Corporate Governance

Littleton, Mass. – Dover Saddlery Retail plans to open its first store in Florida next month. Located in Winter Park, just north of Orlando, the new Dover Saddlery store will offer the retailer’s full line of equestrian products as well as in-store services such as a saddle demo program and custom boot and coat fittings.

"We are excited to open our first store in Florida and join the equestrian community of Winter Park and the surrounding areas," said Ken Cavanaugh, director of retail at Dover Saddlery.

Warrendale, Pa. – Two independent proxy voting advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis & Co., have both recommended that rue21 shareholders vote for a proposed acquisition by Apax Partners. As previously announced on May 23, 2013, rue21 entered into a definitive agreement under which funds advised by Apax Partners will acquire all outstanding shares of rue21 for $42 per share in cash.

Greensboro, N.C. – The Fresh Market has named Randall A. Young as its senior VP real estate and development effective Sept. 30. Young, 56, will oversee the company's real estate and development functions including market strategy development, site selection, store design, construction, store relocations and renovations.

Young most recently served as VP, real estate at Advance Auto Parts. He has also held a variety of real estate and construction roles at McDonald's Corporation, among other companies.

Akron, Ohio - Sterling Jewelers and Zale Corporation have reached a negotiated settlement of a lawsuit pending in The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The suit, originally filed in November 2012, alleged that Zale was engaging in false advertising by calling one of its diamonds “the most brilliant diamond in the world.”

The settlement will go into effect March 2014. Details are confidential.

Washington, D.C. - Import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to grow 5.1% in September over the same month last year as retailers head into the holiday season. U.S. ports followed by the monthly Global Port Tracker report, released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, handled 1.43 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in July, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available.

Dallas – Neiman Marcus is reportedly closing in on a deal to be purchased by Ares Management and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for $6 billion.

The rapid spread of a presumably false rumor about Jack Nicholson retiring from acting last week got me thinking about what a true Hollywood icon he has become and how he took a very unique path to greatness. Retailers aspiring to greatness in their social efforts may want to “be like Jack” in the way they apply social media technology.

Know your own strengths

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant Food of Landover, Md., division president Anthony Hucker has resigned his position. His last day will be Sept. 13, according to parent company Ahold USA.

Ahold USA said Hucker was leaving to pursue another opportunity. Ahold USA EVP operations Bhavdeep Singh will oversee the Giant-Landover division on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is named.

Hucker was appointed president of Giant-Landover on Sept. 13, 2011, having previously worked at Walmart.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Fresh Market has appointed Randall A. Young as the company’s SVP of real estate and development, effective Sept. 30. 

Young will oversee the company's real estate and development functions, including market strategy development, site selection, store design, construction, store relocations and renovations.

Import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to grow 5.1% in September over the same month last year as retailers head into the holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. 

U.S. ports followed by the monthly Global Port Tracker report, released by the NRF and Hackett Associates, handled 1.43 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in July, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available.