Corporate Governance

CINCINNATI — Kroger has become a member of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Million Dollar Club. The USHCC Million Dollar Club recognizes corporations that are leaders in supplier diversity and integrating Hispanic business enterprises into their strategic sourcing and procurement process. Corporations qualify by spending between $25 million to more than $500 million with Hispanic suppliers in the previous year.

This is Kroger's third consecutive year of qualifying for membership.

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. — Wet Seal merchandising executive, Harriet Sustarsic has left the company to become SVP, general merchandise manager for True Religion Brand Jeans.

Sustarsic was serving as division chief merchandising officer and will remain with the company until Oct. 19 to assist with the transition. Kim Bajrech and Debbie Shinn have assumed senior leadership of the Wet Seal merchandising organization, which they previously shared on an interim basis from November 2009 through November 2011.

Cambridge, Mass. -- Dollar General is the overall basket price leader delivering a substantial savings to value shoppers, according to Kantar Retail’s second annual opening price point (OPP) survey. Walgreens, for the second year, had the most expensive total basket, driven by sharply higher edible and non-edible grocery baskets  

Chelmsford, Mass. -- The Kronos Retail Labor Index (RLI) rose to 4.5% in September, the highest reading in four years. (The Index is defined as the ratio of hires to applications within a given month, expressed as a percentage. A level of 3.0% means that for every 100 applications received, three hires occurred.)

New York -- Only 58% of consumer product goods executives view dollar stores as a strategic channel, according to Deloitte’s new Dollar Store Strategies for National Brands study. Deloitte advises that CPG companies may not be keeping pace with the explosive growth of the $56 billion dollar store industry, and should act now to maximize market share and profits.

In other survey highlights: 

Toronto -- Ann Taylor announced it opened its first international store on Oct. 4, in the Toronto Eaton Centre, Toronto.

A second international store set to open this November in Toronto at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

Seattle -- Paladino and Co., a sustainability and green building consulting firm, has acquired green building consulting firm S.D. Keppler & Associates, Rockville, Md. The two firms have joined to establish a comprehensive consulting offering focused on elevating the prominence and impact of green real estate programs within business.

Mahwah, N.J. -- The Brick Group, one of Canada’s largest volume retailers of home furnishings, bedding, appliances, and home electronics under one roof, has selected TD Financing Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank and an affiliate of Mahwah, N.J.-based TD Retail Card Services, to administer its private label credit program.

By Mark J. Rowell, president, Mammoth Media

Supermarkets, apparel chains and other retail outlets need clear signage with messaging that is sharply and professionally printed to draw in customers.

Philadelphia -- Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said Friday that new J.C. Penney stores have opened at two of its properties – both in Pennsylvania.

The stores, at PREIT’s Willow Grove Park in suburban Philadelphia and North Hanover Mall in Hanover, Pa, will feature the retailer’s new “Shops” format, encompassing 100 Shops that showcase apparel and home brands. As well, both stores will feature 1,700-sq.-ft. Sephora Inside J.C. Penney shop-in-shops.