Strategy

Bentonville, Ark. -- Judge Charles R. Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has ruled against a request by plaintiffs in a gender discrimination suit against Wal-Mart who were seeking certification of a class-action suit against the mass merchandise giant. Referring to a 2012 Supreme Court decision about limitations on class-action suits, Breyer ruled that the individual situations of the plaintiffs are too different to be grouped into a single class-action suit.

NEW YORK — Soupman Inc., the parent company of The Original SoupMan, is about to see "the soup that made 'Seinfeld' famous" hit shelves at nearly 500 Walmart stores. 

The brand's soups, which are already sold in more than 4,000 supermarkets nationwide, include the classic soups that made the company famous: lobster bisque, chicken noodle, lentil and tomato bisque. 

Franklin, Tenn. – More than $11.6 billion of retail IT spending, or 35% of the total, will come from budgets other than that of the CIO. Of that total “black ops” IT spend, $6.6 billion will come from the activities of the CMO and their purchases of hardware, software, SaaS, and services outside of the CIO budget.

NEWARK, Del. — The Produce Marketing Association has appointed Cathy Green Burns as the association’s president, effective December 1, as part of its continued restructuring of the senior leadership team. 

In her new role, Green Burns will focus initially on leading board and staff team development as well as lending her insight to business development activities. She will report to PMA CEO Bryan Silbermann, who previously held both president and CEO positions.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Teen apparel retailer rue21 has unveiled a new retail concept, rueGuy, with stores in Shore, N.Y., Harlingen, Texas, and New Boston, Ohio. The company plans to open an additional four locations by the end of August, and is on target to open approximately 20 rueGuy stores by yearend.

Reports from Canada have Best Buy dabbling in e-commerce sales of beauty products. Best Buy Canada is now offering a selection of personal care, baby and health and wellness products on its “Viva from Best Buy” website, accessible through BestBuy.ca’s homepage.

Halton Hills, Ontario — Simon Property Group has announced the opening of Toronto Premium Outlets™, the first Premium Outlet Centre in Canada. The development is a 50/50 joint venture with Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust.

Chesterfield, Mo. -- Taubman Centers announced the opening of Taubman Prestige Oulets, a new fashion outlet center, located in the western-St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield. The opening coincides with Missouri’s Tax-Free Weekend.