Corporate Governance

WASHINGTON — Walgreens president and CEO Gregory Wasson will be the keynote speaker on the second day of Shop.org’s annual summit, as will the company’s president of e-commerce, Sona Chawla. 

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kid Brands, Inc. has appointed Jodie Simon Friedman as the company’s VP, general counsel and corporate secretary. She replaces Marc Goldfarb, who resigned his position as general counsel and corporate secretary to pursue other opportunities. 

Goldfarb has agreed to remain available to the company as a consultant providing legal services.

As the turmoil with hedge fund manager Bill Ackman winds down at J.C. Penney, another of the company’s investors is making headlines. This time it’s George Soros, who according to regulatory filings, has added two million shares to his current 19.98 million in Penney holdings.

This latest venture makes Soros Fund Management Penney’s second-largest investor — behind Ackman.

HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Company has appointed Mary Kay Haben to its board of directors. 

“Mary Kay is a seasoned leader who brings a great wealth of relevant food and confectionery experience to her role as a member of the Hershey board,” said James Nevels, chairman of the board of directors. “She is an accomplished executive with extensive experience managing businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry and has an impressive track record in growing brands and developing new products.”

RACINE, Wis. — For the fourth year in a row, SC Johnson will be the major sponsor of the 11th annual free backpack giveaway at the mayor's back-to-school Stay-in-School festival Monday, Aug. 19, from 2-6 p.m. at Festival Park in Racine, Wis.

Students in grades K-12 will receive a free backpack filled with age-appropriate school supplies.

While the dust continues to settle from Walmart’s disappointing showing in the second quarter, it is worth noting positive developments and intriguing initiatives in key areas that got lost in the shuffle.

As discount retailers such as TJ Maxx and Saks Off Fifth get comfortable in e-commerce territory, closeout retailer Tuesday Morning is bowing out of the digital space, according to reports.

SEATTLE — Despite reporting a net income of $184 million for the second quarter, ended Aug. 3, up from $156 million in the year-ago period, Nordstrom cut its yearly forecast, citing softer-than-anticipated sales trends.

Nordstrom said revenue rose 6.4% % to $3.1 billion, short of the $3.29 billion Wall Street expected. Total company same-store sales increased 4.4%.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts announced the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchise group Travel Mart for seven new restaurants in La Crosse and Eau Claire, Wis.

The first restaurant is planned to open in 2014 and the remainder by 2020.

New York -- Swedish retailer Ikea has bought a wind farm in Ireland to power its furniture stores in Dublin and Belfast, according to a report by the Belfast Telegraph.

The Irish facility’s four turbines are expected to generate 25,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity and bring the total number of Ikea-owned windmills to more than 100 in the U.K., Germany, France, Poland, Denmark and Sweden.