Strategy

New York -- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia said Monday it has named Michael Robinson to the newly created position of VP e-commerce.

Robinson was most recently Anthropologie’s head of e-commerce for Europe and United Kingdom, and was responsible for launching the Anthropologie catalog and website in 1998, as well as introducing the retailer’s loyalty card program.

He has also held managerial and planning positions with Banana Republic and Smith & Hawken.

Atlanta -- A report released Monday by First Data Corp. found that same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EPT cards and checks at U.S. retail locations rose 7% year-over-year. April’s growth was 5.7%.

The First Data SpendTrend analysis for the full month of May 2012 showed that, although consumers continued to spend at a healthy clip early in the month, activity did slow as the month progressed. Transaction growth in May held fairly steady at 5.9%.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets has closed on its purchase of three former Genuardi's stores and is slated to reopen them this weekend.

In advance of these store openings on June 16, located in Conshohocken, Doylestown and East Norristown, Pa., Weis said it will reopen each store's pharmacy Monday at 12 noon to minimize prescription service disruption.

Weis added that it has hired 218 former Genuardi employees and has added 150 positions, which will allow each store to double the number of cashiers it employs and increase front-end service.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- McDonald's Corp. reported Monday that global same-store sales grew 3.3% in May, led by a 4.4% gain in the United States and 2.9% growth in Europe.

The Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa were down 1.7%.

"I am confident we will continue to deliver long-term sustainable growth as we remain focused on the opportunities that will enable Brand McDonald's to further extend our relevance to the 68 million customers who we serve around the world every day," said Jim Skinner, CEO.

New York -- A Monday report by Reuters said that New York City's pension funds have filed a derivative lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. based on reported allegations of bribery in Mexico and a possible cover-up by Wal-Mart officials.
 
The suit, filed in Delaware Chancery Court, alleges that Wal-Mart's officers and board of directors breached their fiduciary duty to both the company and shareholders by failing to properly handle claims of alleged bribery and apparently attempting to cover up details of the issue.

ST. LOUIS — Save-A-Lot, a wholly owned subsidiary of Supervalu, on Monday launched a national search for a team of two interns to serve as brand ambassadors — or more aptly titled Road Scholars — for its 2012 Fuel Your Family Road Trip campaign.

The winning team will hit the road at the end of July for a four-week tour to 12 U.S. cities to personally bring the brand to consumers and help show people how Save-A-Lot can help families with savings of up to 40%, compared with traditional grocery stores.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Brands Group said Monday that it has named current CFO Neil Moses as its new chief global strategy officer, charged with driving the company's strategic initiatives.

Paul Carbone, formerly VP finance and strategy, is being promoted to CFO.
 

Sunbury, Pa. -- Weis Markets has closed on its purchase of three former Genuardi's stores and is slated to reopen them on June 16.

Ahead of the three openings -- in Conshohocken, Doylestown and East Norristown, Pa. – Weis said it opened each store's pharmacy Monday at noon to minimize prescription service disruption.