Strategy

Rite-Aid has named Ken Black senior VP and chief human resources officer, effective immediately.   Black, who served as the drug chain’s group VP of compensation, benefits and shared services, will succeed Dedra Castle, who is leaving the company for personal health reasons.   Black will report to CEO John Standley, and be responsible for all aspects of human resources, including training, recruitment, talent management, compensation and benefits, labor relations, leadership development and diversity.

Watch out millennials, Gen Z is coming on strong.   With Generation Z expected to comprise 40% of the North American population by 2020, retailers must address the needs of this generation and understand its purchasing power in households, according to a survey conducted by HRC Retail Advisory.  

Burlington Stores is promoting three key executives, with the appointments all effective January 30, 2017.   The appointments include the following:    • Jennifer Vecchio, executive VP/chief merchandising officer since May 2015, will be promoted to the newly created role of chief merchandising officer/principal, and will assume responsibility for the merchandise planning, allocation and MIO functions.  

On pace to double its online business for fiscal 2016, apparel retailer J. Lindeberg is ready to take control of its e-commerce destiny.    The company, known for its men's and women's fashion and golf apparel and accessories, recently launched in Canada, and now has its sights set on digital expansion into North and South America. At the core of this expansion is bringing its operating platform in-house.  

When a retailer doubles its breath in two years, it needs an operating platform that supports accelerated growth.   The Fragrance Outlet knows this all too well. With more than 100 Fragrance Outlet and Designer Fragrances stores in the United States and Guam, and an additional 10 to 15 locations planned for 2017, the chain needed a platform that could support continued expansion, as well as omnichannel operations. The cloud-based Aptos Singular Commerce fit the bill.   

The much anticipated approval for the Walgreens/Rite Aid merger, through which Walgreens has proposed to pay $9.4 billion for the acquisition of Rite Aid's 4,547 stores in an effort to bolster its national footprint, did not happen by Friday morning as many had speculated.    Now there is a new countdown clock — the deal is set to expire Jan. 27 if not approved before that time.  

In its latest move to stay afloat, Sears is scrapping its associate discount program in favor of a new concept.    Sears’ employee discount program, which gave employees money off purchases at checkout, is transitioning to a service that will reward asso-ciates with points through the chain’s Shop Your Way loyalty program. The change, which will impact all active Sears Holdings associates, spouses and eligible dependents, is set to launch on Sunday, Jan. 29.  

Starbucks Corp. is upgrading its U.S. paid parental leave plan as it seeks to hire and retain workers in an increasingly competitive labor market.    Effective Oct. 1, eligible store associates who are birth mothers will be entitled to six weeks of paid leave at 100% up from 67% average pay previously, and 12 weeks of unpaid leave.   Store associates who are non-birth parents (including fathers, spouses and foster and adoptive parents) can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.