Strategy

MINNEAPOLIS -- Best Buy announced that through Feb. 12 it is offering customers its buy back program for free. To promote the offer, Best Buy has launched a multi-media campaign that began with its Super Bowl spot featuring Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne and Justin Bieber.

Costa Mesa, Calif. -- Donahue Schriber said Friday that executive VP Michele Babcock will resign the company, effective March 31.

During her 15-year tenure, Babcock led the leasing and remerchandising of 33 centers encompassing four million sq. ft. to record performance levels, according to the company.

Babcock said she is retiring from Donahue Schriber in order to travel, spend more time with her family and focus on charitable pursuits.

No offense to the grammatically challenged recording artist known as Meatloaf, but the notion that “two out of three ain’t bad” doesn’t apply when the issue is monthly same-store sales at Target.

Los Angeles -- American Apparel announced Friday that it has named John J. Luttrell as executive VP and CFO, and moved its current CFO Adrian Kowlewski into the position of executive VP corporate strategy, effective Feb. 7.

Luttrell was previously CFO of Gap’s Old Navy brand.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods announced that it is providing shoppers with a new level of transparency about how farm animals are raised by now offering beef, pork and chicken certified under 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating system.

The rating system is the signature program of Global Animal Partnership, a nonprofit organization that facilitates and encourages continuous improvement in animal agriculture. Independent, third-party certifiers audit farms and rate animal welfare practices and conditions using a tiered system as follows: 

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Shopping center owner and developer Regency Centers said Monday that it has broken ground on a $10 million renovation of its Heritage Plaza, a 226,998-sq.-ft. retail center in Irvine, Calif.

The renovation of the Ralph’s-anchored center is scheduled for completion in November 2011.

MONTVALE, N.J. — Bankrupt grocer A&P has announced the election of Greg Rayburn to its board of directors, replacing Dr. Jens-Jürgen Böckel, who has resigned from the board.

KRONBERG, Germany  -- Braun celebrated its 90-year company anniversary on Feb. 1. Founded by Max Braun in 1921, Braun today is a globally successful brand and the world market leader in the foil shaver, epilator and handblender segments, according to the company.