Corporate Governance

ATLANTA — Former Home Depot executive Michael Esposito has joined HoneyBaked as its new VP, human resources, a newly created position. Esposito previously served as director of associate relations for the Home Depot’s northern division.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples has launched a new packaging technology nationwide that allows them to customize delivery box sizes to each order. Staples “smart-size” packaging, developed by Packsize International, is convenient for customers and also improves supply chain sustainability and efficiency.

Target is working its way across Canada beginning this week by hosting special events in 20 cities to build interest in the planned opening of 124 stores in 2013.

BOULDER, Colo. — Kraft is leveraging mobile technology to increase its relevance as the proliferation of smartphones changes the way consumers shop. It has selected NeoMedia as an approved vendor for mobile barcode management solutions, and now holds a worldwide, non-exclusive license to NeoMedia’s patents related to mobile barcode resolution.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Crosman Corporation, an international designer, manufacturer and marketer of a wide range of products for the shooting sports, has named Lenn Phegley as its VP of manufacturing. Phegley replaces Dan Schultz, who retired after 39 years of service.  

In his new position, Phegley will oversee all manufacturing operations, as well as the company’s environmental, health and safety, manufacturing engineering, design engineering and quality assurance functions.

Washington, D.C. -- On Tuesday, a majority of named class plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to challenge a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York granting preliminary approval to a proposed settlement of a long-standing antitrust class action filed by merchants against Visa, MasterCard and the largest banks. The merchant group will ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to deny preliminary approval due to the legal defects in the proposed settlement.
 

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Tuesday by the Conference Board showed that consumer confidence rose in November to the highest level in more than four years.

The confidence index climbed to 73.7, the highest since February 2008, from a revised 73.1 reading the prior month, indicating that U.S. household spending will keep growing.

A median forecast of 75 economists surveyed by Bloomberg projected a reading of 73.

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus Group reported Tuesday that earnings for the first quarter rose to $127.8 million, compared with $122.8 million in the year-ago period.

Sales rose to $1.07 billion for the quarter, from $1.00 billion last year. Same-store sales climbed 5.4%.

Mississauga, Ontario -- Target will sponsor a tour across Canada that will visit more than 20 communities ahead of the planned opening of its stores in the country, the retailer said Tuesday.

The tour will start in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and conclude in British Columbia in the middle of December. Target plans to open 124 stores in Canada starting in March and April 2013.

Claysburg, Pa. -- C-store chain Sheetz said Tuesday that it will open its new employee health-and-wellness center on Wednesday, marking the first LEED-certified building in Blair County.

The 11,000-sq.-ft. Sheetz Center for Shwellness is located beside the Sheetz Distribution Center in Claysburg, Pa. In partnership with Marathon-Health, the company will use medical staff to provide individual health and wellness coaching to employees and their eligible dependents.