Strategy

New York City -- Apple Inc. has hired John Browett, CEO of Dixons Retail PLC, the United Kingdom’s largest consumer-electronics retailer, to lead its retail store division. The appointment marks the end of a seven-month search to replace Ron Johnson, who left the world’s most valuable technology company last year to become CEO of J.C. Penney Co.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Corp. has entered into a joint venture with Tata Global Beverages Limited that will result in the opening of the first-ever Starbucks locations in India. The 50/50 joint venture, called TATA Starbucks Limited, will own and operate Starbucks cafés, which will be branded as Starbucks Coffee “A Tata Alliance.” (Tata Global Beverages is the world’s second largest tea company and Asia’s largest coffee plantation company.)

Chalfont, Pa. -- Brixmor Property Group announced a 3,200-sq.-ft. Anytime Fitness recently opened at New Britain Village Square, located in Chalfont, Pa. 

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of New Britain Village Square.

The appointment of 16-year Target veteran John Mulligan as the company’s new CFO makes a lot of sense as Target will benefit from continuity of leadership in its finance department.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. named Lori Raya as president of its Vons division.

In her most recent position as senior VP, Main Meal, Raya had responsibility for the company's largest portfolio of center-store business units including ingredients, beverages and snacks.

Minneapolis -- Target on Monday announced it will seek independent pharmacists to own and operate the pharmacies in its stores in Canada. The chain said it will utilize a pharmacy franchise model for its stores north of the border, the first of which will open in March/April 2013. The strategy is different than in the United States, where Target operates its own in-store pharmacies.

Paris -- Carrefour, the second largest retailer in the world after Wal-Mart Stores, has selected French retailing veteran Georges Plassat, 62, as its next CEO and chairman.

New York City -- In a break with longstanding company tradition, Walmart is moving its greeters from its lobbies into the stores near the cash registers, Bloomberg reported.

In their new location, the greeters will be able to direct shoppers to products they are looking for, and also to shorter checkout lines, the report said.