Strategy

Columbia, S.C. – Edens, an owner and developer of community shopping centers, has named Jodie W. McLean as CEO, effective June 30. McLean will replace Terry S. Brown, who is stepping down as chairman and CEO.

McLean has been a member of the Edens leadership team for 18 years. Brown became CEO and joined the company's board of directors in 2002, and became chairman of the board in 2013.
 

London - J Sainsbury PLC is increasing transportation productivity through enhanced accuracy. Sixteen Sainsbury’s depots are using an integrated transport management system from Paragon Software, which integrates Paragon’s planning optimization with wireless communications to enhance the accuracy and execution of each day's complex transport plans.

West Des Moines, Iowa - WineStyles Tasting Station, a boutique wine and craft beer retail chain, is launching expansion plans to grow its national footprint. The company currently has more than 20 locations across the country, and aims to grow the business to nearly 50 stores during the next several years through franchising.

New Albany, Ohio – Michael Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., reportedly did not walk away empty-handed when he retired from the company in December 2014. According to the Columbus Business Journal, Jeffries obtained at least $27 million in cash and other benefits.

New York – During World War II, Gen. Douglas MacArthur famously said, “I shall return.” Two board members of Aeropostale Inc. are taking the opposite approach.

Robert B. Chavez has advised Aeropostale that he will not seek re-election to its board of directors in 2015 due to his responsibilities and time commitments as president and CEO of Hermes of Paris Inc. Chavez will continue to serve until the 2015 annual meeting.

The Top 100 is Retailing Today’s look at the best retailers in America. We comb through annual reports and regulatory filings to arrive at our annual ranking of the best retailers in America based on annual sales, number of stores, e-commerce capabilities, profitability and operational efficiency. In addition to the annual rankings based on financial and operational metrics, The Top 100 also features: 

Target and Sports Authority are getting into the folding bike business, one of the fastest-growing segments in the $6 billion U.S. bike market.

The retail giants are adding Durban Bikes to their sporting goods assortment. “The demand for folding bikes is growing rapidly, and we’ve received immediate and enthusiastic interest in our product lineup,” said David White, managing director of Durban Bikes.

With the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs underway, what better way for Sears Canada to spark interest in its product assortment than the addition of a brand inspired by a player who on-ice exploits earned him the best nickname ever.

Beginning this fall, Sears Canada said it will introduce “#99 The Wayne Gretzy Collection” of casual menswear. Gretzy, for those who don’t know is a hockey legend and the all-time leading scorer by a wide margin.

As retailers feel the pressure to raise wages for employees, GameStop is focusing on education by giving staffers an incentive to enter the classroom.

GameStop is launching a new scholarship for its employees that would allow them or their children to go to college. The program is called “Power to the Scholars,” a reference to the “Power to the Players” slogan the company has popularized over the years.

The old expression, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” was taken to heart at Whole Foods where a recent fundraising campaign will provide loans to help people improve their lot in life.

Whole Food held concerts and craft fairs and thousands of small events that raised $4.6 million with the goal of alleviating global poverty. To achieve such a lofty mission, the retailer isn’t donating money to food banks to provide hand outs, but rather using the dollars to fund a microlending campaign.