down as CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, the chain she founded in 1997. Clark, 63, said she will remain as CEO until a successor is found. She will also remain on the company's board of directors.