Strategy

An omnichannel transformation initiative underway at department store retailer Belk is being executed with the aid of Accenture following a recent agreement between the operator of 300 stores and the global management consultancy.

Accenture has worked with Belk previously, but the recently announced agreement brings the consultant and retailer closer together as Belk looks to improve on its ability to provide customers a more seamless experience as part of its wide-ranging Omnichannel Transformation Initiative.

Extreme value retailer 99 Cents Only will use its entry into the Waco, Texas, market to unveil a store format considerably smaller than any of its other locations.

The City of Commerce, Calif-based operator of 339 stores said its new store in Waco will open on Jan. 9 and measure about 13,000 sq. ft. That size is well below the company’s average store size of 21,000 sq. ft. and also below the range of 15,000 to 20,000 sq. ft. the company had previously identified as its sweet spot for new stores.

Bentonville, Ark. — Wal-Mart is reportedly recalling donkey meat it sells in China after testing revealed the meat contained fox DNA. According to Bloomberg, Wal-Mart detected fox DNA in samples of donkey meat from Chinese supplier Dezhou Fujude Food Company Ltd., and has since withdrawn all products from the company from its shelves.

Youngstown, Ohio — Planet Fitness will open a new 24,000-sq.-ft. health club in The Mall of Monroe in Frenchtown Township, Mich., in March of this year. Planet Fitness boasts 700 locations nationwide and 4.5 million members.

Cafaro affiliated companies (www.cafarocompany.com) own and manage the regional Mall of Monroe.

 

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has appointed Ben Bard as VP and global chief compliance officer, effective Jan. 20.

Bard will be responsible for ADM’s Office of Compliance and will oversee the company’s compliance policies and programs, including the code of conduct, ethics helpline, global anti-corruption program, trade compliance, antitrust and competition law, data protection, privacy and conflict of interest policies.

Micro Center, a leading consumer electronics retailer, has entered into a multi-year agreement with the Warranty Group, a leading global provider of warranty solutions and underwriting services, which will allow the retailer to enhance its national Protection Plan program.

Under the new agreement, Micro Center customers will benefit from innovative warranty program solutions and customized services across a broad range of products.

Emeryville, Calif. — Jamba Juice Company has entered into a master franchise development agreement with Foodmark, the food and beverage division of Landmark Group, to develop 80 Jamba Juice stores across the Middle East region during the next 10 years. The first Jamba Juice store is expected to open in Dubai in 2014.

Foodmark operates several restaurant concepts and brands in the region.

Wilmington, Del. — Law firm Rigrodsky & Long, P.A is investigating potential legal claims against the board of directors of Arden Group, Inc. regarding possible breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of law related to the company’s entry into an agreement to be acquired by global private investment firm TPG, in a transaction valued at approximately $394 million.