Mergers & Acquisitions

Branded packaged food supplier B&G Foods elevated EVP and CFO Robert Cantwell to the role of CEO effective Jan. 1.

Cantwell, 57, a long time B&G employee, succeeds David Wenner, 64, in the top job following Wenner’s decision earlier this year to retire. Wenner will remain on the board and the company has begun a search for a new CFO.

Philadelphia -- Destination Maternity Corp. will expand into Israel through an international franchise agreement with Israeli fashion retail chain H&O Fashion Ltd. (H&O). Through this relationship, Destination Maternity will introduce its Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in the Pod, and Destination Maternity brands into Israel, with the first franchise locations expected to open in spring 2015.    

Enabled commerce volume at eBay surged 27% in the company’s third quarter with cross border trade showing particular strength, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the company from revising downward its full year outlook.

Dublin, Calif. –- Ross Stores opened 20 new Ross Dress for Less and eight new DD’s Discounts stores across 14 different states in September and October.     These new locations are part of the off-price retailer’s plans to add a total of approximately 75 Ross and 20 DD’s Discounts stores during 2014.  

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears Holdings Corp. has named Ronald D. Boire, executive VP/chief merchandising officer of Sears Full Line Stores and Kmart Format, as acting president and CEO of Sears Canada. Boire will leave his role with Sears Holdings and replaces former Sears Canada CEO Douglas Campbell, who the company previously said would leave his post by the end of 2014.  

Charlotte, N.C. –- Bank of America has reportedly released a report saying that Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is the leader in global e-commerce, followed by Amazon.com.    According to Benzinga.com, Alibaba currently holds 31% of global e-commerce market share and should grow to capture 33% of global e-commerce market share in 2015.    

Canton, Mass. –- Dunkin’ Donuts plans to open 40 new restaurants in Michigan during the next several years, in addition to more than 60 currently operating in the state. The retailer continues to recruit franchise candidates there with an emphasis on Flint, Lansing and Traverse City.    

Boilingbrook, Ill. -- Ulta Beauty has named Michelle Collins, president of Cambium LLC, a business and financial advisory firm to its board of directors, and as a member of its nominating and corporate governance and audit committees, effective Oct. 13, 2014.