Strategy

MINNEAPOLIS - Supervalu named Sherry Smith EVP and CFO. Smith had been the company’s interim CFO. She immediately assumes her new role and will directly report to Craig Herkert, CEO and president.

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Office Depot hasannounced a new partnership with the National Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliance (National IPA), enabling Office Depot to provide another cooperative purchasing vehicle for thousands of government agencies nationwide.

MINNEAPOLIS - Supervalu announced that it has entered into a stock purchase agreement for the sale of Total Logistic Control (TLC), a wholly owned subsidiary that provides logistics and supply chain management solutions to manage distribution, warehousing and transportation operations for leading food, beverage and consumer packaged goods companies. Subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals, the sale is expected to close on Dec. 31.

ABILENE, Kan. - Duckwall-ALCO Stores reported that net sales from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 decreased 0.6% to $110.5 million and same-store sales decreased 2.3%.

Net loss for the third quarter was $2 million, or 53 cents per diluted share, compared with net loss of $1.4 million, or 38 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2010.

NEW YORK - Gracious Home, a home goods retailer with stores in New York City's Upper West and Upper East side neighborhoods, as well as online at gracioushome.com, was acquired by Americas Retail Flagship Fund LLC. The company under its prior ownership had filed for bankruptcy protection in August.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Sports Authority has announced a partnership with ShopRunner (http://www.shoprunner.com), a members-only online shopping program that offers consumers unlimited, free two-day shipping with no minimum order size, and free shipping on returns, across a wide selection of retailers.

CINCINNATI - Just two weeks after announcing the exit of it's SVP retail operations, Kroger announced a replacement.

Geoffrey Covert, a seasoned Kroger executive, will become SVP retail operations, effective Jan. 1. He will be responsible for leading the company's programs and processes focused on operating efficiency, store productivity, and associate and customer safety., Kroger said. Prior to this position, Covert served as president of the company's Cincinnati/Dayton division for the past six years.

Atlanta -- Atlanta-based Jones Lang LaSalle said it has added local playhouse theatre company Broadway Classics Productions to Harrisburg Mall.

Located in a former anchor store situated off of Center Court, Broadway Classics Productions opened on Nov. 19.

The theater expects 200 to 300 people per show, with three to four shows per week.