Corporate Governance

Winn-Dixie customers in for sweet treat from Hershey’s
Winn-Dixie is partnering with the Hershey Co. to outfit stores with a “Candy Experience” section: a new concept that has replaced the traditional candy aisle in a Winn-Dixie in Baton Rouge, La.

Tests show that the new candy section, best described as a “store within a store,” can lift confection category sales for retailers by strong double digits. The candy experience sits at the front of the store, a dramatically different location from an aisle where consumers must hunt around for the candy shelves.
Target transformation a work in progress
It took a heightened level of promotional activity to drive marginally better than expected third quarter same store sales growth at Target’s U.S. stores while losses in Canada were less severe than the prior year.

Hartmann to appear on 'Undercover Boss'

True Value’s boss went undercover, and the cameras were rolling. True Value Company president and CEO John Hartmann will appear in the season six premiere of "Undercover Boss" airing on Dec. 14 on CBS.
PetSmart still for sale, focused on profit improvement

Amid an ongoing exploration of strategic alternatives, PetSmart said third quarter sales grew 2.6% thanks to the addition of 36 new stores as same store sales were flat.
iMyne lets shoppers pay it forward

Some of the biggest names in the retail industry have partnered with a new online shopping and fundraising platform called iMyne, which aims to make it easy for consumers to earn money and give to their favorite causes after shopping online.

Like other rewards sites, imyne.com gives shoppers the option of earning cash back. But it also allows them to send their cash back to charitable causes. Top retailers such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Target, Sears, Home Depot, Gap, Best Buy, Saks, Zappos and more have all signed up as retail partners.
Stage Stores rising on renewed optimism

The resumption of top line growth at Stage Stores enabled the operator of 858 stores to reduce the size of its third quarter net loss, but CEO Michael Glazer is taking a cautious view of the holidays.
comScore: Holiday online spending to rise 16% to $61 billion

RESTON, Va. — Total online retail spending for the November–December period will reach $61.0 billion, a 16% gain versus year ago, according to comScore’s 2014 holiday forecast. Spending using desktop computers for that period is expected to reach $53.2 billion, up 14% year-over-year, which is 4 percentage points higher than last season’s 10-percent growth rate.

Mobile commerce is predicted to account for $7.9 billion of retail spending, representing 13% of total digital commerce and growing at an annual rate of 25% vs. last season.
PacSun names former Guess exec as chief marketing officer

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Pacific Sunwear of California announced the appointment of Amber Fredman-Tarshis as its senior VP and chief marketing officer. She most recently served as CMO of Guess?. Fredman-Tarshis’ background also includes executive roles at Puma, Warner Bros., Victoria's Secret.
Nielsen – Private label perception among consumers mostly positive

New York, N.Y. - Perceptions about private label are overwhelmingly favorable. Almost three-quarters of global respondents (71%) say store-brand quality has improved over time, according to a new study by Nielsen.
Price is a primary driver of purchase intent among 70% of global respondents, but quality is important, too. Two-thirds (67%) believe private labels offer extremely good value for money.
Domino’s enters Kenya

Ann Arbor, Mich. – Domino’s Pizza is continuing its international growth by opening its first store in Kenya. Master Kenya franchise holder Om Nom Nom Ltd. opened a store in Nairobi Nov.8 and will open more stores in the city in the next few years.
"Establishing ourselves in Kenya provides an excellent opportunity for our brand to continue growing globally," said Ritch Allison, Domino's Pizza international president. "Domino's has terrific potential to offer an unmatched pizza experience to the people of Nairobi."
Tractor Supply Company plans new Arizona distribution center

Brentwood, Tenn. - Tractor Supply Company plans to build a new distribution center in Casa Grande, Arizona. Located in the Central Arizona Commerce Park, the facility is expected to begin operating in the fourth quarter of 2015 and will be approximately 650,000-sq.-ft., with the potential to create more than 250 local jobs.
Tractor Supply Company's new distribution center will have the potential to service approximately 250 stores in the Southwest region. Currently, the company operates more than 1,360 stores in 49 states across the country.
Guitar Center names tech exec as executive VP, marketing, merchandising and online

LOS ANGELES — Guitar Center has announced the appointment of Michael Amkreutz to the position of executive VP, marketing, merchandising and E-Commerce, for the Guitar Center brand. He joins the retailer from Systemax North American Technologies, where he most recently held the role of chief marketing officer.