Corporate Governance

After 20 years of focusing on just five states in the Midwest, Meijer is continuing an estimated $750 million investment in its sixth state -- Wisconsin -- with the opening of two more stores in Wauwatosa and Oak Creek.

Rue21 inc. is launching an unconventional philanthropy initiative designed to resonate with the retailer's target market.

Shopko Stores is looking more closely at how it uses store space and how customers fill their baskets.

The retailer has renewed its license of APT’s Test & Learn and Market Basket Analyzer software and APT’s Space Planning Optimizer software. 

Eliminating the multiple nameplates under which Target operates various store types is Chairman and CEO Brian Cornell’s latest move to simplify the retailer’s operations and identity.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney nabbed a key executive from Home Depot and also one from Target Corp. as it seeks to maximize the power, reach and integration of its omnichannel efforts.
 
The department store retailer named Michael Amend, former VP of online, mobile and omnichannel for Home Depot, to the position of executive VP of omnichannel effective immediately. He fills a position previously held by Mike Rodgers who left the company.

New York -- Uniqlo, the fast-growing fast-fashion division of Japan’s Fast Retailing, is expanding its relationship with Disney Consumer Products. The retailer has even chosen a Disney property as the site of its first store in Florida.

Uniqlo on Monday announced a global collaboration with Disney Consumer Products to produce a new line called “Magic for All.”  In addition to new products, the collaboration will include pop-up displays, and in-store and online customer experiences.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Ken Martindale, one of the key architects behind Rite Aid's recent growth, on Monday was promoted to the new position of CEO Rite Aid stores.

The move is designed to enable Rite Aid chairman and CEO John Standley to focus on expanding the role the drug store plays in healthcare delivery with its EnvisionRx, RediClinic and Health Dialog divisions.
 
Martindale, 55, will continue to report to Standley and will retain his role as president of Rite Aid.
 

Canton, Mass. -- A Rockport veteran is returning to head up the company he left more than 30 years ago.

On Monday, investment firm Berkshire Partners and New Balance Holding completed their acquisition of The Rockport Company from the Adidas Group. As part of the transaction, New Balance affiliate Drydock Footwear will join with Rockport to form The Rockport Group. Bob Infantino was named CEO of the reorganized company.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets is racking up another record year even as other grocers, including Whole Foods Market, are struggling under the weight of new competition.

Publix reports that sales for the second quarter were $8 billion, a 6% increase from last year’s $7.5 billion. Same store sales for the second quarter increased 4.1%.

Net earnings were $482.7 million, compared to $404.1 million in 2014, an increase of 19.5%.