Strategy

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Food Marketing Institute on Thursday named Hannah Walker director of government relations to represent food retailers on Capitol Hill.

When North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management took over as leasing and managing agent for Fairlane Village Mall – located in Pottsville, Pa. – in 2006, the impending economic downturn, a likely 80,000-sq.-ft. vacancy and growing industry consensus that the days of the small-market malls were numbered created a perfect storm of challenges.

Six years later, the 405,000-sq.-ft. property serves as a repositioning benchmark. Its success story is underscored by the March 2012 opening of Kohl’s and the impending arrival of Michaels later this year.

GOODLETSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General's quarterly profit surged 33% to a record $299 million, from $226 million in the prior year.

Sales increased 20.1% to $4.19 billion, compared with $3.49 billion in the year-ago period. Same-store sales rose 6.5%.

For the full year, profit rose 26% to $819 million, from $649 million in 2010. Sales surged 13.6% to $14.8 billion, from $13 billion last year. Same-store sales rose 6%.

Seattle -- REI revealed on Thursday that Urban Outfitters CFO Eric Artz has been named finance chief for the outdoor retailer, effective May 2012.

Urban Outfitters announced Artz’s departure earlier on Thursday.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy is shuttering all of its Beauty360 locations and ceasing operation of the Beauty360 e-commerce business to focus on the growth of its core CVS/pharmacy beauty business, the retailer confirmed on Wednesday.

As of May 19, all 25 of the Beauty360 locations will close and the e-commerce business will cease operation.

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack Corp. said Thursday it has made an agreement with Malaysian retail group Berjaya Retail Berhad that will expand RadioShack's global footprint across 10 Southeast Asian countries.

Under the long-term agreement, Berjaya Retail (Cayman) Limited as franchise developer is expected to open at least 1,000 franchise locations across the Association of Southeast Asia Nations within the first 10 years. Its subsidiary in Malaysia, Berjaya RS Sdn. Bhd., expects to open its first RadioShack locations later this year in Kuala Lumpur.

By Theodore J. Kobus III, Esq., [email protected]

WILTON, Conn. — Skin care company Beiersdorf, whose brands include Nivea, Eucerin and Aquaphor, has announced changes to its sales organization.

Tina Jackse has been promoted to the newly created position of VP global sales of Walmart, where she will be responsible for all Walmart business internationally. She will work collaboratively across the Beiersdorf affiliates around the world to help lead, develop and further strengthen Beiersdorf’s Walmart business globally.