Retailer Campaigns

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion announced that it has selected Mullen as its advertising agency of record. Mullen will be responsible for developing Food Lion's advertising campaigns and partnering with the company on integrated marketing initiatives in support of the Food Lion brand. 

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has disclosed the location of its first 24 stores in Canada. As previously announced, Target purchased the leasehold interests of 189 sites currently operated by Zellers Inc., and plans to open 125 to 135 stores in Canada, the majority of which will open in 2013.

Target plans to open stores in the following locations in March/early April 2013:

• London Westmount, Westmount Shopping Centre

• Kawartha Lakes, Lindsay Square Mall

MONROE, Conn. — Spire, a provider of actionable shopper analytics to leading retailers and manufacturers, has announced hat Mike McMahon has joined the company as president.

McMahon has spent half his career in consumer packaged goods and the other half working in marketing services.

"Mike will now take up a key leadership role at Spire, committed to fine tuning Spire's strategy, managing our growth and exceeding all client and partner expectations,” said Paul Taylor, CEO and founder of Spire.

Philadelphia -- Bailey Brand Consulting, one of the largest branding and design firms in metro Philadelphia, recently completed the corporate re-branding for Liz Claiborne Inc., which will now be called Fifth and Pacific Companies. The new name and corporate logos will be effective on or about May 15.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In what might become an additional indicator as to the power consumers can wield across retail through social media outlets, Wegmans on Wednesday reinstated Alec Baldwin as the company's spokesman.

Wegmans had pulled its Baldwin holiday advertising campaign in response to consumer complaints about Baldwin's behavior on an American Airlines flight Dec. 6, a flight from which he was removed for refusing to turn his cell phone off.

ATLANTA — K&G Fashion Superstore announced that has partnered with actor Blair Underwood to launch an exclusive line of men's tailored suits. The BU Collection will be available at select K&G stores and on KGstores.com.

"I wanted this collection to be available to every man without a steep price barrier," said Underwood. "I felt K&G was a great partner to launch this line because of their ability to bring well-made designer clothing to the public at affordable prices."

New York City -- A report released Wednesday by the International Council of Shopping Centers found that a last-minute shopping surge gave merchants a solid lift during the final week before Christmas.

According to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs Weekly Chain Store Sales Index, same-store sales rose 0.9% for the week ended Saturday compared with the previous week. That is also up 3.4% from the week before and up 4.5% over the same period a year ago.

MINNEAPOLIS — While many retailers are scrambling to attract last minute Christmas shoppers, some, including Target, are already looking ahead to Dec. 26.

Target announced that beginning next Monday, customers can save up to 50% off on such items as women’s and kids’ apparel, as well as home and holiday decor, in stores and online at Target.com. Doors will open at Target stores nationwide at 7 a.m. on Monday.