Events

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Luxury appliance maker Jenn-Air has signed on as the exclusive major appliance sponsor of the second annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival.

This 2012 Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival will feature more than 50 events including wine seminars, unique dining experiences, and cooking demonstrations. The event will host more than 130 celebrated chefs and 200 acclaimed wineries, with proceeds raised benefiting St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.

Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based Taubman Centers, Inc. has officially broken ground on its new Taubman Prestige Outlets Chesterfield project by hosting a groundbreaking ceremony on July 27.

As part of the ceremony, Taubman revealed a variety of store names that will make their debuts at the new outlet mall, among them Banana Republic Factory Store, Gap Outlet, J. Crew Factory, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, 2b Bebe, American Eagle Outfitters - Off Campus, and Sunglass Hut.

Chicago -- General Growth Properties said Friday it has established a partnership with online charity organization DonorsChoose.org as part of GGP’s Celebrate Schools! philanthropic initiative.

The partnership is designed to assist local schools and teachers with supplies and funding.

MONTREAL — Toy manufacturer Mega Brands reported that net sales in the second quarter increased 13% to $94.5 million compared with $83.9 million in the corresponding 2011 period.

Toy sales increased 14% compared to the second quarter of 2011, driven by higher product shipments in the preschool and boys construction categories. Toy sales have increased year-over-year in ten of the last 11 quarters.

Sales of stationery and ctivities products were up 10%, the fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth in this segment.

General Growth Properties malls across the country have partnered with online charity DonorsChoose.org for its Celebrate Schools! philanthropic initiative. 

The partnership is designed to shine the spotlight on the importance of a quality education and assist local schools and teachers with much-needed supplies and funding.

Brentwood, Tenn. -- Farm and ranch store chain Tractor Supply Co. reported Wednesday that net income for the second quarter rose 17% to $106.6 million, compared with $91.2 million in the same period last year.

Sales increased 9.6% to $1.29 billion, just missing Wall Street’s expected $1.30 billion in sales.

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop reported Thursday a loss of $8.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, compared with a $10.7 million loss in the year-ago period.

Retail sales dipped 1.8% and same-store sales declined 1.7%.

Chief executive bear Maxine Clark said she is focused on the future. “In just over a month, we will open our first newly imagined store design in St. Louis with five additional stores opening in major U.S. markets in the following weeks.” 

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway Inc has raised more than $9 million during its month-long Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign.