PetSmart LLC

The At Home chain of home décor superstores continues to acquire senior leadership talent with public company experience which suggest a public stock offering could be in the company’s future.

The most recent addition involves the appointment of former PetSmart CEO and Chairman Phil Francis. who has selected as an independent member of the At Home board of directors.

Major shopping center openings in 2014 beg the question, “Are we back on track?”

Last year may be the first 365-day period since the Great Recession that there is enough new shopping center space to crow about.

Chain Store Age’s annual development survey — spanning 26 years — reported pretty spotty new-build efforts from 2009 to 2013, but in 2014 some significant projects opened.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. has named grocery and consumer packaged goods veteran Anne Dament to the role of senior VP, merchandising. In the role, she will be responsible for leading the strategic repositioning of Target’s food business.

The retailer had previously announced its intent to reposition its approach to food over the next 12 to 18 months, with an emphasis on making better-for-you options simple and attainable, providing meal solutions and offering unique selections for everyday occasions as well as entertaining.

Former Safeway and Supervalu executive Anne Dament has been named senior vice president of merchandising at Target to lead what the company is calling the strategic repositioning of its food business.

Recent completion of the $60 million power center Coastal North Town Center signaled the arrival of Myrtle Beach’s first Publix supermarket and Hobby Lobby store.

Phoenix – PetSmart Inc. has named six new executives to its senior leadership team.  The additions reflect the first major hires by PetSmart’s newly installed president and CEO, Michael Massey.

Joining the Company are: Eran Cohen, executive VP of customer experience; Ron Cooperman, executive VP of strategy, Initiatives and real estate; Ted Passig, executive VP of buying and sourcing; Phil Vostrejs, executive VP of merchandise planning allocation, distribution and supply chain; and Brian Amkraut, senior VP of real estate.

PetSmart Inc. is looking to drive growth with six new executive appointments focused in the areas of customer experience, merchandise planning, strategy, initiatives, sourcing and real estate.

The additions to the senior leadership team reflect the first major hires by PetSmart’s newly installed president and CEO, Michael Massey.

PetSmart is hoping to lure more Martha Stewart fans to its stores with a new line of natural, Made-in-the-USA pet products.

The retailer already sells Martha Stewart pet products, but it is now launching the Martha Stewart Pets Treat Shop, a line of oven-baked natural dog treats sold only at PetSmart.

Waban, Mass. - PetSmart and Amazon.com deliver the best customer experience in the retail industry. According to the 2015 Temkin Experience Ratings, an annual ranking of companies based on a survey of 10,000 U.S. consumers, PetSmart and Amazon.com tied for the top spot, each scoring 82%, which put them both in fourth place overall out of 293 companies across 20 industries.

Walgreens came in a close third with a rating of 81% and a ranking of eighth, while Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowe's, and Costco all earned 79% and tied for 19th place overall.

New Orleans - Magnolia Marketplace, a 106,000-sq.-ft. shopping center located in New Orleans’ Central City neighborhood, opened Friday, March 13. The project, overseen by JCH Development and Stirling Properties, was 100% pre-leased prior to the January 2014 groundbreaking.