Corporate Governance

WASHINGTON — U.S. families are increasingly embracing organic products when they shop, according to a study conducted in mid-January by the Organic Trade Association.

"More and more parents choose organic foods primarily because of their desire to provide healthful options for their children," said Christine Bushway, OTA's CEO and executive director.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Shortly after announcing the opening of its first firearms store in Minnesota, Gander Mountain came out with a new online and social media initiative aimed at promoting responsible gun ownership.

As part of its “With Rights Comes Responsibility; Secure Your Firearms” initiative, Gander Mountain today launched www.ResponsibilityPledge.com, where firearms owners and those thinking of becoming an owner can take a pledge of personal responsibility.

Boston -- Walmart Canada and Target Canada are very competitively positioned from a basket price perspective, according to a recent report by Kantar Retail.  

Based on the study’s results, Kantar Retail believes that Target’s “Pay Less” consumables prices will stack up well against its Canadian competition and that the retailer will prove to be a formidable challenge to Walmart Canada’s price position in the market.  

New York -- New York City-based supermarket chain Fairway Market is going public. The company said in a regulatory filing Thursday that it expects its stock to price in the range of $10 to $12 per share as it looked to raise as much as $164 million.

Fairway operates 12 locations in the greater New York City metro area and in on track to open a store this summer in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood and one in Nanuet, N.Y, in the fall.
 

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Company announced that it has appointed Matthew Ryan as global chief strategy officer. Ryan was previously SVP of global brand, franchise and customer relationship management for The Walt Disney Company.

New York -- Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren had a pay package worth $11.3 million in 2012, down 22% from 2011, the Associated Press reported.

Lundgren had a salary of $1.6 million stock and options awards worth $7.7 million, and perks worth about $76,000. The decline came from a 63% smaller cash payment for performance, the report said.

Macy's said the CEO beat the profit expectations for the year but fell short on cash flow, due to a big merchandise purchase at the end of the fiscal year.

Los Angeles -- Sport Chalet announced the company-wide implementation of order today, deliver today service. With this new service Sport Chalet customers can order merchandise and have it delivered the same day.

Richardson, Texas -- Samsung Electronics and Best Buy Co. have entered into a partnership to install Samsung in-store shops in more than 1,400 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores across the U.S. beginning this month.

By early May, 900 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores will feature the “Samsung Experience Shop,” with the remainder launching by early summer.
    

Whether you are a retail analyst or a casual observer, it can be all too easy to get lost in the negativity of recent store closings and retail bankruptcies.

San Francisco -- Jamestown said Wednesday it has acquired a real estate portfolio in downtown San Luis Obispo, Calif., comprised of 86% retail and 14% office space in open-air, multi-story settings.

The retail component, purchased from Copeland Properties, consists of seven assets, the most notable being Court Street Centre and Downtown Centre, and totals approximately 195,000 sq. ft. The portfolio also includes 28,000 sq. ft. of office space in three separate properties.