Corporate Governance

A letter that surfaced last week from Target executives to the company’s suppliers brought back memories of Tom Hanks signature line from the movie A League of Their Own about how there is no crying in baseball.

Sunbury, Pa. — Weis Markets on Monday announced it has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, a program, that will help the grocer assess the environmental and energy efficiency of the trucks supplying its 161 stores.

New York City -- Family Dollar plans to continue aggressive growth in the current fiscal year, with 450 to 500 new stores on tap, CEO Howard Levine said at the company's annual shareholder meeting Thursday, The Charlotte Observer reported.

The discounter also plans to open its 11th distribution center this year, to serve its stores in California where it has started expanding, the report said.

Levine said Family Dollar will continue its store renovation program, making over another 1,000 locations.

New York City -- Hudson’s Bay Co. has completed the acquisition of Lord & Taylor, according to a report by Women’s Wear Daily.

The report said that HBC owner Richard Baker has dissolved the umbrella company that had until now held the two chains, and that HBC would now operate The Bay and Lord & Taylor. The new entity will be run by Bay CEO Bonnie Brooks, according to the report.

New York City -- Starbucks Coffee Co. plans to sell beer, wine and more upscale food, including hot flatbreads and small plates, in a small number of its locations in Atlanta and Southern California by the end of this. The company previously announced the same plans for about half a dozen stores in Chicago.

Currently, five stores in the Seattle area and one in Portland, Oregon, now feature the extended offerings.

New York City -- As was previously announced, American Eagle Outfitters Inc. longtime chief executive James O'Donnell will step down Saturday and be replaced by former Levi's executive Robert Hanson.

O'Donnell, 70, said early last year he planned to retire. Hanson was named as his successor in November.

In addition, Jay Schottenstein, non-executive chairman, has become executive chairman.
 

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers Corp. announced changes in its executive management team. Bruce Johnson, executive VP and CFO has announced that he will retire at the end of 2012. Effective with his retirement, Lisa Palmer, senior VP of capital markets, will succeed him as CFO.

Naples, Fla. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) announced the election of Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president CEO of Target Corp., as chairman of its board of directors.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as chairman of this exceptional group of industry leaders,” said Steinhafel. “Along with the rest of the Board of Directors, I value RILA and its efforts to champion issues that affect our industry, our workforce and our customers.”

New York City -- John Donahoe, president and CEO of eBay, during a Jan. 18 earnings call expanded on the test of PayPal with retailer Home Depot.

A division of eBay, PayPal is experimenting with extending its on-line payment system to point-of-sale retail locations. In the fourth quarter of 2011, it chose Home Depot as its first national retailer for a limited test at five stores. PayPal plans to widen the pilot to 51 stores in the Bay Area by the end of the month, Donahoe said.

West Des Moines, Iowa -- Hy-Vee has launched a mobile app for customers to make shopping easier, faster and more social.

The smartphone app offers a number of interactive features to help customers with meal planning and preparation, gain access to store and pharmacy information and more.