Strategy

Pasadena, Calif. -- The Disney Store announced Tuesday that it will open new stores with its new design in Japan, China, Italy, North America and Canada by the end of 2012. According to the company, the store opening slate includes an inaugural location in Shanghai, China opening in the fall, making it the 12th country to receive the interactive retail model.

Thirteen new and remodeled Disney Store locations are scheduled to open in North America in 2012, include state concept debuts in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Utah and Virginia.

New York City -- Former president Bill Clinton delivered a keynote address entitled “Embracing Our Common Humanity” to an overflow crowd Monday morning at the National Retail Federation’s 101st Annual Convention & Expo in New York.

In his speech, Clinton spoke about the inequality, instability and the unsustainable way of life which makes up the world today, and said there remains a strong connection between social opportunity and economic opportunity.

New York City -- A new global standard for retail payments designed to help exchange data between payment terminals and POS terminals and support new payment technologies has been released by the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) and EPASOrg, which sets card payment standards in Europe.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Wal-Mart Stores has named a replacement for Eduardo Castro-Wright, who announced his pending retirement in September. The company announced that Neil Ashe is the new president and CEO of the company's global e-commerce business, effective Jan. 16. Castro-Wright will assist in the transition.

Ashe is replacing Eduardo Castro-Wright who announced his pending retirement in September and will assist in the transition.

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced that Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is working with IBM software to help the company transform its online business to achieve greater speed and efficiency. The initiative is part of Abercombie's strategic goal to expand its direct-to-consumer capabilities and drive its e-commerce business to $1 billion.

San Francisco -- A Tuesday report by Reuters said that Wal-Mart filed a motion on Monday to dismiss a lawsuit filed last October by a regrouping of women whose earlier gender bias class action was ended by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bethlehem, Pa. -- Peeps & Co., the retail division of candy-manufacturer Just Born, whose brands include Peeps and Mike and Ike, has opened a store at Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota.

The new Peeps & Co. is designed to offer a fun, energy-filled retail experience that features customized music, lights, interactive displays, as well as current and historic video about the company’s candy brands. The merchandise includes a mix of branded apparel, accessories and gifts.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Realigning U.S. sales, consolidating U.S. management centers and streamlining corporate and business unit organizations are on the to-do list of Kraft Foods as it prepares to spin off its business in two independent public companies before the end of the year.