Strategy

Real estate acquisition and management firm Jamestown has announced a comprehensive rebranding and revitalization program for its recently acquired property, Alameda Towne Centre, a 594,000-sq.-ft. open-air retail center on Alameda Island, Calif.

Austin -- Whole Foods Market co-CEO Walter Robb told investors at a Jefferies Global Consumer Conference that the now-300-store chain is expected to grow to 1,000 stores in the United States.

The organic grocer sees opportunity in Canada as well, and Robb said it expects to grow its store count there from six to 35.

Minneapolis -- Elaborating on previously announced plans to downsize its brick-and-mortar footprint, Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn said this week that the electronics retailer is launching plans to wall off parts of its big-box stores and sublease the space to smaller retailers, such as grocers, beauty supply stores, home furnishing outlets and others.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- On the heels of its report that it narrowed its loss in the fiscal first quarter to $65.5 million, Rite Aid Corp. said it plans to remodel 500 stores by the end of its fiscal year. It will also close 50 more locations, which would give it a total of about 4,650 stores.
 

Washington, D.C. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association announced Thursday it has added two retail industry executives to its board of directors during its semi-annual meeting held this week in Washington, D.C.

Joining the board are Louis D’Ambrosio, president and CEO of Sears Holding Corp., and Joseph DePinto, president and CEO of 7-Eleven.

New York City -- A report released Thursday by The Conference Board said that the rate of dismissal of CEOs in the S&P 500 due to disciplinary actions has increased in recent years, while 25% of boards of directors facing a chief executive succession have opted for an outside hire.

According to the 2011 CEO Succession Report, 51 CEOs in the S&P 500 left their post in 2010, making the rate of CEO succession approximately 10%, consistent with the average number of annual succession announcements from 2000 through 2009.

Orlando, Fla. -- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects LLC said Thursday it has been awarded contracts to remodel three Winn-Dixie Supermarkets in the Orlando, Fla. area.

The projects include a 35,000-sq.-ft. supermarket in Key West, a 45,000-sq.-ft. store in Pembroke Pines and a 45,000-sq.-ft. store in Apopka.
 

Nashville, Tenn. -- Genesco announced Thursday that it has acquired Schuh Group, a specialty retailer of casual and athletic footwear based in the United Kingdom.

The purchase price was $159 million.

Headquartered in Scotland, Schuh operates 59 stores in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, 16 concessions in Republic apparel stores and one of the U.K.'s largest online shoe websites. 

Fort Myers, Fla. -- Chico's FAS announced Thursday that it has named Pamela K. Knous as executive VP, CFO and chief accounting officer, effective immediately.

Knous, 57, was previously executive VP and CFO of SuperValu.
 

New York City -- Tiffany & Co. reported Thursday that it has shuffled responsibilities among two of its executive officers, effective immediately.

Patrick F. McGuiness, 45, has been appointed senior VP and CFO. He joined Tiffany in 1990 and has held a variety of management positions within the finance and merchandising divisions. He was promoted to senior VP finance in 2007, and the new appointment adds responsibility for the retailer’s investor relations program.