Strategy

Benicia, Calif. — Cycle Gear Inc. has announced the chain’s first Wisconsin store in Brookfield, a suburb of Milwaukee. With this new location, Cycle Gear now operates more than 100 stores in 29 states.

The Brookfield store is now open now and will have a grand opening celebration from Sept. 13 to Sept. 15 featuring sales and vendor appearances.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has promoted Tammy Royer to group VP of managed care. Royer will report to Chris Hall, SVP of pharmacy services.

Royer most recently worked in the company's pharmacy division. In her new role, she will oversee all aspects of managed care, including contracting, maintaining relationships with managed-care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers and third-party payers and developing new strategic partnerships.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. will open its first franchise-operated Old Navy stores in the Philippines in 2014. Earlier this year, the company announced that it would begin franchising Old Navy stores internationally.

Gap will partner with Stores Specialists, which operates Gap brand and Banana Republic stores in-market, to open two Old Navy locations in the beginning of 2014 with plans to open additional stores by the end of the same fiscal year.

Ripon, Calif. — Togo's Eateries has announced the opening of its first location in Ripon, Calif.

The restaurant will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 5 at 11:30 a.m. In addition, a grand opening celebration has been planned for Saturday, Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Togo's in Ripon will also offer online ordering and catering services for in-store pick up.

Global consumer products company Jarden Corp. agreed to acquire Yankee Candle for $1.75 billion in cash from its private equity owner Madison Dearborn Partners.

Jarden offers more than 120 well known brands in three major categories – outdoor solutions, consumer solution and branded consumables – but Yankee Candle will instantly become one of, if not the most, recognizable brand in the lineup. Yankee Candle brand products are sold in roughly 35,000 retail locations in North America.

Chicago -- Jones Lang LaSalle has brought on Adam Cody as a VP in its Chicago office. He will work with executive VPs Lew Kornberg and Walter Wahlfeldt to expand the firm's retail tenant representation capabilities.

Big Lots overcame a 2.2% same store sales decline at its U.S. stores to post better than expected second quarter earnings, but indicated full year profits could be below the prior year.

New York -- Brinker International chairman Doug Brooks and First Horizon National Corp. CEO Bryan Jordan were elected to the AutoZone board of directors.

The addition of Brooks and Jordan give AutoZone a total of 11 board members. The company is due to report fourth quarter financial results on Sept. 25.