Strategy

SKOKIE, Ill. — A member-owned cooperative serving the food industry has appointed a new leader.

Topco has named Randall Skoda as its new president and CEO following the retirement of Steven Lauer. Skoda has served as interim president and CEO since December of last year. Prior to that, Skoda served as EVP for four years.

Lancaster, Pa. -- Giant Food Stores announced that roof-mounted solar photovoltaic systems have been installed and are operational at two of its locations in Lancaster and Pottstown. In-store flat panel monitors will reveal to customers in real time how the system operates and the energy savings being achieved.

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax announced that it intends to hold its annual meeting of shareholders at 2 p.m. (Central Daylight Time) on April 30.

The meeting will be held at the Hotel Arista at City Gate Centre, Naperville, Ill.
 

Nordstrom’s transition from a retailer best known as an operator of upscale department stores to an off-price discounter is poised to continue in 2012 as expansion plans for Rack outlet stores outpace those of full line Nordstrom stores.

Glendale, Ariz. -- Westwood Financial Corp. has sold Olive Square, an 86,225-sq-.ft. retail center in Glendale, Ariz., to seller North American Realty Acquisition Corporation for $6.3 million.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Chick-fil-A received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for its restaurant at Montgomery Plaza, Fort Worth, Texas. It is the first LEED Gold-certified restaurant in Fort Worth. The chain has committed to build four more LEED designed restaurants in 2012, and will incorporate energy conservation measures and recycled materials into all new restaurant construction activities.

New York -- Advance Auto Parts achieved record sales, profits and store expansion last year and with many of the economic factors that contributed to its 2011 success, expected to remain in place this year expectations are high that 2012 will be another one for the record books.
 

New York City -- Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN Inc., is staying at the home shopping giant and is not interested in becoming the next CEO at Avon Products Inc., according to Women's Wear Daily.

The report cited a letter Grossman sent to top HSN executives at HSN.

Previous reports had Grossman as a top candidate to replace Avon CEO Andrea Jung, who agreed in December to resign.